Feb. 19, 2005
METAIRIE, La. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Tulane starting pitcher Micah Owings worked eight strong innings and helped his own cause at the plate with a two-run double to lift the No. 1 Green Wave to a series-clinching 7-2 victory over No. 11 Arizona State Saturday afternoon in front of 7,435 fans at Zephyr Field.
Continuing a streak of nine straight games against top 10 opponents, the Sun Devils dropped their fourth straight game to fall to 6-7 on the season. Tulane improved to 6-0 overall and evened the all-time series with the Sun Devils at 3-3.
Owings, a preseason All-American after transferring from Georgia Tech during the offseason, earned the win on the mound scattering eight hits and two runs in eight innings to pick up his first win of the year. Freshman Sean Morgan closed out the victory with a scoreless ninth inning
Junior left-hander Erik Averill (Orange, Calif.) was saddled with the loss giving up eight hits and five runs in five innings. Coming off back-to-back complete games, Averill struck out one and walked one to fall to 2-2 on the year. Junior lefty Brett Bordes (Mesa, Ariz.) struggled out of the bullpen after inheriting the bases loaded, giving up three hits and two run in an inning of work. Senior Ty Marotz (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and freshman Seth Garrison (Coppell, Texas) combined for two scoreless innings to finish off the game.
Senior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch (Scottsdale, Ariz.) led the Sun Devils at the plate going 3-for-4 with two RBI to extend his career-high hitting streak to 11 games. Sophomore left fielder Colin Curtis (Issaquah, Wash.) and freshman center fielder J.J. Sferra (Phoenix, Ariz.) each recorded a single to extend their hitting streak to three games apiece. Redshirt freshman Rocky Laguna (Yuma, Ariz.) doubled in the eighth inning for ASU's first extra base hit of the series.
Catcher Scott Madden went 3-for-3 to lead Tulane's 13-hit attack. Leadoff hitter Tommy Manzella (2-for-5, R, 2 RBI) and third baseman Brad Emaus (2-for-4) also recorded multi-hit games.
The Sun Devils took the early lead with a two-run third inning. Consecutive singles by Sferra and Curtis started the rally. Junior right fielder Travis Buck (Richland, Wash.) walked to load the bases and Gosewisch plated a pair of runs with a single through the right side of the infield.
Tulane bounced right back in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to tie the game. After a run-scoring fielder's choice cut the lead to one run, shortstop Tommy Manzella drilled a two-out double and scored the equalizer on a single up the middle by center fielder Matt Barket.
The Green Wave squandered a pair of scoring chances in the middle innings before exploding for five runs in the sixth to take a 7-2 lead. Owings helped his own cause with a hard-hit ball that was misplayed by shortstop Andrew Romine (Lake Forest, Calif.) for a two-run double to break the 2-2 tie. Manzella extended the lead to 6-2 with a two-run single down the third base line.
The Sun Devils and Green Wave complete the three-game non-conference series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Turchin Stadium. Junior right-hander Tony Barnette (1-0, 6.60 ERA) or sophomore right-hander Pat Bresnehan (0-0, 1.50 ERA) are possible starters for the Sun Devils against Tulane junior LHP J.R. Crowel (1-0, 4.50 ERA).
Tulane 7, Arizona State 2 (Feb 19, 2005 at Metairie, La.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona State....... 002 000 000 - 2 10 1 (6-7) Tulane.............. 002 005 00X - 7 13 0 (6-0) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Arizona State - Averill; Bordes, B.(6); Marotz(7); Garrison(8). Tulane - Owings; Morgan(9). Win-Owings(1-0) Loss-Averill(2-2) T-2:41 A-7435
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