Feb. 25, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State junior right fielder Travis Buck connected on a game-winning grand slam home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Sun Devils a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over No. 8 Baylor Friday night in front of 2,627 fans at Packard Stadium.
The victory snaps a school-record-tying six-game losing streak and improves the Sun Devils to 7-9 overall. Baylor falls to 5-3 on the season and 0-3 all-time against the Devils. The Sun Devils improved to 2-7 against ranked opponents this season and are in the midst of a stretch of playing nine straight games against teams ranked in the top 10 nationally.
Senior right-hander Jason Urquidez (Simi Valley, Calif.) picked up the win with three dominating innings out of the bullpen. He improved to 2-1 on the season allowing only one hit and striking out four in his fifth career relief appearance. Sophomore starter Zechry Zinicola (San Bernadino, Calif.) gave a quality start allowing three runs (two earned) and struck out a career-high six in six innings.
Baylor left-hander Trey Taylor was saddled with the tough-luck loss, giving up five unearned runs and allowed only five hits in 6.2 innings. He struck out three and walked two to fall to 2-1 on the year.
Buck (Richland, Wash.) notched his fifth multi-hit game of the year going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Freshman center fielder J.J. Sferra (Phoenix, Ariz.) went 2-for-3 with a run scored and senior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch (Scottsdale, Ariz.) added ASU's only other hit with a single in the second inning.
Second baseman Michael Griffin went 3-for-4 with a double to lead Baylor's 10-hit attack. Leadoff hitter Seth Fortenberry (2-for-4, 2 RBI), left fielder Reid Brees (2-for-4, 2 R) and third baseman Kevin Russo (2-for-3) also tabbed multi-hit games.
The Bears and Sun Devils exchanged runs in the fourth and fifth innings to knot the game at 1-1. ASU struck first on sacrifice fly by Gosewisch to score right fielder Travis Buck (Richland, Wash.). The Bears responded with a single tally in their next at-bat to tie the game. Brees led off with a double down the right field line and scored on a single to left field by Fortenberry.
Baylor broke open the pitchers' duel with two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-1 lead. After an ASU error put the leadoff runner on board, Brees doubled to the right field gap on a slash bunt to plate the go-ahead run. Forgenberry followed with a safety squeeze bunt for a single to extend the lead to 3-1.
Buck's blast over the right field fence came after Baylor broke a 1-1 tie with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Freshman shortstop Andrew Romine (Lake Forest, Calif.) kept the inning alive by reaching on a two-out throwing error by shortstop Paul Witt. Sferra singled to left and designated hitter Rocky Laguna (Yuma, Ariz.) drew a walk to set the stage for Buck.
The Sun Devils and Bears continue the three-game non-conference series Saturday at 1 p.m. at Packard Stadium. ASU sophomore right-hander Pat Bresnehan (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will make his third career start on the mound. Reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week Cory VanAllen (2-0, 0.68 ERA) is scheduled to start for Baylor.
Game Notes: Senior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch left the game in the bottom of the eighth inning after being hit in the back of the head in the bottom of the eighth inning... ASU was playing without senior third baseman Joey Hooft who is listed as day-to-day with a strained left hamstring... Gosewisch knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly and is tied for the team lead with Jeff Larish with 14 RBI... Zechry Zinicola made his sixth career start and recorded a career-high with six strikeouts... Larish drew his 149th career walk, moving into third place all alone in the ASU record books past Clay Westlake (1973-76)... freshman center fielder J.J. Sferra recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the year... Buck's homer was his first of the season and 14th of his career... he tied for the team lead with nine last season... five of ASU's seven home runs this season have come against left-handers... before Buck's grand slam, ASU was only 1-for-6 with the bases loaded this season... Eric Sogard made his ASU debut as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning... he became the 15th newcomer to see action for the Sun Devils this season and the ninth true freshman.
Arizona State 5, Baylor 3 (Feb 25, 2005 at Tempe, Ariz.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Baylor.............. 000 010 200 - 3 10 3 (5-3) Arizona State....... 000 100 40X - 5 5 2 (7-9) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Baylor - Taylor; LaMotta(7). Arizona State - Zinicola; Urquidez(7). Win-Urquidez(2-1) Loss-Taylor(2-1) T-2:43 A-2627 HR ASU - Buck (1).
--Sun Devil Baseball--