March 19, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State junior left-handed pitcher Erik Averill allowed one unearned run in his third complete game of the year to lead the Sun Devils to a 5-1 victory over the University of Oklahoma Saturday evening in front of 2,915 fans at Winkles Field at Packard Stadium.
The win clinched the series victory for the Sun Devils and improved their overall season record to 15-12. ASU has won nine of its last 12 games and has now won three straight this season over the Sooners. Oklahoma falls to 12-7 this season and 19-46 all-time against ASU.
Averill (Orange, Calif.) scattered five hits (all singles) and had only one ball reach the outfield in his third complete-game effort of the season. He improved to 5-2 on the season by striking out seven and walking two while allowing only an unearned run in the top of the first inning. The junior lefty lowered his season ERA to 2.75.
Oklahoma reliever P.J. Sandoval was saddled with the loss giving up two runs on two hits in just two-thirds of an inning of work. Sandoval came on in relief in the second inning for injured starter Garrett Patterson. Reliever Will Savage kept the ASU bats in check over the final 6.1 innings, allowing four this and two runs.
The Sun Devils out-hit OU 6-5 with junior third baseman Travis Buck (Richland, Wash.) and sophomore center fielder Colin Curtis (Issaquah, Wash.) each recording two hits. Buck went 2-for-4 with a triple and has now recorded at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 games. The converted outfielder was also flawless in the field with seven assists.
After OU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, ASU took the lead for good with a three-run second inning. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases and redshirt freshman Rocky Laguna (Yuma, Ariz.) delivered a game-tying sacrifice fly. A perfectly executed double-steal plated the go-ahead run and senior second baseman Joey Hooft (Reno, Nev.) added another tally with a single through the right side of the infield to score shortstop Andrew Romine (Lake Forest, Calif.).
ASU added another run in the bottom of the third on a fielder's choice by designated hitter Zechry Zinicola (San Bernadino, Calif.) to extend the lead to 4-1. Savage then settled into a groove retiring at one point 11 straight batters before Buck tripled into the left field corner in the bottom of the seventh and the scored on the same play on a throwing error to bring the game to the final score of 5-1.
The Sooners were led offensively by a 2-for-3 performance from third baseman Ryan Rohlinger.
The Sun Devils will go after the series sweep Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. at Winkles Field at Packard Stadium. ASU is scheduled to start sophomore right-hander Pat Bresnehan (1-2, 4.44 ERA) against OU freshman right-hander Brad Burns (1-0, 3.68 ERA).
Arizona State 5, Oklahoma 1 (Mar 19, 2005 at Tempe, Ariz.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma............ 100 000 000 - 1 5 2 (12-7) Arizona State....... 031 000 10X - 5 6 2 (15-12) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Oklahoma - Patterson; Sandoval(2); Savage, W.(2). Arizona State - Averill. Win-Averill(5-2) Loss-Sandoval(1-1) T-2:36 A-2915
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