April 10, 2005
BERKELEY, Calif. -- The California Golden Bears scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning off Arizona State closer Jason Urquidez to earn a 4-3 come-from-behind win and a crucial Pac-10 series victory over the No. 24 Sun Devils on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Evans Diamond.
The Sun Devils carried a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, but a single and two walks off Urquidez loaded the bases. With one out, Cal leadoff hitter Mike Van Winden plated the game-tying run with a sharp single to left field. Third baseman Matt Einspahr followed with a line drive just over the glove shortstop Joe Persichina to drive home the game-winner.
The Sun Devils dropped their second straight game to fall to 22-15 overall and 3-3 in league play. California improved to 23-13 overall and 5-4 in Pac-10 play. ASU returns home next weekend to face nationally ranked Stanford (19-11, 4-2 Pac-10) in a three-game series at Packard Stadium.
Urquidez (Simi Valley, Calif.) took the loss to fall to 5-3 on the season and recorded his first blown save of the year. The senior right-hander scattered only three hits in 2.2 innings, but struggled with his control with four walks in the final two frames. The ninth-inning rally spoiled another solid start from junior left-hander Erik Averill (Orange, Calif.). Averill surrendered two runs and six hits in 5.2 innings while taking the no-decision. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
California relief ace Travis Talbot recorded the win to improve to 3-1 on the season. Talbot, who is Cal's normal closer, gave up four hits and one run over the final 4.1 innings. Starter Michael Cooper received the no-decision giving up four hits and two runs in 4.2 innings.
The Sun Devils built an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth innings. Persichina (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.) hit a one-out double to the left field gap and scored with two outs on a double down the right field line by designated hitter Rocky Laguna (Yuma, Ariz.). Junior right fielder Travis Buck (Richland, Wash.) greeted Talbot with a first-pitch single up the middle to score Laguna with the second run of the inning.
Cal pulled even in the bottom half of the fifth on a two-run home run by catcher Garrett Bussiere.
ASU answered right back in the top of the sixth to take the 3-2 lead. Senior first baseman Jeff Larish (Tempe, Ariz.) singled up the middle to lead off the inning and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Colin Curtis (Issaquah, Wash.). Sophomore second baseman Seth Dhaenens (Chandler, Ariz.) followed with a single to right field to plate Larish with the go-ahead run.
Larish (2-for-4) and Buck (2-for-4) were the only Sun Devils to record multi-hit games as the Sun Devils were out-hit 9-8. Dhaenens continued his torrid streak at the plate going 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a career-high-tying six games. Laguna's run-scoring double extended his hitting streak to nine games.
Van Winden (2-for-5, RBI), Bussiere (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and second baseman Josh Satin (2-for-4) all recorded multi-hit games for the Golden Bears.
Game Notes: Redshirt freshman Rocky Laguna extended his hitting streak to nine games by going 1-for-3... Laguna is hitting .444 (16-for-36) during the streak... sophomore second baseman Seth Dhaenens extended his hitting streak to six games and is hitting .579 (11-for-19, 6 R, 6 RBI) during the streak... ASU played error free defense for the second time in the series and the third time in the last four games... ASU dropped its first series at Evans Diamond since losing two games in 1995.
California 4, Arizona State 3 (Apr 10, 2005 at Berkeley, Calif.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona State....... 000 021 000 - 3 8 0 (22-15, 3-3 Pac-10) California.......... 000 020 002 - 4 9 1 (23-13, 5-4 Pac-10) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Arizona State - Averill; Urquidez(6). California - Cooper; Talbott(5). Win-Talbott(3-1) Loss-Urquidez(5-3) T-2:58 A-513 HR CAL - Bussiere (4).