April 30, 2005
CORVALLIS, Ore. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Jason Urquidez and Zechry Zinicola combined on a five-hitter to lead the No. 17 Arizona State Sun Devils to a 3-1 victory over No. 6 Oregon State Saturday afternoon in front of a record crowd of 2,012 at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field.
The Sun Devils improved to 29-16 overall with their 13th win in the last 16 games and moved back into a tie for second place with a 10-3 record in Pac-10 play. Oregon State had its four-game win streak snapped to fall to 31-8 overall and 10-4 in league play.
"That was a gutsy performance to come out after a tough loss last night where a lot of things didn't go our way," said ASU head coach Pat Murphy. "Urquidez and Zinicola were outstanding and shut down one of the best offensive teams in the nation. Andrew Romine had a great game and really added a spark for us in the lineup and in the field."
Urquidez (Simi Valley, Calif.) scattered five hits and struck out three in 6.1 innings to improve to 7-3 on the season. The senior right-hander had his no-hit bid snapped with a two-out single in the fourth inning and allowed only one hit through the first six innings. Zinicola (San Bernadino, Calif.) got out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning and finished the game not allowing a hit in 2.2 scoreless innings to record his third save of the year.
OSU sophomore Anton Maxwell gave up nine hits and three runs (one earned) while pitching into the seventh inning. He struck out six and walked two, but was saddled with his first loss of the year to fall to 7-1. Relievers Kevin Joslyn (1.0 IP), Jake McCormick (1.1 IP) and Nate Fogle (0.1 IP) held ASU scoreless.
The Sun Devils doubled up the Beavers in the hits column, 11-5, and had five players record multi-hit games. Leadoff hitter Colin Curtis (Issaquah, Wash.) started despite a mild wrist sprain and responded by going 2-for-5 with a RBI double. Junior right fielder Travis Buck (Richland, Wash.) extended his hitting streak to nine games going 2-for-4 with his team-leading 18th double of the year. Senior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch (2-for-4), freshman designated hitter Willy Fox (2-for-4) and freshman shortstop Andrew Romine (2-for-4) each added multi-hit games.
The Beavers were limited to a season-low five hits in the loss. Jenkins, the reigning Pac-10 Player of the Week, went 2-for-4 with a run scored to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Junior All-American outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who entered the weekend ranked second in the nation in batting, went 0-for-4 to see his 20-game hit streak come to en end.
The Devils put a run on the board first without the benefit of a base hit in their opening at-bat. Buck walked, moved to second on a walk, stole third base and then scored on a passed by OSU catcher Mitch Canham.
ASU added another run in the top of the fifth on a run-scoring double to the right field gap by Curtis. Romine led off the inning with a bunt single and scored all the way from first base on Curtis' 10th double of the year. The Devils appeared to put another run on the board when Curtis attempted to steal home, but was called out end the inning on a play being heavily argued by ASU head coach Pat Murphy.
A two-out bunt single by freshman center fielder J.J. Sferra (Phoenix, Ariz.) in the top of the sixth plated a run to extend the lead to 3-0. Sophomore second baseman Seth Dhaenens (Chandler, Ariz.) reached on a two-base throwing error by Maxwell and stole third base before scoring on Sferra's team-high 12th bunt hit of the year.
OSU finally got to Urquidez in the bottom of the seventh to score its only run of the ballgame. First baseman Andy Jenkins led off with a double to center field and later scored on a single to left field by designated hitter Cole Gillespie. Zinicola entered with the bases loaded and got a pair of fielder's choice groundouts to preserve the two-run lead.
The Beavers attempted a last ditch comeback effort in the ninth, putting the tying run on base behind a pair of walks from Zinicola. The hard-throwing right-hander then right fielder Mike Lissman to fly out to right and a game-ending groundout to pinch-hitter Chris Campos to earn his 11th career save.
The Sun Devils and Beavers will face off in the rubber match of the Pac-10 series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. Sophomore right-hander Pat Bresnehan (3-3, 4.91 ERA) will match up against OSU's Jonah Nickerson (6-0, 1.15 ERA).
Game Notes: The Sun Devils scored a run in the first inning for the second consecutive game in the series and the 18th time this season... ASU is now 14-4 when scoring in its opening at-bat... freshman J.J. Sferra notched his team-leading 12th bunt base hit this season... senior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch notched his 17th multi-hit game of the year to extend his hitting streak to eight games... junior right fielder Travis Buck recorded his team-leading 25th multi-hit game of the year and now has a nine-game hitting streak (.525, 21-for-40)... ASU was errorless in the field for the 12th time this season and the 10th time in the last 15 games... sophomore closer Zechry Zinicola recorded his team-leading third save and moved into a tie for seventh place in the ASU career record books with his 11th career save... he is tied with Mitch Dean (1976-80) and only two saves away from sixth place (Dave Graybill, 1982-84)... Urquidez improved to 7-3 this season to tie Erik Averill for the team lead in wins and is 19-6 with a 3.82 ERA in his two seasons as a Sun Devil... over his last five starts he has allowed only nine runs in 30.1 IP (2.67 ERA)... Zinicola has made three career pitching appearances against OSU has recorded three saves and not allowed a run in 5.0 innings... Seth Dhaenens (13 games), Joey Hooft (8 games) and Jeff Larish (5 games) each were held hitless to see their individual hitting streaks come to an end... ASU finished the month of April with an 11-3 record and have won 23 of its last 30 games.
Arizona State 3, Oregon State 1 (Apr 30, 2005 at Corvallis, Ore.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona State....... 100 011 000 - 3 11 0 (29-16, 10-4 Pac-10) Oregon State........ 000 000 100 - 1 5 1 (31-8, 10-4 Pac-10) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Arizona State - Urquidez; Zinicola(7). Oregon State - Maxwell; Joslyn(7); McCormick(8); Fogle(9). Win-Urquidez(7-3) Save-Zinicola(3) Loss-Maxwell(7-1) T-3:27 A-2012
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