Feb. 17, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - Through the first nine games of the 2006 season, the ASU baseball team has struggled to find the relief pitching it needed to secure a close-game victory. The Sun Devils found that elusive bullpen relief Friday night in a 4-3 win over the Houston Cougars at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. After a clutch, go-ahead RBI single by Colin Curtis put ASU up, the Arizona State bullpen took over to secure the win and end the Sun Devils three-game slide.
Ike Davis got the start for the Devils, lasting four innings giving up three runs on three hits. He also went 2-3 with two RBI, helping the Sun Devils jump out to an early 2-0 lead after one. ASU got on the board thanks to a Davis RBI ground-rule double and a Joe Persichina sacrifice fly. They would add another run in the third when Davis singled home Willy Fox. The three run lead would be short-lived however, as Houston's Brian Temko took Davis deep down the right field line for a three-run homer and a tie ballgame.
Pat Bresnehan would come in to start the top of the fifth, and in the bottom half of the inning the Sun Devils would strike back. Ryan Sontag led off the inning with a sold single to center, advancing to second on a passed ball. Curtis would bring him around on a single down the right field line, giving ASU a 4-3 edge. Bresnehan would cruise for three, allowing only four hits and striking out two. Brett Bordes and Brady Martinez would both make appearances for the Devils, but ultimately the game was put in the hands of closer Zechry Zinicola. Zinicola was lights out for his inning and a third of work, allowing no hits to earn his third save of the season. Bresnehan picked up the win, running his record to 3-1.
Ike Davis was 2-3 with two RBI, and fellow freshman Brett Wallace was also 2-3. Ryan Sontag and Willy Fox each scored twice for the Devils, who improve to 6-4 on the season. Houston falls to 3-3. The same two teams will meet up tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM, when freshman Jeff Urlaub will take the mound for his first career start against Houston's Brad Lincoln.