Feb. 4, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - After withstanding a late Northern Illinois comeback bid last night, the 12th ranked Sun Devils found themselves in the same situation Saturday afternoon at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. ASU held a 9-1 lead entering the ninth inning, but the Huskies made the Sun Devils sweat, scoring five runs, but falling to Arizona State 9-6. ASU used four pitchers in the final inning before Zechry Zinicola picked up his second save in as many days to preserve the win for ASU. ASU improves to 4-1, while NIU drops to 0-2.
It looked like the rout might be on early, as the first three Sun Devil hitters reached base safely, setting the table for freshman DH Ike Davis, who earned the victory on the mound the night before. Davis crushed a ball to deep right-center field, scoring all three runs and staking the Devils to an early 3-0 lead. ASU would add four more in the fourth, aided by some fielding miscues and a Seth Dhaenens double down the left field line that scored a pair.
Starter Drew Bowman, making his first career start, went three innings, allowing four hits and no runs. He was relieved by Jeff Urlaub, who also went three innings, allowing one run on two hits. The Huskies, trailing 9-1 in the ninth, made it interesting, as they scored five times on only two hits. Zinicola came in with two outs and the bases loaded, but walked the first two batters he faced to cut the Sun Devil lead to 9-6. He induced the Huskies Bob Stevens to ground into a game-ending fielders choice to give ASU the win.
Urlaub picked up the victory, his first career win, while Zinicola earned the save for the second straight day. Davis and Dhaenens both knocked in three runs apiece to help lead the Devils to their fourth straight win. ASU and NIU will play the finale tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Pat Bresnehan will get the start for the Sun Devils, after his dominating performance last Sunday over Cal State Northridge.