March 17, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - Bedecked in green hats and socks, the Sun Devils used a little luck of the Irish to spur a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to help lead #11 Arizona State in a come-from-behind victory over the #21 Oklahoma Sooners, 8-7, at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark on St. Patrick's Day Friday in Tempe.
Junior right fielder Colin Curtis had a huge night for the Sun Devils, with three doubles and two RBI on 3-for-5 hitting. Junior Brady Martinez (1-0) picked up the victory, pitching a scoreless ninth to set up the Sun Devil comeback
Shortstop Eric Sogard began the scoring early for the Devils with a solo homerun to right field for an early 1-0 lead. The Sooners got it right back in the top of the second with an RBI single and a balk to take a short-lived 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the second, Curtis hit his first of three doubles on the night down the left field line, scoring Willy Fox and Seth Dhaenens to put the Devils back on top 3-2.
The Sun Devils scored a run in each of the next two innings as Dhaenens singled through the left side of the infield to score Fox again in the bottom of the third and Curtis doubled in the bottom of the fourth to score Sontag. With a 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth, the Sooners launched a four-run rally to take a 7-5 lead. A double to center field by first baseman Kevin Smith scored two and second baseman Russell Raley earned an RBI with a single through the left side of the infield before reaching home on a passed ball.
Reminiscent of their come-from-behind victory last week versus #1 Rice, the Sun Devils put up three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk away with a victory. After Sontag began the inning with a walk, he was brought home by a double to left center by Curtis. After Curtis was out at third on a fielder's choice on the next play, a triple by Sogard down the left field line tied the game at 7-7 and set up the winning run just 90 feet away. Two intentional walks loaded the bases for Dhaenens, who hit a walk-off infield single to the shortstop and scored Sogard from third.
The Sun Devils host the Sooners in game two of the three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 6:07 p.m. MST with a firework show following the game. AZ-TV will televise the game, while KDUS will provide radio coverage.