March 18, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - A night after a ninth inning rally sparked the Sun Devils to victory, costly errors and timely hits by Oklahoma doomed ASU to a 15-8 loss on Saturday night. Five Sun Devil pitchers surrendered 13 hits, while the ASU defense committed four errors to help the Sooners even the series at one game apiece.
Oklahoma struck early and often, scoring eight runs in the first four innings. Tony Barnette got the start for ASU, but he lasted only two innings, allowing four runs. Drew Bowman took over for Barnette in the third, but fared no better, allowing three unearned runs. Two throwing errors by Bowman on sac bunt attempts were two of the three ASU errors in the third, allowing three Sooner runs. Barnette took the loss, dropping him to 0-1 on the season.
ASU couldn't get much going offensively against Sooners starter Steven Guerra, who picked up the win to run his record to 7-0. Guerra went 5.2, allowing four runs and striking out three.
The Sooners led 9-1 in the sixth, but ASU scored three times in the sixth and seventh to pull to within 9-7 through seven. Oklahoma thwarted the comeback attempt with a five run eighth, including a three run homer by Joe Dunigan off CJ Retherford. Rocky Laguna homered to lead off the ninth to cut it to 15-8, but the Devils would get no closer.
Seth Dhaenens was a bright spot for the Devils, knocking in three runs with his two hits. He also got the start at catcher for ASU. Ike Davis also had two hits for the Sun Devils. Colin Curtis saw his 21-game hit streak snapped, but his walk in the seventh made it 22 straight games in which he has reached base.
The rubber game between the two teams takes place tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch set for 1 PM at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.