March 3, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State Sun Devils had another big day at the ballpark behind the bat of freshman Ike Davis as they knocked off the Auburn Tigers 14-2 in front of a crowd of 2,310 at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Davis, who set a career-high with five RBIs on Tuesday night, broke it with seven tonight, hitting his second grand slam in as many days and going 4-for-5 on the night.
The Sun Devils were also led by lefty Jeff Urlaub, who moved to 4-0 on the year after a strong seven innings in which he allowed just one earned run. The freshman from Scottsdale, who had a perfect game through four innings, also recorded five strikeouts and scattered seven hits.
Left fielder Ryan Sontag got things started in the first, when he tripled down the line to lead off for the Sun Devils. Three batters later, Davis scored him with a ground-rule double to center. Davis would come around to score on an error by Auburn third baseman Mike Bianucci. With the bases loaded, Auburn starter Bryan Woodall issued a walk to second baseman Eric Sogard, scoring catcher Preston Paramore and setting up J.J. Sferra's triple with the bases loaded, which scored three more. After one complete, the Devils lead 6-0, the eighth time they have taken a lead after one inning. They improved to 7-1 in those games.
Arizona State struck for two more in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded again, Woodall hit Davis with a pitch, scoring Sontag from third. Another bases load walk to shortstop Joe Persichina notched a run for the Sun Devils, giving them an 8-0 advantage.
The Devils showed their defensive prowess in the top of the fifth. Auburn First baseman Andy Bennett reached first on a single and on the next play, a double advanced him to third. When he tried to stretch it an extra bag, Sontag fired the ball in to Persichina, who cut it off and got it to Paramore at the plate. Paramore held on after a collision at the plate to record the out.
The Sun Devils then flexed their offensive muscles again in the bottom of the fifth, tagging the Tigers for five more runs. Eric Sogard started the inning off with a solo homer to center, but the Devils quickly loaded the bases once again for Ike Davis. Davis brought out the rye bread and mustard once again, as he took a 2-2 pitch deep over the wall in right center for a grand salami and a 13-0 Arizona State lead.
The Tigers would get on the board in the eighth. Justin Bristow led the inning off with a single, chasing Urlaub. Tony Barnette replaced him, and gave up a two run shot to Tyler Johnstone before settling down and getting out of the inning. Barnette would go the final two for ASU. The Sun Devils would tack on another in the eighth, when Davis knocked in Colin Curtis to put the finishing touches on a 14-2 Arizona State victory. The Devils improve to 12-5 on the year. ASU and Auburn will meet again tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1 PM.