April 2, 2006
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Arizona State Sun Devils fell to the Arizona Wildcats in the inaugural Challenge at Chase by a score of 12-8 in a non-conference tilt before a crowd of 5,201 at Chase Field in Phoenix. Playing their fourth game in three days, the road weary Devils (23-9) could not overcome an eighth inning grand slam by the Wildcats and fell despite impressive performances by their middle infielders Eric Sogard and Andrew Romine.
Both teams arrived back in Arizona on Sunday afternoon following the opening weekend of Pac-10 Conference play.
Sogard collected a game-high four hits in five at-bats and an RBI triple in the seventh inning.
Andrew Romine, playing in just his fourth game of the season, continued his hot hitting from earlier in the weekend, going 3-for-5 on the evening with four RBI and a triple.
Freshman Ike Davis brought home his Pac-10 Conference-leading 42nd RBI in the seventh inning as well. Davis (2-3) was also charged with the loss for the Devils, moving from left field to relief in the top of the eighth.
The Sun Devils threw seven different pitchers in the game and fell into an early 6-0 hole after giving up three runs in both the first and second innings. However, they would score eight unanswered runs to take a short-lived 8-6 lead into the top of the eighth before a grand slam by game MVP David Plante put the Wildcats ahead for good.
The Sun Devils return to the friendly confines of Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark on Friday night when they host the University of Washington Huskies for a three-game Pac-10 Conference series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST and Saturday's noon MST start will be carried on television by Fox Sports Arizona.