April 13, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - Despite a ten run sixth inning and a four run lead heading into the ninth inning, the Sun Devils were unable to hold off a furious Trojan ninth inning rally, as ASU fell to USC 13-12. Brady Martinez walked in the eventual winning run with two away in the ninth to give the Trojans the win. Arizona State falls to 25-11, 4-3 in the Pac-10.
After falling behind USC ace righty Ian Kennedy 8-1 after five and a half, ASU's bats awoke. Ike Davis started the rally with an RBI double that scored Eric Sogard. Preston Paramore then added two more with a home run to right center to cut the lead to 8-4. Willy Fox brought two more home with a two-run single up the middle, then Colin Curtis singled home Sferra to make it 8-7. Davis then delivered again, scoring two more with a single through the right side. A wild pitch and a Brett Wallace RBI single would finish the scoring off for ASU, who crossed home ten time. The Devils would add another run in the seventh when Sogard drew a bases loaded walk to score Sferra to make it 12-8.
USC would mount their own comeback in the ninth off of Brett Bordes and Zechry Zinicola. The Trojans would score five times, the final run coming across after Brady Martinez surrendered a bases loaded walk to the first batter he faced. That gave USC a 13-12 lead.
Paul Koss would make the one-run lead hold, as he closed out the Devils in the ninth to earn the save, his fifth of the year. Zinicola took the loss, dropping his record to 2-1. Steve Martlaro earned the win, upping his record to 1-0.
Eric Sogard turned in a huge game offensively, falling a homer short of the cycle. He finished the night 3-4. Ike Davis was 2-4 with three RBI and J.J Sferra added three hits for ASU. Preston Paramore and Seth Dhaenens each had two hits in the loss.
The Sun Devils and the Trojans will go at it again tomorrow night from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7 PM, with AZ-TV televising the game locally.