April 1, 2006
PULLMAN, Wash. - Following Thursday night's light failure and Friday's doubleheader, the Arizona State baseball team was ready for anything on Saturday in Pullman. What they got was a taste of Eastern Washington weather, as they waited out snow, sleet and rain during a five hour delay before the series finale with the Washington State Cougars. The game finally got underway, and the Devils fought off freezing temperatures to pick up a 2-1 win. ASU moves to 23-8, 2-1 in the Pac-10.
Pat Bresnehan got the start on the hill for ASU, lasting 4.2 innings, allowing one run and striking out six. Cougar starter Wayne Daman, Jr. fooled ASU hitters on his way to nine strike outs, but he allowed two runs before being lifted in the seventh. Daman was hung with the loss.
The Sun Devils scored the first run of the game in the fourth after Andrew Romine led the inning off with a double to right center. Romine moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by CJ Retherford then came around to score on an infield single by Colin Curtis.
Washington State struck in the bottom of the fifth with three infield hits, the last one scoring Jim Murphy to even things at 1-1. That chased Bresnehan, who gave way to Brett Bordes.
The Sun Devils re-took the lead in the seventh. Eric Sogard led the inning off with a double to right center, then moved to third on a wild pitch. He came around to score on Andrew Romine's single through the right side.
Once again the Sun Devil bullpen was outstanding as Bordes was perfect for 1.1 innings to pick up his fourth win of the year.
Zechry Zinicola came on in the seventh and finished out the game to pick up his sixth save of the year. In the bottom of the ninth, the Cougars were foiled by the defense of Andrew Romine. He made a diving stop and strong throw deep in the hole at short for the second out of the inning, and Zinicola finished out the game with a strike out to give ASU the victory.
Rominie finished 2-4 with an RBI, and Sogard and Brett Wallace also had two hits in the win.
The Sun Devils now return to the Valley for a meeting with Arizona in the first Challenge at Chase on Sunday evening. The non-conference affair is scheduled for a 5 PM start time.