April 29, 2006
PALO ALTO, Calif. - In a back and forth game that featured 11 walks issued by Sun Devil pitchers and 11 strike outs by ASU batters, Arizona State was able to persevere and hold on for an 11-7 victory over the Stanford Cardinal. The win improves ASU to 29-15, 8-6 in the Pac-10.
Zechry Zinicola, who was reinstated from suspension by Pat Murphy on Thursday, got the start for Arizona State, but he would not factor in the decision after lasting only two innings. Zinicola allowed four runs on four hits, while walking three.
The Sun Devils gave up a run in the first inning for the fourth straight game when a sacrifice fly by Michael Taylor scored Joey August to make it 1-0 Stanford. But Arizona State struck in the second inning, as Ike Davis plated his 50th run batted in when he knocked home Colin Curtis with a single to left. Davis would come around to score on a bunt single by Rocky Laguna to make it 2-1 ASU.
RB-Ike would strike again in the third with a two-run single to left center that gave the Devils a 4-1 lead. CJ Retherford would add two more on a two-run double to left that put ASU up 6-1.
The Cardinal answered right back in the bottom half of the third. After Zinicola walked the first two hitters, Jim Rapoport tripled them both home to make it 6-3. Chris Minaker then chased Zinicola when he singled home Rapoport to cut it to 6-4. Tony Barnette took over and worked his way out of the jam, thanks to some sterling defense by Eric Sogard, making his first career start in left field. His diving catch in shallow left ended the inning.
The Sun Devils would add two more in the fourth on RBI singles by Ike Davis and Preston Paramore to increase the lead to 8-4. Stanford threatened again in the their half of the fourth, putting runners on the corners with two gone. Minaker sent a shot to the gap in left center, but once again it was Eric Sogard with an amazing defensive play, diving to rob Minaker of extra bases and ending the threat.
Stanford would score again in the sixth off of Daryl Arreola, who took over for Barnette. Arreola inherited a two-on and two out situation from Barnette with Jim Rapoport up for the Cardinal. Rapoport came through with an RBI single up the middle to cut it to 8-5. Brady Martinez relieved Arreola and was able to end the Stanford rally thanks to a fly out to center.
Sun Devil history was made in the bottom of the seventh when Brett Bordes came in for Martinez. That marked the 102nd career appearance for Bordes, tying Kendall Carter for the most appearances in school history. Bordes allowed a two-run, two-out single to Ryan Seawell to cut the ASU lead to 8-7 before striking out Rapoport to end the inning with the Devils clinging to the one-run lead.
ASU added some insurance in the ninth when Brett Wallace tattooed a ball to left for a two-run double that made it 10-7. Eric Sogard's sacrifice fly to center allowed another run to score to give Arizona State a four run lead heading to the bottom of the ninth.
Bordes made it interesting in the ninth, as Stanford loaded the bases with two outs. But Bordes induced Rapoport to pop up, ending the game. Tony Barnette picked up the victory to up his record to 2-1, while Bordes earned his third save of the year. Barnette lasted 3.2, allowing only two hits and a run in the victory.
Ike Davis was 3-6 with four runs batted in, while Andrew Romine also had three hits. Preston Paramore and CJ Retherford had two hits apiece, part of a 12 hit afternoon for ASU, who garnered only three the night before.
The rubber match is set for tomorrow afternoon at Sunken Diamond. First pitch is at 1 PM.