May 13, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - The #18 Arizona State University Sun Devils held off the #4 Oregon State Beavers 6-3 Saturday at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The Devils improved their record to 32-16 on the season and 10-7 in Pac-10 play. After trailing 3-1 for most of the evening, the Sun Devils scored five times in the bottom of the eighth, four off Beaver closer Kevin Gunderson to pick up a come-from-behind 6-3 victory.
Both starting pitchers threw gems but earned no decisions. Josh Satow lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out five. Jonah Nickerson went seven plus, allowing two runs on eight hits and fanning five.
Oregon State touched Satow for three in the second to get the scoring started. After Bill Rowe doubled off the wall in left, the Beavers pushed three across without the ball leaving the infield. The Devils got one back in the bottom of the second when CJ Retherford homered to right to cut it to 3-1.
Arizona State would strike again in the bottom of the eighth, scoring five runs to take the lead. After pinch hitter Ryan Sontag chased Nickerson from the game with a leadoff single, the Beavers brought in closer Ryan Gunderson. Colin Curtis welcomed him to the game by tripling to left center, scoring Sontag and making it 3-2. Eric Sogard then tripled down the right field line to even things at 3-3. After the Devils loaded the bases with two away, Seth Dhaenens delivered a bases clearing double over the head of the centerfielder to make it 6-3 Sun Devils.
Curtis went 3-4 on the night with an RBI and a run scored. Eric Sogard and Seth Dhaenens each had two hits for ASU in the win.
The final game of the series gets underway at 1 PM tomorrow. Alvin Davis and Kevin Romine will have their numbers retired in a pre-game ceremony that begins at 12:45.