May 28, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - After Ryan Sontag tripled to lead off the bottom of the 11th in a 6-6 game, Cal gambled by intentionally walking the bases loaded to set up a force at any base. The gamble did not pay off for the Bears, as Michael Bugary walked Ike Davis, forcing in the winning run and giving ASU the series sweep 7-6. ASU closes out the regular season at 36-19, 14-10 in the Pac-10. The Devils now have to wait until Monday morning to find out where they will open the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
Arizona State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on Cal, thanks to some sloppy fielding and timely bunting. The Bears would respond, scoring six times in the third inning, four of them unearned, to take a 6-3 lead.
Ike Davis got the start on the hill for ASU, but he lasted only 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and walking six. All six Cal runs were charged to Davis, but only two were earned. The Bears would not score again the rest of the afternoon, thanks to some fine pitching performances by four Sun Devil arms.
Pat Bresnehan threw five outstanding innings, fanning five while allowing only one runner to reach base, via walk. Zechry Zinicola threw 1.1 innings of scoreless ball, eventually giving way to Brett Bordes, who went the final 1.2 innings to pick up his team leading seventh win of the year.
While the pitching staff held the Bears bats in check, the ASU offense started to chip away at the Cal lead. Eric Sogard would cut it to 6-4 when his RBI ground out scored Mike Jones in seventh. Sogard would then tie it up in the ninth with a two run single into right field to send the game to extra innings.
In the eleventh, Sontag sent a shot into the gap in right center for a triple, setting up the finish. Willy Fox and Sogard would both get free passes, setting up Ike Davis. Davis walked on a 3-1 count, giving him his 65th RBI of the year, extending his own ASU freshman record.
Ryan Sontag went 3-4 with an RBI. Ike Davis also had two hits for ASU in the win.
ASU now will wait until tomorrow morning to find out where they will be sent for the 2006 NCAA Tournament. The regional announcement will be made tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM on ESPN.