June 3, 2006
HOUSTON, Texas - If the Arizona State Sun Devils are to advance in the NCAA Tournament, they will have to do it through the Loser's Bracket, as they dropped their Houston Regional opener to Baylor 3-2. The Devils will now play in about an hour from now against Prairie View A&M in an elimination game at Reckling Park. With the loss, ASU drops to 36-20 on the season.
Tony Barnette was the starter before rain washed out Friday night, but Josh Satow would toe the rubber for the resumption on Saturday. Ryan LaMotta took over for Cory VanAllen for the Bears.
Baylor struck first in the third inning, scoring twice off Josh Satow. Zach Dillon's double down the right field line brought two Bears home to make it 2-0 Baylor. The Bears would add to their lead in the fourth when Matt Sodolak doubled home another run off Satow. That would chase Satow, who gave way to Arreola.
Brett Wallace put the Devils on the board in the bottom of the fourth, homering down the right field line to make it 3-1. The Sun Devil offense would not score again until an unearned run in the ninth, as LaMotta shut the Devils down for eight innings, scattering eight hits to pick up his seventh victory of the year.
Satow took the loss for the Devils, dropping his record to 4-2. ASU stranded six runners on base and twice had runners thrown out trying to steal.
Arizona State will now try to stave off elimination against the Panthers of Prairie View A&M in Game 3 of the Houston Regional later tonight.