June 4, 2006
HOUSTON, Texas - The 2006 Sun Devil baseball season came to a close on Sunday evening in Houston, as the Devils dropped a 7-2 decision to Baylor, eliminating them from the 2006 NCAA Tournament. It was ASU's second loss to Baylor in as many days, after falling 3-2 to the Bears on Saturday. Arizona State finishes the 2006 with an overall record of 37-21. They ended up 14-10 in Pac-10 play, good for second in the conference.
Jeff Urlaub (5-3) took the loss for the Devils while Cory VanAllen upped his record to 8-5 with the win. VanAllen was the original starter in Friday night's game that was suspended until Saturday.
The Devils got on the board in the second, after Mike Jones drew a bases loaded walk from VanAllen to make it 1-0. VanAllen also walked the next batter, CJ Retherford, to make it 2-0, but ASU could not push anymore across, stranding three. Arizona State stranded 12 runners in the game, batting 0-10 with runners in scoring position.
Baylor cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second when Mike Pankratz took Urlaub deep to left to make it 2-1. The Bears would grab a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third, when Beamer Weems hit a three-run shot to left. That would chase Urlaub, who was relieved by Pat Bresnehan.
VanAllen was masterful after giving up the two in the second, allowing only five hits in his 5.2 innings of work. Jeff Mandel took over, going three and a third to pick up his eighth save of the year.
Baylor would strike again in the sixth, scoring three runs off Pat Bresnehan, all unearned. After a Bresnehan error extended the inning, the Bears would capitalize. A wild pitch brought one home, then a throwing error on Romine allowed two more across to make it 7-2.
The Sun Devil career of Colin Curtis, a First Team All-Pac-10 member, most likely comes to an end with the loss. Junior Pat Bresnehan has also likely thrown his final pitch as a Sun Devil. Bresnehan lasted 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and three runs, none of which were earned. The juniors will now wait for the Major League Baseball draft, which will take place on Tuesday. Brett Bordes finished up his stellar career in the maroon and gold. The senior lefty leaves ASU as the school's all-time leader in pitching appearances, finishing with 109. Zechry Zinicola's ASU career likely concluded as well. The junior righty pitched 1.2 innings of perfect ball on Sunday.