March 23, 2007
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Josh Satow and the Sun Devils opened Pac-10 play in memorable fashion on Friday night, shutting out USC 10-0. Satow threw a complete game, allowing no runs on six hits while striking out four to improve to 7-1 on the year. It was Satow's second complete game of the year, and the first shut out for the Sun Devils since they beat Ohio State 3-0 on March 6, 2005. The win ups ASU's mark to 20-7, 1-0 in Pac-10 play.
With the win, Pat Murphy recorded his 500th victory as head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Ike Davis put the Sun Devils up 1-0 in the first, singling to center to score Eric Sogard. Matt Spencer's ground out with the bases loaded made it 2-0 after one. Brett Wallace made it 4-0 in the top of the second, sending a laser beam over the wall in dead center for a two-run home run, his eighth of the year.
Rocky Laguna knocked USC starter Ryan Cook out of the game in the top of third, singling up the middle to score Petey Paramore and make it 5-0. Matt Spencer crossed home on a wild pitch to make it 6-0 before Paramore would put the Devils up 8-0 with a two-run shot to left field, his third of the season.
Matt Hall extended the lead to 9-0 when he doubled down the left field line, scoring Andrew Romine from first. Sogard made it 10-0 when he brought Hall home with an RBI single.
The ten runs would be more than enough for Satow, who lowered his ERA to 1.51 for the season. Satow is the first ASU pitcher since Erik Averill to throw a complete game shut out. Averill accomplished the feat in February 4, 2005 in a 12-0 win over New Mexico.
Brett Wallace went 3-5, one of five Devils with multiple hits. Seven Devils knocked in runs, including two each by Wallace and Petey Paramore.
The Sun Devils and Trojans continue their three-game set tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is at 1:30 p.m. from Dedeaux Field.