March 3, 2007
AUBURN, Ala. - Despite jumping out to an 8-0 lead early in the game, the Sun Devils were unable to hold on, falling 11-8 to Auburn on Saturday afternoon at Plainsman Park. A miscommunication in shallow right field in the fifth inning opened the flood gates for the Auburn offense, and ASU was never able to recover. The loss drops them to 12-4 on the year.
Tim Smith got the Devils offense going in the top of the second, tattooing a ball to right center for his second homer of the year and a 1-0 ASU lead. Andrew Romine made it 2-0 in the third with an RBI single to center that scored Matt Hall from third. Eric Sogard pushed it to 4-0 with a two-run triple to right center, then Ike Davis brought him home with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.
Arizona State made it 8-0 in the top of fourth, scoring three runs with two outs. Romine brought two home with a double down the right field line, then Brett Wallace plated Romine with a single through the right side.
The Tigers would rally back in the fifth, scoring seven times off starter Brian Flores to close the gap to 8-7. Five of the runs were unearned thanks to a collision in right between Eric Sogard and Ike Davis that allowed the fifth inning to continue. Auburn grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Josh Donaldson took Mike Leake deep to left with two on and two out, giving the Tigers a 10-8 lead.
The Sun Devils threatened in the 8th, loading the bases with one out, but Rocky Laguna grounded into a double play to end the threat. The Tigers bullpen shut out the Sun Devils over the final five innings to seal the win.
Flores lasted five innings, allowing seven runs, only two of which were earned. Mike Leake took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in three innings of work. Leake is now 3-1 on the year.
Andrew Romine went 3-5 with three RBI with two runs scored. Matt Hall continued his hot streak, going 2-2 with a run scored.
The rubber match of the three-game series gets underway tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m. Arizona time from Plainsman Park.