June 19, 2007
OMAHA, Neb. - Arizona State's 2007 season came to an end on Tuesday evening in Omaha, as UC Irvine came from behind in the final two innings to eliminate the Devils 8-7 in ten in front of 29,034 at Rosenblatt Stadium, the second largest crowd in CWS history. The Devils couldn't hold a 7-3 lead in the eighth, and the Eaters walked off with the extra inning win. Arizona State finishes the season 49-15.
Brian Flores got the start for the second consecutive day, becoming only the fourth pitcher, and second Sun Devil, in College World Series history to start two straight CWS games. Jeff Pentland was the other ASU pitcher to do it, starting twice in a row during the 1967 CWS. Flores lasted six innings, allowing three runs on five hit and striking out three.
UC Irvine scored the first run of the game in controversial fashion, as Brian Flores was called for a balk with Irvine's Taylor Holiday on third. There didn't appear to be a balk on the television replays, but the run counted nonetheless, giving the Anteaters a 1-0 lead.
Petey Paramore erased that deficit in the top of fifth, sending his sixth homer of the year to right center to knot the game at one. The Eaters grabbed the lead right back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a two-out run to make it 2-1 heading to the sixth.
The Devils tied in the sixth, when Eric Sogard shot a ball into left to score Andrew Romine from second. Once again Irvine answered back, going up 3-2 on a Cody Cipriano homer with two outs in the sixth. Andrew Romine tied the game with an RBI groundout, then Eric Sogard gave ASU a 4-3 lead with an RBI single up the middle. It was Sogard's 100th hit of the year, joining Brett Wallace as members of the 100 hit club. It is the first time that two Sun Devils have topped the century mark in the same season since 1993, when Paul Lo Duca and Antone Williamson accomplished the feat.
The Devils would three more in the eighth to take a 7-3 lead. Petey Paramore led the inning of with a double to center, then Andrew Romine singled him home. Ryan Sontag smacked a pinch hit double off the wall in right to score two more and put the Devils up four.
Jason Jarvis could not hold the lead, as UC Irvine scored four times in the bottom half of the inning to take tie the game at seven. Jarvis walked the first three hitters in the inning, then hit a man to force in a run, then allowed an RBI single up the middle to make it 7-5. That was all for Jarvis, as he was relieved by Mike Leake. Leake entered with the bases loaded and no one out and allowed a two run double to the first batter he faced. The runner on first was called out at third after the third base coach made contact with him. Leake then intentionally walked the next batter, then induced an inning ending double play.
Irvine won it in the tenth off Leake, getting a one-out, bases loaded single to walk off with a victory for the second straight day. Leake took the loss, dropping him to 13-2 on the year.
Petey Paramore and Andrew Romine each had three hits for the Devils in the loss.
Although the Devils fell short of their ultimate goal, a national title, it was still a memorable year for ASU. In addition to their 20th College World Series appearance, the Pac-10 championship was the first since 2000 and the first outright title since 1993. Pat Murphy was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, while Brett Wallace picked up Pac-10 Player of the Year honors and Eric Sogard was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Seven Devils were named First Team All-Pac-10 and Brett Wallace was a consensus First Team All-American. The team boasted three pitchers with double-digit wins and a closer with double-digit saves.