March 14, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - With four games on the horizon this weekend, the Sun Devil baseball team needed a big performance from starter Brian Flores against Kansas State. Flores did not disappoint, fanning eight in a complete game, helping Arizona State to a 6-2 win in front of 2,892 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The two-game series sweep improves ASU's record to 15-7 on the year.
Flores allowed two runs, only one earned, and seven hits in picking up his third win of the year. The junior threw his first Sun Devil complete game, the second complete game for ASU this season.
Kansas State started the scoring in the top of the fourth, pushing an unearned run across on a ground out. Ike Davis tied things up in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly that scored Brett Wallace. Petey Paramore gave the Devils their first lead in the bottom of the sixth, singling to right field with two outs to bring home Wallace.
Controversy struck the very next batter, when Kiel Roling hit what appeared to be a three-run homer down the left field line. The ball was originally called fair, which prompted an argument by several K-State players. The home plate umpire ejected the Wildcats' Drew Biery and Byron Wiley, then reversed the original call, ruling the ball foul. Two pitches later Roling left no doubt, hammering a ball to right center to make it 5-1.
After Kansas State scored in the top of the eighth, Ike Davis made it 6-2 with an RBI single to left that scored Tim Smith from second. That would be all the cushion Flores would need, as he retired the Wildcats 1-2-3 to secure the victory.
Tim Smith was 2-3, while Roling was 3-4 with three RBI. Ike Davis added two runs batted in, while Petey Paramore had an RBI as well.
The Sun Devils continue their homestand on Friday night, when they welcome the Maine Black Bears to Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark for the first game of a three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday night.