May 20, 2007
CORVALLIS, Ore. - After a rainstorm delayed the start of the series finale with the Beavers by 45 minutes, the Sun Devils broke out the brooms on Oregon State, sweeping the series with an 8-1 victory. The win clinches at least a tie for the Pac-10 championship, the first conference title for ASU since 2000. The win improves ASU to 41-12, 17-4 in Pac-10 play.
Brian Flores threw his best game as a Sun Devil, allowing only one hit while striking out eight to improve to 9-1 on the year. The Beavers totaled only nine hits in the three games against Sun Devil pitching.
The Beavers got the scoring started in the second, as with runners at the corners they executed a perfect double steal to grab their first lead of the series at 1-0. The Devils evened things in the top of the third on a wacky play. After Andrew Romine singled up the middle, he stole second. He then stole third as Joe Persichina struck out. The ball got away from the Beaver's catcher, who then threw the ball into right field in an attempt to throw out Persichina at first. That allowed Romine to score from third, tying the score.
The Devils plated two in the fourth, thanks to a text book sacrifice bunt by Matt Spencer and a two-run single by Petey Paramore. Brett Wallace brought two more home in the fifth, cranking a ball deep to right field for a 5-1 Sun Devil lead. It was Wallace's 15th homer of the year. The Devils weren't done however, as they added three more runs to take an 8-1 lead. After an error and two walks loaded the bases, a wild pitch scored Eric Sogard from third. After Rocky Laguna drew a walk to reload the bases, Andrew Romine slapped a ball into left field to score two more.
That would be more than enough for Brian Flores, who retired the last 14 batters he faced. He fanned the final four batters of the game to secure the win and the share of the Pac-10 title.
With the sweep of the defending national champions in Corvallis, ASU records their first road sweep of a Pac-10 team since 2003. It is also the first time Oregon State has been swept at home since 2003.
Brett Wallace and Andrew Romine each had two hits and two RBI in the win. Petey Paramore also had two runs batted in on Sunday.
The Sun Devils now return home for a huge three-game series with the University of Arizona. The series gets underway Wednesday night at 7 p.m. from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The Sun Devils need to win one game against Arizona to clinch the outright Pac-10 championship.