May 6, 2008
MANHATTAN, Kan. - A road weary Arizona State squad, playing their fourth road game in five days, dropped a 7-6 decision at Kansas State on Tuesday evening at Tointon Stadium. The Sun Devils, who completed a three-game series at UCLA on Sunday, bussed back to Tempe late Sunday, then had a quick turnaround to fly into Wichita and bus to Manhattan, fall to 37-9 on the year.
Most of the team flew into Wichita on Monday, while the remainder flew in on Tuesday and drove straight to Manhattan from the airport in order to complete final exams.
Kansas State got off to a quick start, scoring two runs with two away in the first inning off starter Jason Franzablau. Justin Bloxom homered to left with a man on to put the Wildcats up 2-0.
Mike Leake cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth, homering to left for his second of the season. The Devils grabbed the lead in the sixth, pulling ahead 3-2. Ryan Sontag's RBI single through the left side with the bases loaded and two away scored Rocky Laguna and Mike Leake.
The lead was short-lived, as K-State scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to jump ahead 6-3. Nate Tenbrink singled Brett Scott to tie the game at three, which would chase Jason Franzblau from the game. Dustin Brader came on in relief and allowed a two-run homer to Justin Bloxom, the first batter he faced. It was the second homer of the game for Bloxom. The Wildcats would add another run on a bases loaded double play that scored Jason King.
Franzblau was the hard luck loser, falling to 0-1 on the year. He pitched his best game as a Sun Devil by far, going a season long five innings. He allowed four runs on five hits and struck out a season high six.
The Wildcats would add another run off Dustin Brader in the seventh, taking a 7-3 lead on a Justin Bloxom RBI triple. Arizona State would claw back to within one in the eighth on a two-run double by Brett Wallace, but it would not be enough to complete the comeback.
Wallace went 3-3 with two RBI and two walks. Mike Leake turned in his second straight three hit game, knocking in a run and scoring three times. Ryan Sontag had two hits and three RBI while Marcel Champagnie added two hits of his own. Arizona State was once again without Ike Davis, who sat out his sixth straight contest.
The Devils close out their midweek games tomorrow night in Wichita, when they take on the Wichita State Shockers at Eck Stadium.