March 13, 2000
Tuesday, March 14
#11 Cal State Fullerton 7 p.m. MT
Thursday, March 16
Maine 7 p.m. MT
Friday, March 17
Maine 7 p.m. MT
Saturday, March 18
Maine (DH) 1 p.m. MT
ASU -- Arizona State (20-5, 0-0 Pac-10 and ranked No. 9 Baseball America, No. 12USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 11 Collegiate Baseball) hosts the CS-Fullerton Titans (9-7, 0-0 Big West and ranked No. 11 Baseball America, No. 17 USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 14 Collegiate Baseball) in a single-game at Packard Stadium on Tuesday. The Devils will then take on Maine in a four-game non-conference series beginning on Thursday at Packard Stadium.
Tuesday's game on the radio -- KGME 550 AM will broadcast Tuesday's game with Cal State Fullerton live. Tim Healey and Bob Eger will handle the play-by-play and color commentary duties respectively.
EXTRA INNINGS -- The Devils are averaging 11.8 runs per game and as a team, are batting at a .349 clip ... Brooks Conrad takes a 13-game hitting streak into Tuesday's game with CSFU ... ASU's three grand slams vs. Southern Utah (Feb. 25) ties the NCAA record for a single game ... four out of ASU's five losses have been by two runs or less ... the Devils have recorded an extra base hit in all 25 games to date ... Arizona State players have been hit 53 times this season (2.12 HBP per game) ... ASU head coach Pat Murphy ranks first in career wins among active Div. I baseball coaches 43 and younger (561-279-3) ... Arizona State has not been shutout in its last 279 games (last time shutout was a 0-9 loss to USC on April 7, 1995) ... the NCAA record for consecutive games played without being shutout is 349 (held by Coastal Carolina) ... ASU's current streak of 279 games without being shutout is the longest active Div. I streak ... the 279 games ranks fourth all time in NCAA Div. I history ... ASU has had more players drafted in the past two years than any other Pac-10 school ... the 1999 squad led the nation in batting average (.356) and runs per game (11.4) ... among current Pac-10 coaches, no one has led a team to the national championship game faster than ASU's Pat Murphy (four years).
ABOUT THE Titans -- The Titans are 9-7 overall, 0-0 Big West heading into Tuesday's matchup ... they are coached by George Horton (136-55-1 in seven seasons) ... the Titans are 14-20 vs. the Sun Devils ... last week, CSFU dropped two-of-three to California in Berkeley ... last season the Titans won 7-5 at Fullerton in a single midweek game vs. ASU ... Steve Woodward leads the team with a .500 average (28-for-56) while Chris Stringfellow checks in with a .386 average ... probable pitcher for Tues: Ronnie Corona (0-2, 7.71 ERA, 6 K).
Myers hits .700 vs. Oklahoma -- Junior Casey Myers (Casa Grande) batted .700 (7-for-10) for the weekend and upped his overall average to a team-leading .435. He scored six runs and notched eight RBI vs. the Sooners. On Saturday, in the bottom of the ninth with one out, Myers hit a solo homer to win the game. He is leading the squad in RBI (47) and hits (40) and is tied for first with 10 doubles. The junior catcher also leads the team in multiple-RBI games with 13 and multiple-hit games with 12. The junior catcher is batting .513 with runners in scoring position and is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak. He has hit safely in 22 of 25 games this season.
Martin leads the way -- Junior outfielder Jonah Martin (Waianae, Hawai) has been an effective lead-off hitter for the Sun Devils this year. He is batting .611 when leading off an inning. The rightfielder leads the squad with 12 HBP and is third in stolen bases (7). He is one of three Sun Devils with over a .500 on-base percentage and is batting .450 vs. lefties.
Doble picks up win and save over weekend -- Junior reliever Eric Doble (Casa Grande, Ariz.) picked up a win and a save over the weekend vs. Oklahoma. On Friday night, Doble went 1.2 innings, allowing only one unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts and no walks to get credit for his first win of the season. On Saturday night, he pitched 2.2 shutout inning to pick up the save in relief of starter Chad Pennington. He allowed only one hit and tallied five strikeouts . Doble held the Sooner batters to a .125 average at the plate. For the weekend, he had a 0.00 ERA over five innings, allowing only onenearned run on two hits with eight strikeouts and no walks in three appearances.
PHELPS solid through 25 games -- Junior infielder Jeff Phelps has continued to be a model of consistency in 2000. He is batting at a .422 clip through 25 games and lis second on the squad with 38 hits. He has tallied 11 multiple-hit games as well as scoring 24 runs. Phelps has been hitting well against both lefties and righthanded pitchers (.429 vs. left and .420 vs. right). He is also batting .424 with runners in scoring position and has notched nine 2-out RBIs. He hit .364 for the Oklahoma series, going 4-for-11 with five RBI. He is currently on a 10-game hitting streak.
AIN'T LOVE GRAND -- Righthanded pitcher Luke Field (Littleton, Co.) proposed to his girlfriend in a very unique way over the holidays. On New Year's Eve, Field and his girlfriend, Casse Watkins (Ellinwood, Kan.), went to Packard Stadium. None of the stadium lights were on as they made their way to the press box. Field had made arrangement with a manager to be there. When the couple got to the press box, the manager turned on the field lights. Spelled out in bats and baseballs were the words "Will you marry me?". Field's girlfriend said yes. No date has been set yet.
TWO-SPORT ATHLETE? - A little known fact around the ballpark is that centerfielder Jeff Duncan is a big hockey fan. The native of Illinois played hockey as a kid growing up all the way through high school. What position you ask? Center, of course.
LAST HOMERUN --
Brooks Conrad vs. Arizona (March 4, 2000)
Phil Downing vs. Southern Utah (February 25, 2000)
Jeff Duncan vs. Utah (January 23, 2000)
Brendan Hines vs. LSU (February 19, 2000)
Mitch Jones vs. Arizona (March 4, 2000)
Mike Lopez vs. Oklahoma (March 10, 2000)
Jonah Martin vs. Arizona (March 4, 2000)
Casey Myers vs. Oklahoma (March 11, 2000)
Jeff Phelps vs. Arizona (March 3, 2000)
Trent Pratt vs. Arizona (March, 4, 2000)
THE DEVILS ON TV -- Arizona State baseball will be making many television appearances in 2000. The following is a list of appearances on COX Sports (local Ch. 9): Friday, Feb. 4 vs. Florida State, 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5 vs. Florida State, 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11 vs. Duke, 7 p.m., Friday, March 3 vs. Arizona, 7 p.m., Sunday, March 5 vs. Arizona, 1 p.m., Saturday, March 11 vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m., Friday, March 31 vs. Stanford, 7 p.m. FOX Sports Net will broadcast the April 15 game at Washington State live at 1 p.m. College Sports Southeast will broadcast the February 18 game at LSU live at 6 p.m. CT.
DRAFTED DEVILS -- A total of seventeen current players on the 2000 Arizona State squad have been taken in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
Paul French 1998 - Anaheim Angels 3rd round
Mike Esposito 1999 - Cincinnati Reds 5th round
Robby Milner 1997 - Texas Rangers 13th round
Dennis Sarfate 1999 - Texas Rangers 15th round
Jason Fingers 1997 - Boston Red Sox 23rd round
Drew Friedberg 1997 - Arizona Diamondbacks 25th round
Mitch Jones 1999 - Baltimore Orioles 25th round
Jon Switzer 1998 - Pittsburgh Pirates 26th round
Mitch Jones 1997 - Texas Rangers 33rd round
Dennis Wyrick 1999 - Detroit Tigers 35th round
Jeff Phelps 1997 - Pittsburgh Pirates 36th round
Trent Pratt 1998 - Texas Rangers 38th round
Jeff Duncan 1997 - Chicago Cubs 41st round
Jason Fingers 1998 - Boston Red Sox 41st round
Ryan Coffin 1999 - Boston Red Sox 43rd round
John Gusich 1998 - Chicago White Sox 45th round
Jered Liebeck 1999 - Arizona Diamondbacks 45th round
Luke Field 1999 - Minnesota Twins 47th round
Mitch Jones 1998 - Baltimore Orioles 49th round
Mike Lopez 1996 - Toronto Blue Jays 52nd round
KGME TAKES OVER ASU BASEBALL ON THE AIRWAVES -- Last spring, ASU Athletics agreed to a five year partnership with a new multimedia rights holder, the Sun Devil Sports Network. This group, owned by Outdoor Systems Sports Marketing, will manage, produce and market ASU's radio and television network. The Sun Devil Sports Network signed a three year radio flagship deal with KGME (550 AM). The most powerful AM signal in Arizona. Tim Healey, Voice of the Sun Devils, and Bob Eger will provide play-by-play and color commentary respectively. KGME will broadcast all Pac-10 games as well as selected non-conference games. The games can also be heard via the internet at www.thesundevils.com
THE BEGINNING AND END OF IT -- Here are the pitching lines on ASU starters and relievers.
IP W-L ERA H R ER BB SO Starters 123.1 13-1 4.39 113 74 60 51 122 Relievers 96.2 7-4 3.56 89 44 38 46 96 Total 220.0 20-5 4.01 202 118 98 97 218
PLAYER BIO
Jered Liebeck - Fr. - RHP - Glendale, Ariz. (Mountain Ridge)
High School: A 1999 graduate of Mountain Ridge High in Glendale, Ariz. ... all-conference selection in 1998 and '99 ... four-year letterwinner in baseball ... coached by Tony Cirrellie ... captained the baseball team his senior year ... pitched a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts against Lake Havasu HS ... participated in the Babe Ruth World Series ... holds the record for most strikeouts in school history ... 45th round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Personal: Major is undecided ... parents are Michael Liebeck and Jere Hill ... has one sister, Michele (21) ...born on January 27, 1981 in Mission Viejo, Calif. ... likes to golf ... full name is Jered Michael Liebeck.
FOR THE RECORD -- A start-by-start breakdown of LHP Jon Switzer, RHP Chad Pennington and LHP Will Waldrip:
Jon Switzer IP H R ER BB SO W/L vs. Utah 7.0 3 1 1 0 9 W (1-0) vs. FAU 5.0 5 1 1 2 3 W (2-0) vs. #5 FSU 7.0 5 2 1 1 6 ND vs. Duke 7.0 2 0 0 1 6 W (3-0) vs. #4 LSU 9.0 4 2 1 5 5 W (4-0) vs. New Mexico 5.0 5 5 5 3 9 ND vs. #25 Arizona 3.1 8 7 5 1 6 ND vs. Oklahoma 5.2 3 3 1 4 6 W (5-0)Chad Pennington IP H R ER BB SO W/L vs. Utah 4.0 4 2 2 0 2 ND vs. BYU 6.0 6 2 1 2 7 W (1-0) vs. #5 FSU 4.1 7 9 8 1 4 ND vs. Duke 5.0 2 0 0 4 6 W (2-0) vs. #4 LSU 4.1 5 5 5 7 2 ND vs. SUU 3.1 1 2 2 4 4 W (3-0) vs. #25 Arizona 5.0 6 3 3 2 5 W (4-0) vs. Oklahoma 5.0 5 4 4 1 7 ND
Will Waldrip IP H R ER BB SO W/L vs. Duke 6.0 4 0 0 0 6 W (3-0) vs. #4 LSU 4.0 5 3 3 2 2 ND vs. Southern Utah 3.1 5 3 2 0 2 W (4-0) vs. #25 Arizona 6.0 7 4 4 1 4 W (5-0) vs. Oklahoma 5.0 9 4 4 1 2 L(5-1) Note: Waldrip has two wins as a relief pitcher.
ASU BASEBALL TICKET INFORMATION -- Catch all the excitement of Sun Devil baseball in 2000. Single game ticket prices are $7 for field level, $5 for adult reserved, $4 for juniors/seniors reserved, $4 for adult general and $3 for juniors/seniors general seating. Group discount tickets are available for single games ($2 per ticket). For information on season tickets or single game tickets, please contact Mark Bruner, account executive, at 480-727-7022.
lAST WEEK VS. OKLAHOMA -- The Sun Devils took 2-of-3 from the Oklahom Sooners (W, 11-5, W, 6-5, L, 5-4) ... ASU outscored OU 21-15 over the weekend ... the ASU pitching staff recorded a 3.67 ERA for the series ... Casey Myers hit a game-winning solo homer in Saturday's game despite winning two games, ASU hit .240 for the series while Oklahoma hit. 255 as a team.
INJURY REPORT -- Freshman RHP Mike Esposito has a strained right elbow and will be out for at least two more weeks.
ALL IN THE FAMILY -- Three father/son combinations have played at Arizona State including current Sun Devils Casey Myers and Brian Berger. Myers father Clint played at ASU from 1971-73 while Berger's father Bill played for the Devils from 1970-71-73. Father Eddie Bane (1971-73) and son Jaymie Bane (1997) round out the trio of father/son combos to don the Sun Devils uniform. Seven sets of brothers have graced the ASU rosters through the years: Chris (1975-78) and Sal (1964-65) Bando, Kevin (1978-81) and Pat (1980-82) Dukes, Byron (1979), Dale (1976-79) and Larry (1976-78) Eiler, Greg (1968) and Skip (1964) Hancock, Darrell (1974-77) and Dwayne (1979) Jackson, Jeff (1994) and Mike (1993) Rensmeyer, and John (1971-73) and Tom (1973-75) Sain. Of the seven sets, three sets played at least one year together at Arizona State.
Thursdays at the ballpark -- Head coach Pat Murphy and the Sun Devil baseball team will host "Thursdays at the BallPark", a post-practice barbecue, February 3, March 2, April 6 and May 11 at Packard Stadium from 5-7 p.m. during the 2000 season. Meet the Arizona State baseball team and coaching staff to talk about the upcoming series, grab a bite to eat, get autographs and win raffle prizes. Food will be available for purchase or you can bring your own sack lunch. It's an event for the entire family. For more information, please contact the ASU baseball office at 480-965-6085.
Sun Devils By Position
C Trent Pratt, So. or
Casey Myers, Jr.
1B Jeff Phelps, Jr.
.422, 38 H, 24 R, 29 RBI
2B Brooks Conrad, So.
.344, 31 H, 34 R, 25 RBI
3B Mike Lopez, Jr.
.313, 15 H, 19 R, 21 RBI
SS Dennis Wyrick, Fr.
.308, 24 H, 25 R, 17 RBI
LF Mitch Jones, Sr.
.346, 36 R, 42 RBI, 15 HR
CF Jeff Duncan, Jr.
.333, 31 H, 27 R, 10 SB
RF Jonah Martin, Jr.
.388, 33 H, 29 R, 12 HBP
DH Brendan Hines, Jr.
.280, 21 H, 18 RBI, 6 HR
P Drew Friedberg (3/14)
Jon Switzer (3/16)
5-0, 2.76 ERA, 50 K
P Chad Pennington (3/17)
6.08 ERA, 4-0, 37 K
P Will Waldrip (3/18)
4.88 ERA, 5-1, 22 K
2000 ASU Baseball Superlatives
Team
Longest Win Streak 9 games (2/20-3/11)
Longest Losing Streak 2 (2/18-2/19)
Most Runs, Game:
ASU 32 (Arizona, 3/4)
Opp. 11 (FSU, 2/4)
Most Runs, Inning:
ASU 10 (FAU, 1/28)
Opp. 5 (FSU, twice)
Most Hits, Game:
ASU 27 (Arizona, 3/4)
Opp. 16 (LSU, 2/18)
Most Hits, Inning:
ASU 7 (Arizona, 3/4)
Opp. 4 (three teams)
Most Doubles, Game:
ASU 7 (FAU, 1/28)
Opp. 4 (LSU, 2/19)
Most Triples, Game:
ASU 2 (three times)
Opp. 1 (three teams)
Most Home Runs, Game:
ASU 7 (Arizona, 3/4)
Opp. 4 (Arizona, 3/5)
Most Stolen Bases, Game:
ASU 6 (Arizona, 3/5)
Opp. 6 (BYU, 1/27)
Most Double Plays (turned), Game:
ASU 2 (twice)
Opp. 3 (LSU, 2/18)
Most Errors, Game:
ASU 3 (twice)
Opp. 6 (twice)
Most Strikeouts (pitching), 9-Inning Game:
ASU 15 (FAU, 1/28)
Opp. 12 (FSU, 2/4)
Most Walks (pitching), 9-Inning Game:
ASU 8 (three times)
Opp. 11 (Arizona, 3/4)
Largest Win. Margin 29 (Arizona, 3/4)
Largest Loss Margin 4 (LSU, 2/18)
Largest Crowd, Home 4,312 (FSU, 2/6)
Smallest Crowd, Home 1,012 (FAU, 1/28)
Largest Crowd, Road 7,853 (LSU, 2/20)
Smallest Crowd, Road 7, 825 (LSU, 2/18)
Longest Hit Streak 13 (Jones & Conrad)
Most Hits, Game 5 (Jones, 2/27)
Most Runs, Game 5 (Conrad & Myers)
Most Doubles, Game 2 (four players tied)
Most Triples, Game 1 (8 players tied)
Most HRs, Game 2 (four players)
Most RBIs, Game 7 (Jones, 2/25)
Most SBs, Game 2 (four players)
Most Strikeouts, Game:
ASU Pitcher 9 (Switzer, 1/23 & 2/26)
Opp. Pitcher 8 (Cherry, Okla.)
Fewest Hits Allowed (CG Effort)
ASU Pitcher 4 (Switzer, 2/20)
Opp. Pitcher N/A
Most Walks, Game:
ASU Pitcher 7 (Pennington, LSU, 2/19)
Opp. Pitcher 6 (Albers, UNM, 2/26)
Most Consecutive Scoreless Innings:
Starter 18.1 (Switzer, 2/4-2/20)
Reliever 6.1 (Doble, 1/27-2/18)
ASU Record Breakdown
Pac-10 0-0
Non-Conference 20-5
Vs. Ranked Teams 5-4
Vs. Unranked Teams 15-1
Home Games 19-3
Road Games 1-2
Day Games 14-2
Night Games 6-3
Vs. Right-Hand Starters 13-4
Vs. Left-Hand Starters 7-1
One-Run Decisions 3-3
Two-Run Decisions 2-1
Extra Innings 0-1
Shutouts 1-0
ASU Scores First 12-5
Opponent Scores First 8-0
Led After Seven 17-1
Trailed After Seven 1-4
Tied After Seven 2-0
Led After Eight 17-1
Trailed After Eight 0-3
Tied After Eight 1-1
Out-hit Opponents 17-1
Out-hit by Opponents 3-2
January 7-0
February 8-4
March 5-1
April 0-0
May 0-0
Last 5 Games 4-1
Last 10 Games 9-1
Current Streak L1
Head Coach Pat Murphy
Sixth season at Arizona State: 188-108
Div. I Record (12th year): 506-224-1
Career Record (15th year): 561-279-3
- The Murphy team? Always plays hard, likes to play the tough schedule, disciplined, plays well in the postseason, plays the little game well - stolen bases, walks, no excuses.
- Became the youngest coach to 500 wins (with 75% of wins coming from Div. I level) at age 39.
- All but one player under Coach Murphy has been drafted higher in the MLB Draft.
- Named Baseball America's Coach of the Year in 1998.
- Murphy is averaging 42.2 wins per year as a coach at the Div. I level (.693 winning percentage).
- Ten out of the last 12 years, his teams have finished in the top 30.
- His last five squads to make playoff appearances have made it to the Sweet 16 or better.
- The last five regionals a Pat Murphy team has played in, the squad has beaten the No. 1-ranked team on its home field.
- Murphy has had a total of 80 Div. I players sign professional contracts after playing under him.
- Murphy in the community: started the Guadalupe Project, hosts free baseball clinics with the Tempe Diablos, speaks to UNI 100 classes on the ASU campus, to name a few....
More Notes & Quotes
Murphy is the first coach in the era of aluminum bats to have his players practice exclusively with wood bats in practice.
Murphy has never had a player declared ineligble for a season.
"From those modest beginnings, Murphy has carved a unique college career, first as a player but most of all as a coach. ... And he's risen to the top of his profession."
-John Manuel
Baseball America, 7/6-19/98