April 18, 2000
| Thursday, April 20 | #19 UCLA (TV) | 7 p.m. PT |
| Friday, April 21 | #19 UCLA | 7 p.m. PT |
| Saturday, April 22 | #19 UCLA | 1 p.m. PT |
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State (33-9, 9-3 Pac-10 and ranked No. 3 Baseball America, No. 3 USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 3 Collegiate Baseball) host the UCLA Bruins (24-15, 7-2 Pac-10 and ranked No. 19 Collegiate Baseball and No. 21 Baseball America) in a three-game conference series at Packard Stadium.
THURSDAY GAME ON T.V. -- Thursday night's game will be televised live on COX Sports (local cable Ch. 9). George Allen and Doug Gerlach will provide the play-by-play and color commentary for the broadcast.
On the radio -- This weekend's series with the Bruins can be heard on KGME 550 AM or via the internet at www.thesundevils.com. Tim Healey and Bob Eger will handle play-by-play and color commentary duties respectively.
EXTRA INNINGS -- The Devils are averaging 10.90 runs per game and as a team, are batting at a .344 clip ... Casey Myers is listed by Baseball America as a player to watch for their National Player of the Year award ... The Sun Devils are holding their opponents to a .248 average at the plate ... ASU's three grand slams vs. Southern Utah (Feb. 25) ties the NCAA record for a single game ... five out of ASU's nine losses have been by two runs or less ... the Devils have recorded an extra base hit in 40 of 42 games to date ... Arizona State players have been hit 80 times this season (1.90 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 296 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 streak without being shutout which is the second longest active Div. I streak ... the 296 games ranks fourth all time in NCAA Div. I history and is the Pac-10 record ... 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) ...Jonah Martin broke the single season hit by pitch record held by Rick Peters (18 in 1977) when he was hit for the 19th time this season in Pullman over the weekend ... Peters (1974-77) also holds the career record for most hit by pitches with 37.
ABOUT THE BRUINS -- The Bruins are 24-15 overall, 7-2 Pac-10 heading into this weekend's matchup ... they will play USC in a non-conference game on Tuesday night ... they are coached by Gary Adams (in his 26th season at the helm) ... last week UCLA dropped 2 out of 3 games to Cal State Northridge in a non-conference series ... probable pitching rotation for the Bruins: Fri., Rob Henkel (5-2, 3.86 ERA), Sat,. Josh Karp (5-1, 4.20 ERA), Sun., Bobby Roe (5-3, 4.98 ERA) ... as a team, UCLA is batting at a .319 clip, the third highest in the conference ... they are led by Bill Scott who is tied with ASU's Casey Myers for best average (.422) and most hits (68) in the league ... UCLA ranks among the top three in seven offensive categories including homeruns (75 to lead the Pac-10) ... the Bruins are currently in third place in the conference, just a half game out of first.
TEXAS LEFTY NOTCHES WIN NO. 8 -- Sophomore lefty Jon Switzer(Houston, Tx.) turned in another solid performance on Friday night pitching six innings, allowing only two runs with five strikeouts to secure his team-leading eighth win of the season. Switzer is now 8-1 overall, 2-1 in conference play with a stellar 2.66 ERA (his only loss is to then-No. 2 Stanford). He has been honred twice this year at Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week. He leads the team with 87 strikeouts and is holding opponent batters to a .192 average at the plate. He is ranked third in the conference in ERA (2.66 and opposing batting average (.192) and fourth in innings pitched (84.2) and strikeouts (87). For his career, Switzer is 15-5 with a 3.40 ERA and 165 strikeouts.
CASEY AT BAT -- Junior Casey Myers (Casa Grande) has been added to Baseball America's players to watch for their National Player of the Year award. The catcher has certainly put up impressive numbers in 2000, leading the conference in batting average (.422), hits (68) and on-base percentage (.522). He is second in RBI (65) behind teammate Mitch Jones. Myers hit .500 (6-for-12) vs. WSU with six runs scored and two RBI. He was perfect in the field with 23 putouts and four assists. Myers has quietly done an excellent job behind the plate , calling the pitches himself. He has been named conference player of the week three times during his career at ASU. Myers is leading the squad in multiple-hit games (22) and multiple-RBI games (19). He has hit safely in 36 of 42 games this season. Myers has notched 12 two-out RBI this year. He is hitting .478 with runners in scoring position and .474 with runners on base. Myers has 174 career RBI and needs just 17 more to enter the top 10 in the league.
Jones leads CONFERENCE with 22 homeruns -- Senior outfielder Mitch Jones (Orem, Utah) hit homerun No. 22 in ASU's 14-8 win over Washington State on Sunday. The slugger leads the team and conference in runs scored (64), homeruns (22), RBI (67) total bases (147) and slugging percentage (.850). Jones has tallied 20 multiple-hit games as well as 16 multiple-RBI games. His 22 homeruns is the most by a single ASU player since 1985 when Barry Bonds hit 23. Jones is currently hitting at a .370 clip and is second in doubles (13) and hits (64). He leads the conference and nation with 22 homeruns and ties him for fourth at ASU in a single season. Over half of his hits (37) have been for extra bases. Jones has notched a team-leading 17 two-out RBI. In league play, he is batting at a .404 clip with five homeruns.
the iceman cometh -- Junior Eric Doble notched his team-leading sixth save this weekend pitching a perfect ninth inning in ASU's 3-1 win over WSU on Saturday. The right-hander has taken over the closer role on the Devils pitching staff and has performed solidly. For the weekend, he pitched 3.0 innings, allowed three hits, no runs, had no walks with four strikeouts. Doble has four saves in conference play as well as a 2-0 record with a 2.16 ERA. For the year, Doble is now 3-1 with a team-leading six saves and a 3.25 ERA. He is leading the conference in games finished (16), games in relief (20) and second in saves (6) and appearances (20).
LOPEZ REDHOT IN CONFERENCE ACTION -- Junior third baseman Mike Lopez has been red hot lately raising his batting average to .380 on the year. Lopez had a terrific weekend vs. WSU going 8-for-11 (.727) with seven RBI and five RBI. Five of his eight hits were for extra bases. He is batting .400 in league play (16-for-40) and is tied for second with 11 RBI. Lopez is batting .417 vs. lefties and .408 with runners in scoring position. He is currently on a five-game hitting streak and has 10 multiple-hit games as well as 10 multiple-RBI games this season. Defensively, the infielder has been solid at the hot corner commiting only seven errors in 42 games.
LAST HOMERUN
Brooks Conrad vs. Washington State (April 14, 2000)
Phil Downing vs. Washington State (April 14, 2000)
Jeff Duncan vs. Maine (March 17, 2000)
Brendan Hines vs. LSU (February 19, 2000)
Mitch Jones vs. Washington State (April 16, 2000)
Mike Lopez vs. Washington State (April 14, 2000)
Jonah Martin vs. Arizona (March 4, 2000)
Casey Myers vs. Stanford (April 2, 2000)
Jeff Phelps vs. Washington State (April 14, 2000)
Trent Pratt vs. Arizona (March, 4, 2000)
AIN'T LOVE GRAND -- Right-handed 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.
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 |
ARIZONA STATE PROMOMTIONS FOR UCLA SERIES -- The first 1,000 fans through the gates at Packard Stadium will receive a free Jeff Duncan trading card Thursday night vs. UCLA (April 20). Game time is set for 7 p.m. Arizona State Baseball will host Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 22, when the third-ranked Sun Devils take on the 19th-ranked UCLA Bruins. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Packard Stadium. Each ASU faculty and staff member -- along with three of their guests -- will get in free by showing their ASU ID card (general admission). Each faculty and staff member will also receive a complimentary T-shirt. Kids will also be able to visit with the Easter Bunny, who will be in attendance at Saturday's game. For more information, please contact the ASU baseball office at 965-3677.
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
INJURY REPORT -- Outfielder Phil Downing sprained his right ankle in the Saturday game vs. WSU. He is expected to play this weekend vs. UCLA. Senior Will Waldrip has bone spurs in his pitching elbow. He will be able to DH and possibly be used in spot pitching situations. Freshman RHP Mike Esposito had successful Tommy John surgery on March 30 and is out for the rest of the season.
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 | 202.1 | 20-4 | 4.32 | 185 | 113 | 97 | 83 | 200 |
| Relievers | 168.2 | 13-5 | 3.91 | 162 | 84 | 73 | 85 | 168 |
| Total | 371.0 | 33-9 | 4.12 | 347 | 197 | 170 | 168 | 368 |
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.
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., Friday, April 7 vs. OSU, 7 p.m., Thursday, April 20 vs. UCLA, 7 p.m. and Friday, May 12 vs. Washington, 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. FOX Sports Bay Area will broadcast the March 26 game at California live at 1 p.m. PT.
FOR THE RECORD -- A start-by-start breakdown of LHP Jon Switzer and RHP Chad Pennington:
| 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) |
| vs. Maine | 7.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | W (6-0) |
| vs. California | 6.1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | ND |
| vs. #2 Stanford | 8.1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | L (6-1) |
| vs. Oregon State | 8.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | W (7-1) |
| vs. Washington State | 6.0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | W (8-1) |
| 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 |
| vs. Maine | 7.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | W (5-0) |
| vs. California | 6.2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | W (6-0) |
| vs. #2 Stanford | 3.0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ND |
| vs. Oregon State | 2.0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | L (6-1) |
| vs. Washington State | 8.0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | W (7-1) |
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. WASHINGTON STATE -- The Sun Devils swept the three game series from the Washington State Cougars to post their first sweep of a Pac-10 opponent this season (W, 24-3, W, 3-1, W, 14-8) ... Mitch Jones hit homerun No. 22 ... Chad Pennington had his longest outing of the season going 8.0 innings, scattering seven hits while allowing just one run in ASU's 3-1 win over WSU on Saturday ... Eric Doble picked up his sixth save of the year pitching a shutout inning on Saturday ... The Devils outscored the Cougars 41-12 for the series ... Mike Lopez had an exceptional weekend going 8-for-11 with a team-high seven RBI and five runs scored (Lopez notched five extra base hits) ... Arizona State hit .407 for the series ...on Saturday, Phil Downing hit two homeruns in consecutive at bats ... the Sun Devils committed only one error for the weekend ... Jon Switzer picked up his team-leading eighth win of the season in the Friday night game.
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.
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.
EDDIE HOUSE TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH ON THURSDAY NIGHT -- Eddie House, ASU's all-time leading scorer and the 2000 Pac-10 Men's Basketball Player of the Year, will throw out the first pitch Thursday night vs. the Bruins. With his 40 points vs. UCLA on Feb. 17, House became the first Pac-10 player to ever notch four 40-point games in one season.
ASU Record Breakdown
| Pac-10 | 9-3 |
| Non-Conference | 24-6 |
| Vs. Ranked Teams | 7-6 |
| Vs. Unranked Teams | 26-3 |
| Home Games | 27-6 |
| Road Games | 6-3 |
| Day Games | 24-4 |
| Night Games | 9-5 |
| Vs. Right-Hand Starters | 22-7 |
| Vs. Left-Hand Starters | 11-2 |
| One-Run Decisions | 5-4 |
| Two-Run Decisions | 5-1 |
| Extra Innings | 0-1 |
| Shutouts | 3-0 |
| ASU Scores First | 20-6 |
| Opponent Scores First | 13-3 |
| Led After Seven | 30-1 |
| Trailed After Seven | 1-8 |
| Tied After Seven | 2-0 |
| Led After Eight | 29-1 |
| Trailed After Eight | 1-7 |
| Tied After Eight | 1-1 |
| Out-hit Opponents | 26-1 |
| Out-hit by Opponents | 6-6 |
| January | 7-0 |
| February | 8-4 |
| March | 11-4 |
| April | 7-1 |
| May | 0-0 |
| Last 5 Games | 4-1 |
| Last 10 Games | 7-3 |
| Current Streak | W4 |
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