April 16, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Leading Off:
After taking two out of three in from State returns home to Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark to host the Oregon State Beavers in a three-game Pac-10 series. The Beavers dropped two of three to Stanford over the weekend in . They are 16-12 overall, 4-5 in Pac-10 play. Their game with on Tuesday was rained out.
Devils vs. :
ASU holds a 35-17 edge in the series against their Pac-10 rival, going 3-2 against them last season. beat 11-0 earlier this year in during the DeMarini Invitational. ASU swept the three game Pac-10 series last season in , while won in Surprise at the Coca-Cola Classic and in at the College World Series.
30 Win Seasons:
The Sun Devils won their 30th game of the year on Sunday against , marking the 46th consecutive season baseball has won at least 30 games. It is also the 48th season out of 50 that ASU has won at least 30 games.
200 Club:
With the win over Stanford on April 4, head coach Pat Murphy recorded his 200th career victory in Pac-10 play. Murphy now holds a 202-143 career mark in conference action, including conference titles in 2000 and 2007. Murphy has the third most Pac-10 victories among active coaches, trailing Stanford's Mark Marquess (516 in 31 years) and 's Ken Knutson (219 in 15 years). Murphy is in his 14th season at .
Facing Tough Competition:
The Sun Devils will face one of the toughest schedules in the country in 2008. 13 of their opponents are or have been ranked at some point this season, including nine who have spent time in the top ten. is in the midst of a stretch that will see it play 18 of 19 games against teams that have been ranked at one point this season.
Rankings:
is ranked #2 in Baseball , #3 in the NCBWA poll, the USA Today/Coaches Poll and in Collegiate Baseball. They are ranked fourth by Rivals.com.
Recap:
The Sun Devils took two out of three from the Cougars at , using a huge ninth-inning comeback on Sunday to win the series. ASU had no trouble scoring runs on Friday night, plating 15 in a 15-3 win. Brett Wallace went 4-7 with four RBI, while Jason Kipnis, Ike Davis and all added three hits. Josh Satow picked up the win on the mound, going six innings and striking out four...ASU was not as fortunate on Saturday, falling 10-4. The Cougars scored six unearned runs off Mike Leake...Sunday was a see-saw battle that saw WSU jump out to an early 3-0 lead, the Devils come back to take an 8-3 lead, then Washington State grab a 13-8 lead heading to the ninth. Marcel Champagnie, Ryan Sontag and Ike Davis all homered in the ninth to lead ASU to a come-from-behind 16-13 win.
Comeback Kids:
The Sun Devils turned in an amazing comeback on Sunday, scoring eight runs in the ninth to pull off the 16-13 win. The eight runs in the inning was the most since scored eight in the fifth against USC on March 28. ASU's last ninth inning comeback came in the Super Regional opener last season against Ole Miss, when they scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to win 4-3. The Devils trailed 6-0 after one on March 14, but came back to win 15-9. That marks the largest deficit overcome by the Devils this season.
Ike Davis The Man-Child:
Junior Ike Davis is turning in another stellar season, something ASU fans have become accustomed to over his three years in Maroon and Gold. RB-Ike had two homers on Sunday against , including his fourth career grand slam and the game-winning three-run shot in the ninth. It was Ike's fifth career multi-homer game, all of which have come this season and tied his career high with seven RBI. He also picked up the win on the mound, putting his record at 4-0. It gave 14 homers on the season, extending his career high. His previous high was nine, which he did during his Pac-10 Freshman of the Year campaign in 2006. He also has 57 RBI, eight short of his career high, also set in 2006. has 183 RBI in his career, good for 10th place on the school's all-time list. currently leads the nation in RBI (57), Slugging Percentage (.876) and is tied for first in doubles (20). He is second in homers (14) and total bases (120).
Most RBI, ASU History
1. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99 283
2. Casey Myers, 1998-2001.. 275
3. Clay Westlake, 1973-76.... 250
4. Jeff Larish, 2002-05......... 235
5. Bob Horner, 1976-78........ 229
6. Antone Williamson, 1992-94..... 203
7. Alvin Davis, 1979-82........ 200
8. Mike Kelly, 1989-91.......... 194
Ken Landreaux, 1974-76.... 194
10. Ike Davis, 2006-P......... 183
Mr. Double:
Ike Davis is climbing up the school's all-time doubles list. now has 63 doubles in his career, leaving him one shy of Casey Myers (1998-2000) for fifth all-time. Clay Westlake (1973-76) is the school's all-time leader with 88. has 20 this year after hitting 23 last season. The 20 doubles is tied for second most in the nation.
Most Career Doubles, ASU History
1. Clay Westlake, 1973-76.... 88
2. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99 75
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2002-04.... 71
4. Antone Williamson, 1992-94..... 70
5. Casey Myers, 1998-2000.. 64
6. Ike Davis, 2006-P.......... 63
7. Dan Rumsey, 1986-89...... 58
8. Jeff Phelps, 1998-2001..... 57
Jeff Larish, 2002-05.......... 57
Walk This Way:
Petey Paramore led the Pac-10 in bases on balls last season, totaling 53 in 64 games. His good eye has continued so far in 2008, as he has already drawn 35 walks. Paramore now has 122 walks in his career and is only the 22nd Sun Devil to ever draw over 100. The 122 walks ties him with Barry Bonds (1983-85) for seventh most in school history. Alvin Davis (1979-82) is the all-time leader with 207.
Most Career Walks, ASU History
1. Alvin Davis, 1979-82........ 207
2. Jeff Larish, 2002-05......... 200
3. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99 154
4. Clay Westlake, 1973-76.... 148
5. Doug Newstrom, 1991-93.. 131
6. Mike Kelly, 1989-91.......... 127
7. Barry Bonds, 1983-85....... 122
Petey Paramore, 2006-P. 122
9. Willie Bloomquist, 1997-99. 119
Rick Peters, 1974-77......... 119
Just Keep On Using Me:
Senior righty Tommy Rafferty has been one of the Pac-10's most dependable relievers out of the bullpen. Rafferty has made 20 appearances already this season, tops in the conference. Rafferty's six wins ties him for most victories in the Pac-10. He transferred to ASU from , where he made 19 appearances all of 2006. He sat out 2007 after did not grant him his release.
Wall Ball:
Only 22 players have ever hit a ball over the Green Monster at Packard Stadium, and three of them are on the current roster. Last season, Brett Wallace did it and earlier this season Jason Kipnis did it. Ike Davis joined the list against UC Irvine on March 23. All the more impressive, broke his bat on the swing. 16 of the 22 players to clear the wall were Sun Devils.
Keeping A Weather Eye:
is drawing a ton of walks as a team, drawing 226 so far this season. Last season they drew 319 free passes as a team. The school record for bases on balls in a season is 482, set in 1982. The Devils have also been hit by 38 pitches this year.
Sold Out:
March 28's game against USC was sold out, the second sell out of the season. The game against on March 18 also filled Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. and ticket brokers were asking for a reported $75 a ticket. ASU has already drawn over 70,000 fans this season. Friday night's game against the Beavers is also expected to be a sell out.
30-Game Starts:
The 2008 Sun Devils went 28-2 during their first 30 games, matching the 2003 Sun Devils for best start through the first 30 games of a season in school history. The 2003 team finished the year 54-14, falling to Cal State Fullerton in three games at the Fullerton Super Regional.
Players of the Week:
Ike Davis has been named to the 's National All-Star Lineup four times, including three straight weeks, and was named a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week. He was also named Pac-10 Player of the Week consecutive weeks, the first person since Travis Buck in 2004 to earn that distinction. Brett Wallace was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week following opening weekend and Marcel Champagnie was a National All-Star on March 4.
Call To The Hall For Bane and Bannister:
Legendary Sun Devil pitchers Eddie Bane and Floyd Bannister have been named to the College Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2008. Bane pitched for ASU from 1971 to 1973, recording a 40-4 career record with a 1.64 ERA. He threw the only perfect game in Sun Devil history, striking out 19 in a 9-0 win over Cal State Northridge in 1973. Bane is the school's leader in career strikeouts, fanning 535 in his three seasons in Maroon and Gold. Floyd Bannister went 38-6 with a 1.88 ERA from 1974 to 1976, throwing 29 career complete games, second most in school history. He won 19 games in 1976, tied for the school single season record, and struck out an ASU record 217 in 1975. He was the #1 overall pick in the 1976 MLB draft. Bane and Bannister join Bobby Winkles, Jim Brock and Bob Horner as Sun Devils in the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Family Matters:
Freshman OF/LHP Matt Newman has Maroon and Gold in his blood. His father, Randy, was a pitcher for the Sun Devils in 1981 and 1982, winning 15 career games and the 1981 National Championship. Freshman catcher Andrew Pollak is the brother of former Sun Devil football great Mike Pollak, who played center for the Devils from 2004 to 2007. Mike was a two-time All-Pac-10 performer. Andrew wears number 76, the same number Mike wore on the gridiron. UTL Mike Murphy is no relation to head coach Pat Murphy, although he is the first player named Murphy Pat Murphy has ever coached. New assistant coach Josh Holliday is the son of former head baseball coach Tom Holliday and the brother of current Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday.
2008 Pre-Season Honors:
ASU has several pre-season All-Americans on its roster. Brett Wallace and Josh Satow were both named First Teamers by the NCBWA as well as Collegiate Baseball. Petey Paramore joined them on the NCBWA list. Mike Leake was named a Second Team selection by both the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball. Kiel Roling was named to the Second Team by the NCBWA. Ike Davis was a Third Team selection by both the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball. Wallace, Davis and Paramore were all named Second Teamers by Baseball .
Pac-10 Picks:
The Sun Devils were picked to finish second in the Pac-10 in the annual preseason coaches poll. ASU got three first place votes, while was picked to win with six first place votes. won the Pac-10 last season. finished second.
Golden Spikes Watch List:
Ike Davis, Petey Paramore and Brett Wallace have all been named to the 2008 Golden Spikes Award Watch List. ASU has had three Golden Spikes winners, Bob Horner, Oddibe McDowell and Mike Kelly.
Wallace Award Watch List:
has four players on the Wallace Award Watch List. Brett Wallace, Josh Satow, Mike Leake and Petey Paramore are all on the initial list. Wallace was Semi-Finalist for the award last season.
Captain and the Bench Award Watch List:
Head coach Pat Murphy has named junior catcher Petey Paramore as the captain of the 2008 Sun Devils. Paramore has also been named to the Watch List for the Johnny Bench Award, the third straight year he has made the list.
Coach Murphy Honored:
Pat Murphy has been inducted into the Florida Atlantic University Baseball Hall of Fame. Murphy played for the Owls from 1981 to 1982, then coached three years at the school.
Honoring Pat Tillman:
Former ASU football player and American Hero Pat Tillman had strong ties to the ASU Baseball program. In addition to his brother Kevin playing for ASU, Pat became extremely close with head coach Pat Murphy. Murphy wears jersey #42 in honor of Tillman, and in January 2007, Murph donated $100,000 to the baseball program for the construction of the Tillman Training Room, a room that will honor both Pat and Kevin and their commitment to both and the . The team wears a memorial "PT*42" patch on their jerseys in honor of Pat.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils will play a pair of mid-week games at Cal State Fullerton before returning to to host in a three-game Pac-10 series.