Feb. 27, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State starting pitcher Jeff Mousser recorded five no-hit innings and the No. 7 Sun Devil offense unloaded for season highs with 18 runs and 21 hits in an 18-2 victory over Connecticut Friday evening at Packard Stadium.
The Sun Devils won their 14th straight at Packard Stadium and fourth overall in 2004 to improve to 10-2. UConn opened up the Jim Penders era with a loss to fall to 0-1.
ASU pounded out 21 hits and scored in all but three innings. Junior Chris Cook (Mesa) was 4-for-4 with four RBI after coming into the game as a pinch-hitter in the third inning. He had two doubles and capped his career night with a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Devils got hits from 13 different players, including a 3-for-3 performance from Nick Cadena (Glendale). Junior All-American Jeff Larish (Tempe) was also 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and four RBI. Junior reserve Ryan McKenna (2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI) tabbed ASU's first triple of the year and junior third baseman Frank Mesa (Yuma) recorded his first multi-hit game of the year by going 2-for-3.
Mousser (Tempe) picked up his first win as a Sun Devil with his five hitless and scoreless innings. The transfer from BYU struck out two and walked three to lower his season ERA to 1.99. Freshmen relievers Josh Blake (Overland Park, Kan.), Quentin Andes (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Travis Webb (Spokane, Wash.), along with junior Ty Marotz (Crystal Lake, Ill.) limited the Huskies to three hits and two runs over the final four innings.
In the last four games, ASU's pitching staff has recorded a two-hitter and a trio of three-hitters while combining for a stellar 0.75 ERA.
The Devils scored runs in four of the first five innings, including a season-high seven in the third, to jump to a 14-0 lead. Larish plated four runs on a two-run double in the first and a two-run single in the third. Freshman center fielder Colin Curtis (Issaquah, Wash.) added his third homer of the year with an opposite field, three-run home run as part of the big third inning.
UConn starter Jeff Hourigan, a transfer from Clemson, was roughed up for nine hits and 11 runs (seven earned) in two and two-thirds innings to take the loss. Russ D'Argento, Hourigan and Dave Tokars recorded the three UConn hits.
The Devils and Huskies continue the three-game non-conference series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Packard Stadium. ASU lefty Pat Cassa (1-1, 2.70 ERA) is scheduled to go against UConn right-hander Mike James.
Game Notes: ASU scored in the first inning for the eighth time in 12 games this year, including four of the last five games... the Devils now have 24 first-inning runs... Pedroia led off a game with a hit to lead off a game for the Devils for the eight time in 12 games... he extended his hitting streak to six games and now has at least one hit in 11 of 12 games... the seven-run third inning tied a season high for runs scored in a single frame... Colin Curtis's three-run homer to left field in the third was his team-leading third of the year and extended his hitting streak to a team-high seven games... the Devils tallied season highs in hits (21) and runs (18)... ASU's pinch-hitters were 4-for-6 Friday, improving from only 1-for-19 prior to tonight... Cook and Cadena combined to go a perfect 7-for-7 after both did not start the game... junior outfielder Joe Cosentino made his ASU debut as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and reached on an error... McKenna's eighth inning triple was ASU's first of the year... Pedroia struck out twice, having entered the game without a strikeout in 48 at-bats this season. Arizona State 18, Connecticut 2 (Feb 27, 2004 at Tempe, Ariz.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Connecticut......... 000 000 110 - 2 3 2 (0-1) Arizona State....... 317 030 04X - 18 21 0 (10-2) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Connecticut - Hourigan; MacDonald(3); Potvin(5); Garry(8). Arizona State - Mousser; Blake(6); Andes(7); Webb(8); Marotz(8). Win-Mousser(1-0) Loss-Hourigan(0-1) T-3:16 A-2163 HR ASU - Curtis (3); Cook (1). --Sun Devil Baseball--