March 13, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State junior shortstop Dustin Pedroia went 4-for-4 with a career-high five RBI to lead the No. 5 Sun Devils to a convincing 11-3 victory over No. 11 Tulane Saturday afternoon at Packard Stadium.
The Devils never trailed in the game, as Pedroia (Woodland, Calif.) jump-started the ASU offense with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. The junior All-American, who entered the game in an 0-for-10 slump, broke out with a two-run single in the fourth, a single in the sixth and a two-run double in the seventh.
The Sun Devils improved to 16-3 with the victory and bounced back from Friday's 5-3 loss to the Green Wave. ASU has now recorded a win after each of the three losses this season and improved to 9-1 against ranked opponents. Tulane had its four-game win streak snapped to fall to 12-4 on the season.
Junior starting pitcher Jason Urquidez (Simi Valley, Calif.) kept his perfect record intact to improve to 6-0. The right-hander allowed four hits and one run in five and two-thirds innings while striking out five. Four of his six wins have come against nationally ranked opponents. Freshman right-hander Quentin Andes (Albuquerque, N.M.) sealed the victory with two and two-thirds scoreless frames.
Tulane starting pitcher J.R. Crowel (3-1) took the loss giving up seven hits and seven runs in five innings. The 2003 Freshman All-American walked four and struck out three to fall to 3-1 on the season. ASU also tabbed relievers Tyler Kimmons (1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R) and Joey Charron (1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R) for four runs over the final three innings.
The Devils jumped out of the gates with a pair of runs in the first inning. Pedroia led off with a solo home run on the third pitch of the game to put ASU on the scoreboard. Junior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch (Scottsdale) followed with a two-out double to the left field gap to score Jeff Larish all the way from first base.
ASU added to its lead with a four-run fourth inning. Pedroia started the rally with a two-run single to left field and after a pair of Tulane fielding miscues, Larish plated two more with a double down the left field line. The Devils added a run in the fifth on a single by designated hitter Nick Cadena (Glenadale) and extended the lead to 8-1 on a run-scoring groundout by Travis Buck (Richland, Wash.).
Tulane finally pushed a run across on a bases loaded walk by Urquidez in the sixth. Freshman reliever Pat Cassa inherited the bases loaded, but got out of the jam with a groundball. The Green Wave added two more in the seventh to cut the ASU lead to 8-3.
Pedroia tallied two more RBI to his career-high total with a two-run double in the seventh and Larish added his second home run of the season with a solo shot in the eighth.
In addition to Pedroia's team-leading ninth multi-hit game of the year, Gosewisch (2-for-5, RBI) and Larish (2-for-4, 3 R, 4 RBI) fueled ASU's 13-hit attack. The Devils rebounded from a season-low-tying four hits Friday by scoring in double-digits for the ninth time this season.
Tulane was led at the plate by a pair of hits each from first baseman Brian Bormaster (2-for-4, R, RBI) and center fielder Matt Barket (2-for-2, 2 BB).
The Sun Devils and Green Wave will meet in the rubber-match of the three-game non-conference series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Packard Stadium. Sophomore left-hander Brett Bordes (1-0, 8.31 ERA) is schedule to start for the Devils against Tulane senior right-hander Cory Hahn (3-0, 0.50 ERA).
Game Notes: Dustin Pedroia broke out of his 0-for-10 slump with four hits and a career-high five RBI... his first-inning home run was his fourth of the year and ninth of his career... it was also his second leadoff homer this year and third of his career... with the two first-inning runs, ASU has now scored in the first frame in 11 of its 19 games... the Devils had the leadoff hitter reach in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th innings... Urquidez recorded a career-high with five walks... ASU's two home runs give them 21 on the year and at least one homer in eight straight games and 11 of last 12... sophomore right fielder Travis Buck had his seven-game hitting streak and five-game homer streak snapped by going 0-for-4 with one RBI. Arizona State 11, Tulane 3 (Mar 13, 2004 at Tempe, Ariz.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tulane.............. 000 001 200 - 3 8 3 (12-4) Arizona State....... 200 411 21X - 11 13 1 (16-3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Tulane - Crowel; Kimmons(6); Charron(7). Arizona State - Urquidez; Cassa(6); Andes(7). Win-Urquidez(6-0) Loss-Crowel(3-1) T-3:16 A-2650 HR ASU - Pedroia (4); Larish (2). --Sun Devil Baseball--