March 27, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State senior Nick Walsh went 2-for-4 with two RBI as the Sun Devils scored nine two-out runs to beat the Washington Huskies 9-4 Saturday afternoon in Pac-10 baseball action at Packard Stadium.
The No. 8 (Sports Weekly/ESPN) Sun Devils bounced back from Friday's series-opening 11-1 loss to even the series and set up Sunday's rubber match with the Huskies. ASU improved to 21-6 overall and 2-3 in Pac-10 play. Washington drops to 14-7-1 and 1-1 in conference action. ASU is now 5-1 after a loss this season.
ASU starting pitcher Brett Bordes (Mesa) recovered from early wildness to hold the potent Husky lineup to four hits and four runs over six innings. The sophomore left-hander walked five, including three in the first inning, but recovered nicely and struck out six to improve to 2-0 on the year. Freshman reliever Quentin Andes (Albuquerque, N.M.) earned the save, finishing off the victory by allowing only one hit in three scoreless innings.
UW starter Keaton Everitt lasted just two and two-thirds innings, giving up four hits and five runs. He also walked four and was saddled with the loss to fall to 3-2 on the year. Reliever David Dowling (3.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R) and Jamie Hawkins (2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R) also saw action for the Huskies.
Both teams exchanged runs in the first two innings. ASU and UW each walked in a run in the first frame. After sophomore All-American shortstop Brent Lillibridge gave the Huskies a 2-1 lead with a two-out single in the second, ASU's Dustin Pedroia provided the equalizer with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning.
The Devils then took the lead for good with a five-run third inning. Junior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch (Scottsdale) started the rally with a two-out single to score Zechry Zinicola (San Bernadino, Calif.) and a fielding error on the play scored another run. Freshman first baseman Joe Persichina (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.) plated another run with a double to left field and Walsh capped the scoring with a run-scoring single up the middle.
Bordes gave up two runs in the fifth, but retired the side in three of his last four innings to squelch and thoughts of a UW comeback. ASU added two insurance runs in the seventh with Walsh again providing a two-out single to push a run across the plate.
Walsh (Alamo, Calif.) finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and Gosewisch was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Persichina added his sixth multi-hit game by going 2-for-4. Pedroia (Woodland, Calif.) smashed his fifth home run of the year and 10th of his career to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
UW was limited to only five hits in the loss, with cleanup hitter Zach Clem leading the way going 2-for-4 with a run and a double.
The Huskies and Sun Devils meet in the rubber match of the three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Packard Stadium. ASU freshman right-hander Zechry Zinicola (2-1, 4.26) will go against Husky freshman Richie Lentz (2-2, 6.35 ERA).
Game Notes: Jeff Larish singled in the first inning to extend his hitting steak to five games... Dustin Pedroia went 1-for-4 to extend his streak to nine games... Pedroia's second-inning home run was his fifth of the year and 10th of his career... the blast to left field was also his 250th career hit as a Sun Devil. Arizona State 9, Washington 4 (Mar 27, 2004 at Tempe, Ariz.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington.......... 110 020 000 - 4 5 2 (14-7-1, 1-1 Pac-10) Arizona State....... 115 000 20X - 9 10 0 (21-6, 2-3 Pac-10) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Washington - Everitt; Dowling(3); Hawkins(7). Arizona State - Bordes; Andes(7). Win-Bordes(2-0) Save-Andes(2) Loss-Everitt(3-2) T-2:49 A-2588 HR ASU - Pedroia (5). --Sun Devil Baseball--