April 22, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - Thanks to a timely hit by Matt Spencer, the Sun Devils were able to come-from-behind to sweep Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday, winning 9-6. Trailing 6-5 in the eighth, the Devils were able to rally to pull out the victory. The win improves ASU to 32-10 on the year.
The contest was shaping up to be a pitcher's duel, as both clubs swapped zeroes through the first four innings. Andrew Romine brought home the game's first run in the bottom of the fifth, singling home Ryan Sontag to give ASU a 1-0 lead. After the Devils loaded the bases with two away, Brett Wallace hit a rocket into the right field gap, scoring all three runs and putting the Devils up 4-0.
The lead did not last long, as the Ragin' Cajuns broke through against starter Brian Flores in the sixth. They scored five times off Flores, including a three-run homer that put Louisiana-Lafayette up 5-4. After walking the next hitter, Flores gave way to Ike Davis, who struck out the first batter he faced to end the inning.
The Devils loaded the bases again with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, with Matt Spencer at bat. On a two-two count, Ike Davis broke home from third base. The throw was not close, giving Davis a steal of home and knotting the game at 5-5.
The Cajuns struck again in the top of the seventh, this time pushing a run across off of Jason Jarvis to pull back ahead at 6-5.
That was the score with two outs in the bottom of the eighth with runners on second and third. Andrew Romine laid down a picture perfect bunt between the pitcher and first baseman. With no one to cover the bag, Romine was safe at first and Petey Paramore easily scored the tying run. Matt Spencer stepped up next and walloped a ball into the left-center gap, scoring Kiel Roling and Romine to make it 8-6 Arizona State.
Flores went 5.2 innings, walking three and striking out seven. He allowed five runs, all earned, on eight hits. He ended with a no decision. Jarvis pitched the games final three innings to pick up his first collegiate victory. He is now 1-1 on the season with five saves.
Brett Wallace finished the afternoon with three RBI, one of three Devils with multiple RBI. Tim Smith and Andrew Romine both had multi-hit games for ASU, who swept their third straight series.
The Sun Devils play the final game of their ten-game home stand on Wednesday night, hosting Hawai'i in a midweek contest. First pitch is at 7 p.m. from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.