CWS: Sun Devils Use Long Ball

By Doug Kroll - June 16, 2007

Finally not a slugfest. In today's opening game, Arizona State defeated UC Irvine by the final score of 5-4. Shockingly, a team didn't hit double digits in the hit department!! Pitching, what a concept!

Like yesterday, though, this one was all about "momentum," or like a basketball game, it was a game of runs (figuratively speaking). Arizona State got on the board first in the second inning with Matt Spencer's three-run homerun, his ninth homerun of the year. It was an absolute no doubt abouter. But then the Anteaters showed some fight.

In the top of the fourth, Bryan Petersen hit a two run triple to leftfield to cut the lead to 3-2. Sean Madigan followed with an RBI double to tie the game. Ollie Linton connected on an RBI single to take the lead 4-3, but the at-bat Irvine may want to remember is Tyler Vaughn who left runners on 2nd and 3rd as he grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

The longball continued then for ASU, as CJ Retherford hit a solo homer, his fourth of the year to tie the game, and then the big blow by Ike Davis in the bottom of the 8th sealed the deal for the Sun Devils, sending them into the winner's bracket on Monday.

Your winning pitcher is Jason Jarvis, who improves to 2-2 on the year.

Your losing pitcher is Scott Gorgen, who falls to 12-3 on the season.

The attendance in the first session here at Rosenblatt, 19,368. Off to the press room, be back with much more.