While Murphy's team came out on top 18-6, part of him felt bad about it.

"It's sloppy college baseball early in the year," Murphy said. "I hate competing against [Corbin] because we're such good friends. I hate it. I especially hate it when the game gets out of hand. It certainly didn't look like No. 3 vs. No. 1 today."

The game featured 6 ASU errors, something that Murphy said they will certainly have to address, but that they just aren't a good defensive team at this point.

As for the offense, the 18 runs speak for themselves, and it was in large part to lead off hitter Brett Wallace, who accepted his promotion from the cleanup spot yesterday to the top spot in the lineup by belting two home runs including a grand slam, and knocking home 7 runs.

"I don't think it really matters, I mean I like hitting more each game so maybe I get one or two more at-bats," Wallace said. "Other than leading off to start the game I don't really see a difference."

Good starting pitching also helped the Sun Devils overcome their mistakes in the field. Sophomore Mike Leake went 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), while walking none and striking out 4.

The key to his good start? As Murphy bragged after the game to the assembled reporters, Leake lost a 3-point shooting contest this morning by one shot to the 49-year old head coach. Maybe it will become a tradition, even though Leake said that Murphy got 10 warmups.

"We had a three-point shooting contest and all I'm saying is that I won," Murphy said. "I hit the last shot, and I nailed it. There was never any doubt."

As for the Commodores, they'll certainly see better days after Corbin saw his pitching staff issue 14 walks on Saturday. Starter Brett Jacobson lasted 3+ while allowing 6 runs, on 4 hits, while walking 4 and striking out 5.

The walks were the key in Corbin's mind.

"It basically came down to the fact we gave up 14 freebies to 2 for them," Corbin said. "You need to throw strikes."

The announced crowd of 3,300 enjoyed a gorgeous day in the desert, with temperatures in the mid 60s and bright sunshine. To Corbin, the only good part of the day was that it was sunny outside.

But as many feel, Murphy believes his buddy's team is still one of the best in the country, and will be there in Omaha in the end. It certainly helped ASU's cause today that Vandy slugger Pedro Alvarez was a late scratch from the lineup, explained Murphy, upon hearing that news, he took a deep breath.

As for the rest of the ASU lineup, first baseman Ike Davis broke out in a big way, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, but left the game with an apparent hamstring injury, while Jason Kipnis continued his impressive start to his Sun Devils career after transferring from Kentucky, by going 2-for-3 with another homerun and 3 RBI. In fact, it was a phone call between Murphy and Corbin that landed Kipnis in Tempe.

"The way we got Jason Kipnis was when his release came in," Murphy said,"I called Tim Corbin since he was in his conference and I knew he couldn't be released to the same conference, and I said that I was going to mention one name and want your first reaction. So I said 'Kipnis' and he said 'take him' and the rest his history."

Shea Robin was the only Commodore to have a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 in a game that Vandy will try and forget about quick before tomorrow's weekend finale against Miami (Ohio).