ASU Escapes with 7-6 Win

Friday, March 9

Tempe, Ariz.

7:00 PM

Long Beach State University

8-5

Arizona State

13-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Long Beach State	0	0	0	4	0	0	2	0	0	6	9	0
Arizona State	1	0	0	4	0	0	0	2	X	7	14	1

3/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Dirtbags Fall in Barn Burner, 7-6
ASU's Sogard Drives in Four; One Last Gasp Comes in the Ninth

March, 9, 2007

BOX SCORE

TEMPE, AZ-- Eric Sogard three times gave No. 11-ranked Arizona State (13-5) the lead, hitting a two-run home run in the eighth to lead the Sun Devils to a series opening 7-6 lead. LBSU put two runners on in the ninth, as ASU then escaped with the one-run victory.

With two outs, LBSU walked twice to set up a potential tying situation, but a popup single by Brandon Godfrey to the right of the mound, instead led to the final out being recorded at third base as LBSU's two base runners were stuck at third in limbo for the final out on a throw across the diamond.

Sogard's finished the day 4-for-4 with four RBIs, hitting a solo home run in the first and an RBI single in the fourth, as LBSU took leads in the fourth and seventh innings.

Andrew Liebel (2-1) was tagged for his run of the season in eight appearances, going three and one-third innings of relief, allowing just one hit until he gave up the two-run home run to Sogard. Robert Perry had three hits and RBI in the losing cause.

Mike Leake (3-1), ASU's own ace reliever, pitched the final four and two-third innings, giving up the lead in the seventh, before winning it two innings later.

The Beach took a 6-5 lead in the seventh inning scoring twice. A Perry single scored Matt Cline from second with one out, before Chris Nelson scored from second on an ensuing RBI single from Brandon Godfrey after ASU retook the lead 5-4.

Both teams traded four-run rallies in the fourth, as LBSU led 4-1, before Arizona State scored four of their own and led 5-4 after four innings. ASU scored their first five runs all with two outs.

The Beach took advantage of a Josh Satow later to eventually load the bases as a squeeze by Kip Masuda with the bases loaded made it 3-1, before a Ted Pattock RBI single, in his first game and start of the year, made it 4-1.

Vance Worley gave up a career-high 10 hits, on five runs over four innings, while ASU ace Josh Satow didn't fair much better, giving up four runs on four hits over four and one-third innings, as both teams handed it over to their bullpens early.

The series continues on Saturday at noon Pacific Standard Time and at 1 p.m. on Sunday Pacific Daylight Time. Omar Arif (1-2, 2.41) is slated to go against Brian Flores (2-0, 1.98) on Saturday.