#9 Arizona State Too Much for Delaware in Doubleheader Affair, Hens Swept by Scores of 9-2 and 10-2
February 26, 2011
Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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• Game 1 Boxscore
• Game 2 Boxscore
TEMPE, Ariz. - - After taking the first game of the four game set against ninth ranked team in the country, the University of Delaware baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday to the five-time College World Series Champions, 9-2 and 10-2, at Packard Stadium.
The victory on Friday marks the highest ranked opponent the Blue Hens have defeated since beating no. 8 North Carolina in the 1983 NCAA East Regional Baseball Tournament. They also defeated #16 South Carolina the day before on May 27.
The Blue Hens last win against a ranked team was in 2001 against no. 18 East Carolina. Delaware took the final game of the series 10-7 (10 innings) on March 3.
In today's doubleheader the Sun Devils (5-1) smacked 33 hits on the day while the Pac-10 pitching staff only gave up 11 over 18 innings of work.
In game one, senior Steve Ulaky (at right) led the Blue Hens (2-4) with two hits and an RBI as the offense could only muster four hits off Sun Devil starter Kyle Ottoson. Ulaky smacked his third double of the season as drove in the tying run in the top half of the third. The Blue Hens took the lead when Phoenix native Hank Yates grounded out to shortstop, chasing Ulaky home from third.
Blue Hen starter Corey Crispell was effective through the first four innings, but let the first two hitters on in the fifth before being pulled in favor of Nick Young. Those two runners came around to score to end Crispell’s line.
The Sun Devils were a torrent on the base paths, as they stole six bases and forced a balk, responding to the Blue Hens coming out last night and shocking them with their first loss of the season. They scored eight unanswered runs and two runs in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth to take the ball game.
In game two, Arizona State continued with its hot bats in the early going, putting a three spot on the board in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back doubles with one out set up the big inning. Johnny Ruettiger tripled to the gap in left center field, chasing both runners home. The winning run came in the form of a groundout to Dave Anderson at shortstop as Ruettiger scored the third run.
The Devils scored one more in the fourth and had another crooked inning as they sent five across home plate to put it out of reach in the fifth.
The Blue Hens got on the board in the seventh as reliever Josh Moody walked the bases loaded without recording an out. Pat Dameron sent a long fly ball to deep center field as Ruettiger brought it in on the warning track. The fly ball turned into a sacrifice fly as Alex Mottle came home. Ulkay tacked on another hit for his day, as he added another RBI with a single through the right side, scoring Anderson.
Devon Pearson got the nod for the Blue Hens in the night cap, throwing 3.1 innings with nine hits and four runs. He was charged with the loss, his first of the season.
Dameron went 2-for-4 with an RBI in game two. Yates finished game two as the only other Blue Hen to register two hits, going 2-for-3 in his home state.
Delaware returns east for a March 1 showdown at Maryland Baltimore County. Then the Blue Hens have a quick turnaround and have their home opener on March 2 against St. Joseph’s at Bob Hannah Stadium. First pitch against UMBC will be at 3 p.m.
Additional Game Notes from Friday’s 7-3 victory over ASU:
The Sun Devils moved two up two spots in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after a sweep over New Mexico last weekend. The victory marks the highest ranked opponent the Blue Hens have defeated since beating no. 8 North Carolina in the 1983 NCAA East Regional Baseball Tournament. They also defeated #16 South Carolina the day before on May 27.
Delaware hasn’t played a ranked opponent since 2007, when they lost a three-game series to no. 7 Virginia. The Blue Hens last win against a ranked team was in 2001 against no. 18 East Carolina. Delaware took the final game of the series 10-7 (10 innings) on March 3.
AGATE
Game 1 –
Delaware……......... 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 2 4 4
#9 Arizona State….. 1 0 0 2 2 2 0 2 X – 9 17 0
E – Dameron (2); Ulaky (1); Anderson 2 (2). LOB – Delaware 8; Arizona State 9. 2B – Ulaky (3); MacPhee (2); Torrez, Ri. (2); Wilson 3 (4); Ruiz (1); HBP – Long; Dameron; Yezzo; Branigan. SB – Ruettiger 2 (9); Torrez, Ri. 2 (4); Wilson (2); Marrero (3).
Win – Ottoson (2-0). Loss – Crispell (0-1). Save – None.
Game 2 –
Delaware…………... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 – 2 7 0
#9 Arizona State…… 0 3 0 1 5 0 1 0 X – 10 16 1
E – Barnes (1). LOB – Delaware 10; Arizona State 11. 2B – Dameron (2); Ruettiger (1); Torrez, Ri. (3); Barnes 2 (4); Workman 2 (2). 3B – Ruettiger (1). HBP – Beau Maggi. SB – MacPhee (2).
Win – Champlin (2-0). Loss – Pearson (0-1). Save – None.
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