Feb. 29, 2008
Box Score
SURPRISE, Ariz. -
Five Sun Devil pitchers combined to throw a five hit shut out as #1 Arizona State beat Hawai'i 3-0 in the Coca-Cola Classic at Surprise Stadium. Stephen Sauer went 2.1 innings, fanning four to earn his first career victory. Arizona State moves to 5-0 on the year and improves to 9-7 all-time at Surprise Stadium.
Jason Franzblau got the start for the Devils, lasting three innings and allowing no hits. Sauer, Reyes Dorado and Tommy Rafferty followed before Jason Jarvis came on with two on and two out in the ninth to record his first save of the season.
The ASU offense wasn't as explosive as it had been at Packard Stadium, but the outstanding efforts on the hill were enough for Arizona State to pick up the victory.
Ike Davis scored the games first run in the bottom of the second, scoring from second when the Hawai'i shortstop couldn't handle a grounder off the bat of Marcel Champagnie.
Raoul Torrez put the Devils up 2-0 in the seventh, tripling off the wall in left center to score Matt Newman from first. Champagnie would make it 3-0 in the eighth, tripling for the second time in the game to bring home Petey Paramore from third.
The Rainbows threatened to score in several innings, put the Sun Devil bullpen made key pitches when they had to, preventing Hawai'i from pushing a run across. Rainbow batters struck out ten times.
Champagnie was 3-4 with an RBI, while Jason Kipnis, Davis and Paramore each had two hits. Hawai'i starter Jared Alexander lasted 6.1, striking out five and allowing two runs, one earned. The earned run was the first one given up by him in his first 19 innings this year.
In the other Coca-Cola Classic game this afternoon, Portland defeated Michigan 4-3.
The Devils continue the Coca-Cola Classic tomorrow, facing the Michigan Wolverines at 4 p.m. at Surprise Stadium.
