March 22, 1998
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The 15th-ranked Arizona State baseball team (19-12, 8-6 Six-Pac) gave head coach Pat Murphy his 500th victory with a 7-6 win over the California Golden Bears (12-14-1, 0-10 Six-Pac) this afternoon in front of a crowd of 2,658 at Packard Stadium.
Arizona State's Pat Murphy becomes the youngest coach at age 39 to reach 500 victories (with 75 percent of wins coming at Division I level).
Arizona State, which trailed California 2-6 entering the bottom of the ninth, scored five runs to seal the victory. Shortstop Michael Collins led off the inning with a walk off of Cal reliever Brad Steele. Pinch hitter Jay Sitzman popped out to the second baseman for the first out of the inning. Centerfielder Rudy Arguelles was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Sophomore Willie Bloomquist then doubled to right to score Collins.
Rightfielder Mikel Moreno singled to right to score Arguelles and send Bloomquist to third. After a pitching change, thrid baseman Andrew Beinbrink knocked a double to leftcenter to score Bloomquist and Moreno to tie up the game. Freshman Casey Myers hit the game-winning single to left to score Beinbrink. Freshman Chad Pennington (2-1) picked up the win for the Devils in relief, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out three. For the afternoon, Beinbrink went two-for-four with one run scored and two RBI. Freshman Jeff Phelps went two-for-three with one run scored and one walk.
For the Golden Bears of California, pitcher Jason Dennis went three-for-four at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI. On the mound, Dennis got a no-decision, going 8.0 strong innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, one earned, three walks and six strikeouts. Shortstop Xavier Nady went two-for-five, including two doubles, two RBI and one run scored. Leftfielder Curtis Johnson went two-for-four with one run scored. Losing pitcher for the Bears was reliever Ryan Atkinson (1-3), who faced two batters in the ninth, and gave up two hits and one run.
The Sun Devils will next face Grand Canyon University in a mid-week matchup at Brazelle Stadium in Phoenix before traveling to Seattle, Washington for a three-game nonconference series with the Washington Huskies.
California 220 000 200 6 12 2
Arizona State 010 000 105 7 11 2
Winner -- Pennington (2-1) Loser -- Atkinson (1-3) Save -- None
Umpires: Hernandez, Daugherty, Jenkins
Time: 3:16 Attn: 2,658
