Feb. 26, 2005

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back en route to an 12-4 victory Saturday against No. 8 Baylor at Packard Stadium. After taking Friday night's series opener 5-3, the Sun Devils clinch the three-game weekend series.

Baylor (5-4) rallied on three occasions in the middle innings, but each time Arizona State (8-9) at least matched the Bears' run total in the bottom of the inning. ASU pulled away late with a run in the seventh and three runs in the eighth. The Bears' pitching staff allowed season highs of 12 runs and 16 hits on the day.

With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the first, Colin Curtis drew a walk and Jeff Larish followed with an RBI double. Tuffy Gosewisch continued the scoring for the Sun Devils, plating Larish with a single to center. ASU stretched its lead to 3-0 in the third on a Curtis suicide squeeze RBI bunt single.

Baylor got on the board in the top of the fourth thanks to a Kyle Reynolds solo home run. However, the Devils quickly responded in the bottom of the frame on a Willy Fox two-run homer. Baylor again rallied in the fifth with a pair of two-out runs only to see ASU put three runs on the board in the bottom of the inning.

Cory VanAllen (2-1) suffered the roughest outing of his career, giving up six runs on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout in 4.0 innings. Prior to Saturday's game, VanAllen had only allowed only two earned runs in six career starts and only one run in his first two starts this season.

Brett Bordes (1-2) earned the victory in relief; he allowed one run on three hits and a walk in 2.0 innings of work.

Reynolds and Paul Witt led the Bears at the plate. Reynolds was 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Witt was 2-for-5 with two runs, two doubles and an RBI.

Baylor and Arizona State complete the three-game series Sunday at 2 p.m. CST. The Bears send right-hander Mark McCormick (0-1) to the mound opposite ASU southpaw Erik Averill (2-2).