Feb. 25, 2006
Box Score
WACO, Texas -- Baylor saw its season-opening five-game winning streak abruptly halted Saturday as the Bears dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Arizona State at Baylor Ballpark. The Sun Devils clipped the Bears 9-5 in the opener and completed the sweep with an 11-3 decision in the nightcap.
Baylor (5-2), which had played only five innings since Feb. 12 entering the day, showed signs of rust, especially on the mound. Bruin pitchers walked 13 batters and hit five others in the doubleheader.
Arizona State (10-4) built a 7-0 lead in the first game with two runs in the first, four in the third and another in the top of the fifth.
Baylor got back into the game with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Sodolak led off the inning with a single and later moved to second on a balk. The Bears then drew six consecutive walks to score the first three runs and then added a fourth on a wild pitch. However, ASU reliever Brett Bordes got an inning-ending double play to quell the rally.
The Sun Devils tacked on single runs in the sixth and eighth innings. Baylor scratched for a run in the bottom of the ninth but could get no closer.
Baylor batters drew 10 walks in the first game but also were struck out 10 times.
Starter Ryan LaMotta (2-1) was saddled with the loss. He allowed six runs on six hits and four walks over 4.0 innings.
Bordes (1-1) earned the victory for ASU, allowing one run on one hit and two walks with four strikeouts over 3.2 innings.
ASU again scored two first-inning runs in the nightcap and never looked back. The Sun Devils added single spots in the second, third, fourth and eighth innings along with a two-run sixth and a three-run seventh. Baylor posted single runs in the second, sixth and eighth frames.
Sun Devil starter Jeff Urlaub (3-0) earned the victory. He allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 7.0-plus innings, facing one batter in the eighth. Brady Martinez recorded the final six outs.
Baylor starter Cory VanAllen (1-1) left after 4.0 innings. In that time he was touched for five runs on four hits, a career-high four walks and a career-high three hit batsmen. VanAllen registered three strikeouts.
The Bears and the Sun Devils complete their three-game series Sunday at Baylor Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST. Baylor sends right-hander Tim Matthews (0-0) to the mound. ASU has not yet announced a starter for the series finale.
NOTES: Arizona State leads the all-time series 6-1. This is ASU's first trip to Waco. ... Kevin Russo saw his career-long 12-game hitting streak (dating back to last season) end in the first game. It was the longest active streak by a Baylor player and in the Big 12 Conference. ... Zach Dillon walked twice in the opener and once in the nightcap. He has now reached safely in 15 consecutive games dating back to the 2005 season. ... VanAllen snapped a personal three-decision winning streak with the loss in game two. ... Due to Friday night's rain out, Baylor will not play a Friday game in the month of February for the first time since 1985.
