June 3, 2006
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HOUSTON, Texas - Ryan LaMotta struck out Willy Fox with runners at first and second to end the game as Baylor defeated No. 16 Arizona State 3-2 in Saturday's first-round action of the NCAA Houston Regional at Reckling Park. Baylor (36-24) has won seven straight in regional play and five consecutive first-round games. Arizona State (36-20) dropped its second first-round regional game in the last three years.
The game began Friday night but was suspended with a runner on first and no outs in the top of the second. LaMotta (7-6), who relieved starter Cory VanAllen as play resumed Saturday, held Arizona State to a pair of runs, one earned, on eight hits and a walk with eight strikeouts, tying a career high. The Sun Devils entered the game averaging 7.8 runs per game, 25th nationally.
"It was a heck of a game," Baylor head coach Steve Smith said. "Both teams played very well. Obviously the key for us was the job Ryan did. That's a heck of a game to throw to not even get credit for a complete game. It really was a champion effort on his part. We got enough timely hits that he was able to make them stand up."
Baylor led 3-1 entering the bottom of the ninth. Brett Wallace led off the inning with a sinking liner toward the hole at second; however, Kevin Russo made a diving snag and threw out Wallace at first. Preston Paramore and pinch hitter C.J. Retherford followed with consecutive singles up the middle.
The Bears had a chance to get out of the jam with a game-ending double play, but third baseman Drew Bias' throw to second to begin a potential around-the-horn twin-killing was wide, loading the bases.
Smith began to make his way to the mound for the second time in the inning, but LaMotta waved him off. Ryan Sontag flied to center, scoring Paramore on a sacrifice fly, and Fox struck out to end the game.
"It didn't really come as a big surprise," Smith said of being waved off. "I haven't ever had anybody look at me quite like that before. It made the decision easy for me. It's not like we've got instant outs sitting down in the bullpen. We've got some options down there. I didn't want to put (LaMotta) in a position where he could take the loss. Obviously he didn't care about that. He wanted to win the game. It was a really easy decision once he did that."
It was the 111th career appearance for LaMotta, tying Zane Carlson's school record. LaMotta, who had 92 career relief appearances in his first three seasons at Baylor, made his first relief appearance of the season Saturday.
Saturday was LaMotta's school-record 10th appearance in NCAA Tournament play; no other Baylor pitcher has appeared in more than six tournament games. LaMotta lowered his school record ERA in NCAA Tournament play to 1.64, allowing six earned runs in 33.0 innings (also a school record).
Baylor grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on Zach Dillon's two-run double. Dillon snapped an 0-for-14 slump with the two-bagger, stopping his longest hitless spell since April 2004. Beamer Weems and Matt Sodolak put together consecutive one-out doubles in the fourth, pushing Baylor's lead to 3-0.
Arizona State got a run back in the bottom of the fourth Wallace's seventh home run of the season, a solo shot down the line in right. That was the lone earned run LaMotta allowed as the Sun Devils stranded eight runners, four in scoring position, and had two base runners caught stealing.
Dillon finished 2-for-4, recording the 50th multiple-hit game of his career. Weems also was 2-for-4.
Baylor returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT in a winner's bracket game against host and top-seeded Rice. The Owls defeated the Bears 6-4 at Baylor Ballpark during the regular season.
NOTES: Arizona State leads the all-time series 6-3. This was the teams' first meeting at a neutral site. ... LaMotta also had eight strikeouts in an 8.1-inning relief outing against Kansas at the 2005 Big 12 Conference Tournament. ... LaMotta moved into third place on Baylor's career innings pitched list. With 316.1 innings, he passed Burl Coker (1975-78), Jason Jennings (1997-99) and Josh Scott (1998-01). He now trails only Steven White (2000-03) and Kris Lambert (1994-97). ... LaMotta moved into sixth place on Baylor's career strikeouts list with 259, passing Trey Taylor (2002-05).
