April 23, 2001
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - No. 19 Arizona State (27-14-1) scored seven runs in the opening two innings Monday night as the Sun Devils held on for a 7-6 win over Gonzaga (21-19) at Packard Stadium. The teams will conclude the two game series on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
Arizona State did not waste any time putting runs on the board as the Sun Devils jumped on Gonzaga starter Ed Clelland (1-2) for seven runs in the opening two innings. In the first, Arizona State's first five batters reached with Rod Allen and Jeff Phelps clearing the bases with back-to-back doubles in the four run frame. In the second Casey Myers and Phelps contributed RBI singles to bring the total to seven.
Gonzaga scratched back as Nate Gold tripled to open the inning and scored on a ground out by John Gebbers. The Zags tacked on two more in the third as Danny Evans led off with a single and moved to third base on a double by Eric Rodland. Evans would score on an ensuing wild pitch by Sun Devils starter Jon Switzer and Rodland scored as a throw to third went sailing into left field.
After yielding seven runs in the opening two innings, Gonzaga relief pitchers held the Sun Devils offense in check not allowing a run over the final innings. Errol Simonitsch pitched four strong innings in relief working out of a jam for Clelland in the second inning. Greg Brooks followed Simonitsch to the mound and set down eight straight Sun Devils as the Zags bullpen allowed just three ASU hits after the first two innings.
The Zags closed the gap to 7-4 in the sixth as pinch-hitter Jeremy Davis connected for a double into the left field corner that scored Gebbers from first base. Gonzaga threatened a final time in the top of the ninth as Gebbers singled to open the inning and moved to second on a walk to Davis. Rodland then loaded the bases with his second hit of the game and only one out. Barry Matthews closed the gap to 7-6 with a two-RBI single to left that scored Gebbers and Davis.
Brian Munhall led the Gonzaga hitting attack with three of GU's twelve hits. ASU was led by Phelps with three hits while Drew Friedberg picked up the win in relief improving to 4-1 on the year. Despite losing the contest Gonzaga did move into a first-place tie for the Coast Division of the WCC as Portland defeated Santa Clara 10-1 in a game resumed from a Sunday rain out.
