University of Washington
Arizona St
Esposito Fans 17 Huskies In ASU Win
March 29, 2002 | Baseball
March 29, 2002
MESA, Ariz. - Arizona State ace Mike Esposito struck out a career-high 17 batters, including all three in the ninth inning, to lead the 15th-ranked Sun Devils to an 8-3 win over the Washington baseball team in game two of a Pac-10 Conference series Friday evening at Hohokam Park.
Esposito, a member of the U.S. National Team last summer, went the distance to improve to 6-3 on the year. His 17 strikeouts were sixth-most in Arizona State history, trailing Sterling Slaughter's school record of 22. He allowed eight hits and three runs while walking only one as the Sun Devils (3-2 Pac-10, 19-10 overall) drew even in the series. Washington fell to 1-1 in the conference and 12-9-1 overall.
Washington got on the scoreboard first, taking advantage of inexperienced ASU catcher Joel Bocchi. Second baseman Greg Isaacson (Aberdeen) walked to open the third inning. He stole second and then advanced to third base on Bocchi's errant throw. After Brandon Jacobson (Issaquah) was hit by a pitch, he stole second, and another poor throw from Bocchi allowed Isaacson to score from third to give the UW a 1-0 lead.
The Huskies tacked on two more in the fourth. Jay Garthwaite (Kent/Kent-Meridian) singled and scored on a single from Bryan Johnson (Ephrata). After another single put runners at first and third, catcher Ben Johnson (Bellevue) bounced into a double play, allowing Bryan Johnson to score to make it 3-0.
The Devils, however, came back to take a 4-3 lead with a four-run fourth inning. Designated hitter Nick Cadena, making his first career start, belted a bases-loaded single to plate two runs and Bocchi redeemed himself by following Cadena's hit with a two-run single of his own.
ASU added three in the sixth to chase UW freshman starter David Dowling (Kirkland/Juanita) from the game. The big hit of the inning was a double from ASU shortstop Dustin Pedroia, who drove in a pair.
Dowling (0-2) worked five-plus innings in the loss, fanning five and walking four. Fellow freshman Will Fenton (Kingston/North Kitsap) allowed only one unearned run over three innings of relief.
The Huskies and Devils complete the three-game series Saturday. The game, which will air live on KKNW AM-1150, begins at 1:00 p.m. (noon PST). Washington will send unbeaten ace Shawn Kohn (6-0) to the mound.
LINESCORE Pacific-10 Conference Game #15 Arizona State 8, Washington 3 Washington 001 200 000 -- 3 8 2 Arizona St. 000 403 00x -- 8 9 4 David Dowling, Will Fenton (6) and Ben Johnson. Mike Esposito and Joel Bocchi, Cesar Castillo (7). W - Esposito (6-3). L - Dowling (0-2). 2B - ASU, Dustin Pedroia. T - 3:15. A - 2,352.
