ASU 6, WSU 1, a final: ASU and Oklahoma State are the two best teams I’ve seen this season. I would love to see them match up with their top pitchers going. The Sun Devils, even without their best hitter, are quite impressive. They rolled out their Friday starter at shortstop and he made great defensive plays and drove in two runs with two hits.
If Wednesday’s performance wasn’t impressive enough, consider that ASU coach Pat Murphy is a huge Springsteen fan. He was wearing a Springsteen T-shirt under his uniform tonight that read “Reason to Believe.” Each Sunday game at ASU is designated a “Springsteen Sunday” with Boss music playing at least once in between innings. There’s a promotion WSU could learn from.
ASU 4, WSU 1 after eight: ASU has Friday starter Mike Leake on the mound. He also drove in two runs and plays a mean shortstop.
ASU 3, WSU 1 after six: Dusty Coleman doubled to center, WSU’s only hard-hit ball of the night, to drive in Andy Dirks. But Coleman was thrown out at third for the second out of the inning. Tim Kelley is out after a fine performance over six innings. Logan Hoch is on the mound.
ASU 2, WSU 0 after three: The Sun Devils don’t need help to score runs. The Shockers help them with a walk, a hit batsmen and a throw by left fielder Mitch Caster into the dugout. WSU wasted leadoff doubles - actually misplayed fly balls - in the second and third.