April 18, 2001

The Record Is In the Books; ASU Has Scored In 356 Straight Games:
The Arizona State baseball program made history on April 7 when they scored at least one run in its 350th consecutive game. The Devils broke the 12-year-old record in a 5-1 loss to USC exactly six years to the day when they were last shut out. ASU was shut out 9-0 on April 7, 1995 at Dedeaux Field. The one run scored last Friday in the 2-1 loss to Washington State marked only the eighth time during the streak that ASU has scored only one run. The record is still in tact at 356 straight games after scoring 16 in a loss to New Mexico State last night. ASU was neck-in-neck with Wichita State who was not shutout in 332 games, but when the Shockers fell 1-0 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette ASU took over the national lead. Coastal Carolina held the record at 349 games set from 1983-1989. ASU also had a stretch of 278 games without being shut out from 1990 to 1994, meaning the program has only been shut out only three times dating back to 1990.

New Mexico State Garners First Career Win Over ASU In 19-16 Slugfest:
ASU cranked out 21 hits and pushed 16 runs across the plate, but it wasn't enough to match the offensive explosion by New Mexico State in a 19-16 win over Arizona State late night at Presley Askew Field. ASU ace starting pitcher Jon Switzer had his roughest outing as a Sun Devil, allowing six runs and two home runs in the first inning and did not record an out in taking the loss to fall to 4-3 on the year. Down by 10 runs at two different stages in the game, ASU mounted a tremendous comeback to pull to within one run at 15-14. ASU send 13 batters to the plate in a nine-run seventh inning, but New Mexico State's five home runs in the game proved to be just too much. The Sun Devils were led by hot-hitting Rod Allen who had a career night going 4-for-5 with four runs scored, five RBI and a grand slam home run. Senior Jeff Phelps added his first home run of the season and Casey Myers moved into a tie for sixth place in the ASU record books with his 38th career home run. ASU set a season high with the three home runs, but the five fielding errors were also a season high.

Daneger... Rod Allen Is Hot At the Plate:
Freshman left fielder is quickly putting his name atop the list for Freshman All-American. After going 4-for-5 last night with five RBI, Allen is now leading the team with a .437 batting average. He is on fire lately with seven hits in his last nine at-bats and over his last five games is hitting .500 (9x18) with eight RBI. He is also ASU's leading hitter in Pac-10 play, connecting at a .429 clip in league play. Over his last 10 games Allen is hitting .545 with 18 hits in his last 33 at-bats.

Casey Myers Continues To Have Banner Senior Season:
All-American catcher Casey Myers just keeps on hitting. A year after hitting .412 with 97 RBI and being named the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2000, Myers is back at it again hitting .417 (65x156) on the year with 13 doubles, six home runs and 51 RBI. Over his last five games Myers is hitting at a .421 clip (8x19) with six runs scored and over the last 10 games Myers is a .474 hitter with eight RBI and two of his six home runs. In 200 career games, Myers is currently tied for sixth in the ASU record books with a .388 batting average (290x748) over his four-year illustrious career. His 290 hits is currently third in the record book and his 60 career doubles is fourth. With his solo home run last night, Myers is now tied with former Sun Devil Mitch Jones (1999-2000) with 38 career home runs. His 257 career RBI is currently second in ASU history, just 26 short of matching the school and Pac-10 record of 283.

Odds And Ends:
Backup catcher Cesar Castillo picked up his second career hit last night and tallied a career high with three RBI... ASU used every position player in the loss last night to NMSU... pitcher/catcher Ty Johnson recorded a hit and pitched an inning of relief in the game... Steve Garrabrants has returned to the lineup to catch fire as of late with seven hits in his last three games... shortstop Dennis Wyrick recorded three hits last night in his final three at-bats to end a streak in which he was 0-for-his-last-18 entering the game... Mike Esposito will start for ASU tonight, taking his 2-2, 4.82 record to the hill against the Sooners... ASU went 2-0 last year against Oklahoma, earning a decisive 20-6 win April 25, 2000 at Bricktown Ballyard... Mitch Jones tied a single-season ASU recor dwith his 25th home run of the year in that game... Casey Myers was 4-for-5 with four RBI in that game and Jeff Phelps was 3-for-5.