March 4, 2001

Recapping Arizona State Baseball (Post LSU Series)

National Rankings: 3-3-6 (BA/BW/CB)
Record Last Week: 0-2-1
Opponent: LSU (12-2-1/National Ranking: 2)
2001 Record: 13-4-1

Offensive Player of the Week Nomination:
Jeremy West, DH/1B, Freshman, Las Vegas, Nev.
West went 4-for-11 to hit .364 in the three games vs. LSU. The true freshman scored two runs, hit one double, connected on his team-leading third home run of the year and drove in five runs. He played excellent defense in his first extended action of the year in the field and is now hitting .383 with three home runs and 18 RBI in his freshman campaign.

Pitcher of the Week Nomination:
Mike Esposito, RHP, RS Freshman, Las Vegas, Nev.
Despite not being untouchable on the mound, Esposito deserves a nomination for just being out there. The redshirt freshman made his first start in over a year on the mound after recovering from Tommy John surgery last year. He was the 2000 opening-day starter for ASU, but only after two games went down with the injury. After exhaustive rehab, Esposito returned to the mound for his first start and pitched well allowing only one run in two innings and three hits.

News and Notes From ASU Baseball:
The Sun Devils went 0-2-1 in the weekend series with No. 2 LSU... ASU was one swing of the bat from gaining wins in two of the games having the tying or game-winning run on third base when the game ended... the tie Sunday was caused by prearranged travel plans for LSU to catch its flight back to Baton Rouge... the tie was the first in known school history for ASU, but the fourth in Pat Murphy's 16-year coaching career... Andy Torres entered the week tied with the national lead with five wins, but was dealt his first loss of the year... ASU took over the national lead consecutive games not having been shutout in 235 games and are now 15 games from breaking the national record of 349 set by Coastal Carolina... ASU has not been shutout since April 7, 1995 at USC... senior catcher Casey Myers added five more RBI to bring his season total to 33 and his career total to 239... he is now only 45 from breaking the school and Pac-10 career record of 283 set by former teammate and Sun Devil Andrew Beinbrink... Myers is averaging 1.83 RBI per game this year and has recorded multi-hit games in 14 of ASU's 18 contests... freshman Rod Allen is riding a 10-game hitting streak and is hitting .378 for the year... the Sun Devils have out-scored their opponent 188-81, but have been out-homered 13-8... redshirt freshman Nick Walsh started his first career game at designated hitter Sunday vs. LSU and proved to be a sparkplug at the top of the order reaching base twice and delivering a key sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning... Walsh is also ASU's top pinch-hitter hitting at a .400 (4x10) clip in that situation... ASU is 2-2-1 in the last five games... during that span the team ERA is 6.75 and the team batting average is .304.