Baseball returns home to face Oklahoma and Oral Roberts
<p><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/photos/schools/asu/sports/m-basebl/auto_pd… Release- Oklahoma/Oral Roberts</strong></a> <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html" target="_new"><img src="http://grfx.cstv.com/graphics/icon-acrosmall.gif" border="0" alt="Get Acrobat Reader" width="9" height="10"></a></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Leading Off:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">After taking two out of three against the Auburn Tigers at Plainsman Park, the Sun Devils return to Tempe, Arizona for five games against teams from the state of Oklahoma. ASU hosts the Oklahoma Sooners for two games then Oral Roberts for three over the weekend. </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Devils vs. Sooners:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Arizona State leads the all-time series with Oklahoma 51-20. They last met in the 2008 Tempe Regional, when the Devils beat them twice to advance to the Super Regionals.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Lights, Camera, Action:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Wednesday night’s game against the Sooners will be televised by Fox Sports Arizona. <strong>Daron Sutton, Joe Borowski</strong> and <strong>Brad Steinke</strong> will call the action.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Devils vs. Golden Eagles:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Arizona State leads the all-time series with Oral Roberts 7-2. The last meeting came in the 2009 Tempe Regional when ASU won both meetings to advance to the Super Regionals.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">One (Run) Is The Loneliest Number:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">After playing four consecutive one-run games in Surprise, Arizona State followed that up with a one-run game on Friday night at Auburn, winning 5-4. The last time the Sun Devils played five straight one-run contests was back in 1987 when the final five games of the regular season were all decided by a single run. The middle infield for that team? Head coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/esmay_tim00.html">Tim Esmay</a> and assistant coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/benjamin_mike00.html">… Benjamin</a>.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">March Madness:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Arizona State baseball is experiencing its own March Madness during the 2011 season. The Devils are in the midst of a stretch where they play 13 games in 17 days, including three travel days. That includes a bus trip to Fullerton, California. In the month of March, ASU will travel 4,710 miles, going from Tempe to Surprise (76 miles roundtrip), Tempe to Atlanta to Auburn (3,900 miles roundtrip) and Tempe to Fullerton (734 miles roundtrip).</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Auburn Recap: </span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">All three games between the Devils and the Tigers were like a heavyweight fight, as the two teams traded leads and withstood rallies. On Friday night, Auburn jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three, but ASU slowly chipped away until grabbing a one-run lead in the sixth. After the Tigers took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth, ASU would tie it again in the seventh. The Tigers would take the lead back in the ninth, but an <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/aplin_andrew00.html">A… Aplin</a></strong> pinch-hit RBI single and a <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/macphee_zack00.html">Z… MacPhee</a></strong> RBI single gave the Devils an 8-7 win...Saturday once again saw ASU fall behind early, but ASU would pound out 17 hits to once again claw back an win 9-5. <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html">Ma… Newman</a></strong> homered twice and <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/demichele_joey00.html"… DeMichele</a></strong> went 5-5 in the win...Sunday again had the Tigers grab an early lead, ASU come back to hold a late lead, but this time Auburn was able to stage their own rally, salvaging the finale 10-8. <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/wilson_zach00.html">Za… Wilson</a></strong> homered and drove in four in the loss.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Honoring <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/hahn_cory00.html">Cory Hahn</a>:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 9.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">As a tribute to injured Sun Devil <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/hahn_cory00.html">Cory Hahn</a></strong>, the team will wear special wristbands with <strong>Cory’s</strong> name and #34 and also has had his number embroidered on the team’s stirrups. Players will also wear his initials and number on their hats.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Newman Has Tiger Blood:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Senior <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html">Ma… Newman</a></strong> loves playing against the Auburn Tigers. Over the weekend, <strong>Newman</strong> went 5-11 (.455) and slugged an amazing 1.182. He had five RBI in the series and scored four more times, and had two perfect sacrifice bunts. On Saturday, <strong>Newman</strong> recorded his third multi-homer game, leaving the yard twice in the win over the Tigers. He also homered twice at Cal in 2009 and against Fresno State in Game Three of the 2008 Super Regional (both losses). In his six career games against Auburn, <strong>Newman</strong> is 10-23 (.435) with three homers, nine RBI, nine runs scored, four doubles and a triple. His homers on Saturday were his first since March 14, 2010 when he homered in Tempe against the Auburn Tigers. For his efforts at Auburn, <strong>Matt </strong>was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week, his first ever weekly award from the Pac-10. </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Johnny Lightning:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Junior <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ruettiger_johnny00.htm… Ruettiger</a></strong> has added a new wrinkle to his already impressive repertoire, becoming a stolen base machine through the first three weeks of the season. <strong>Ruettiger</strong>, who entered 2011 with 22 career stolen bases, has already swiped 11 this season. His career high is 12, which he did as a freshman. He also has been a terror at the plate of opposing pitchers, batting .403 on the season as the leadoff man with a .443 OBP. Against UC Riverside he set a new career with four hits.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Brothers With Arms:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 9.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">With two appearances at Auburn<strong> <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/lambson_mitchell00.htm… Lambson</a></strong> has now made 77 career appearances, fifth most in ASU history. Last season he tied a school record with his 39 appearances. His brother, <strong>Mark</strong>, is a right handed reliever out of the ASU bullpen. <strong>Mark</strong> retired the first 11 hitters he faced in his Sun Devil career against Delaware. He also picked up his first career win against Auburn on Saturday. <strong>Mitchell</strong> and <strong>Mark</strong> are the sixth set of brothers to play in the same season for Arizona State.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Newman’s Golden Glove:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Matt Newman’s</span></strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> error against Kansas was the first of his Sun Devil career. It happened in his 176th game for ASU.<strong> Newman’s</strong> errorless streak reached 211 chances before it ended in right field at Surprise Stadium on a ground ball that <strong>Newman</strong> kicked away, allowing the runner to reach third on a double. </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Career Highs:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Several Sun Devils have established single game career highs already this season. <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/carrillo_xorge00.html"… Carrillo</a></strong> set a new high in RBI with three at Auburn on March 12; <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/demichele_joey00.html"… DeMichele</a></strong> recorded five hits, including three doubles, at Auburn on March 12; <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ruettiger_johnny00.htm… Ruettiger</a></strong> collected four hits against UC Riverside at Surprise on March 6; <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/torrez_riccio00.html">… Torrez</a></strong> homered twice against New Mexico on February 18. He also drove in five runs, setting a new high; <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/wilson_zach00.html">Za… Wilson</a></strong> collected five hits, including three doubles, against Delaware on February 26. He tied his career high with five RBI against Northern Illinois on March 4 at Surprise; <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/workman_andy00.html">A… Workman</a></strong> has twice tied his career high with three hits, against Delaware on February 26 and at Auburn on March 11.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Rankings:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">The Sun Devils are ranked #9 by Baseball America, #10 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, #8 in the NCBWA poll and #8 in the<span> </span>USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">20 Game Winner:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 9.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">While in Auburn, junior lefty <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/lambson_mitchell00.htm… Lambson</a></strong> picked up his 20th career victory. <strong>Lambson</strong> is 20-9 in his career, making 77 appearances with only one start. His one start, at Washington in 2009, was a complete game. <strong>Lambson’s</strong> 20 wins puts him third all-time in school history for wins by pitchers who were primarily relievers in their career.<strong> Lambson</strong> trails only <strong>Sam Cook</strong>, who recorded 25 wins in 60 appearances (11 starts) from 1961 to 1963 and <strong>Kevin Dukes</strong>, who won 21 games in 82 appearances (18 starts) from 1978 to 1981. <strong>Lambson’s</strong> brother <strong>Mark</strong> earned his first career win at Auburn (naturally, out of the bullpen).</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Golden Spikes Watch List:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 9.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Arizona State landed three student-athletes on the 2011 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ruettiger_johnny00.htm… Ruettiger</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/macphee_zack00.html">Z… MacPhee</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/marrero_deven00.html">… Marrero</a></strong> were all on the list. <strong>MacPhee</strong> was a semifinalist a season ago.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Legacy Devils:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">The 2011 Sun Devil team features a unique connection for four student-athletes. Senior OF <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html">Ma… Newman</a></strong> has Maroon and Gold in his blood, as his father, <strong>Randy</strong>, was a pitcher for the Sun Devils in 1981 and 1982, winning 15 career games and the 1981 National Championship. <strong>Matt</strong> and <strong>Randy</strong> joined a select list as a father-son combo who both played in the College World Series. But <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html">Ma… Newman</a></strong> is not the only Sun Devil who has a father with an ASU National Championship ring. Freshman <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/allen_trever00.html">T… Allen</a></strong> is the son of <strong>Jamie Allen</strong>, who played three seasons at ASU, including the 1977 National Championship year. <strong>Jamie</strong> was a lifetime .333 hitter at ASU and he also went 6-2 on the mound. He was a two-time All-WAC team member and was a member of the 1977 All-College World Series team. Joining <strong>Newman</strong> and <strong>Allen </strong>as Legacy Devils are freshmen <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/esmay_tucker00.html">T… Esmay</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/benjamin_michael00.htm… Benjamin</a></strong>. <strong>Esmay</strong> is the son of Head Coach<strong> <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/esmay_tim00.html">Tim Esmay</a></strong> and <strong>Benjamin</strong> is the son of assistant coach <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/benjamin_mike00.html">… Benjamin</a></strong>. The elder <strong>Esmay</strong> and <strong>Benjamin</strong> were teammates on the 1986 and 1987 Sun Devils.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 9.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Notable Connections:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Junior 3B Riccio Torrez’s brother Raoul was a four-time letterman and two-time team captain, including teaming with Riccio the last two years...Redshirt freshman catcher <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/maggi_beau00.html">Beau Maggi</a> is the brother of <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/maggi_drew00.html">Drew Maggi</a>, who starred at ASU the last two years...Junior <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/lambson_mitchell00.htm… Lambson</a></strong> will be joined by his brother <strong>Mark</strong> on the 2011 Sun Devils...Junior OF <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ruettiger_johnny00.htm… Ruettiger</a></strong> is the nephew of <strong>Rudy Ruettiger</strong>, the former Notre Dame football player who had a movie about his life made....Sophomore shortstop <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/marrero_deven00.html">… Marrero</a></strong> is the cousin of <strong>Chris Marrero</strong>, a rising star in the Washington Nationals’ system.<span> </span></span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Brotherly Love:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 9.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">In each of the last two seasons, the Sun Devils boasted a set of brothers who started next to each other in the infield, marking the first time in school history that brothers started next to each other on the diamond. Raoul and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/torrez_riccio00.html">… Torrez</a> became the fifth set of brothers to play for the same Sun Devil team. The other Sun Devil brothers to play on the same teams are <strong>Kevin</strong> and <strong>Pat Dukes</strong> (1980-81), <strong>Dale </strong>and <strong>Larry Eiler</strong> (1976-78), <strong>John</strong> and <strong>Tom Sain</strong> (1973) and<strong> Brett</strong> and <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/bordes_greg00.html">Gr… Bordes</a></strong> (2005). <strong>Drew</strong> and <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/maggi_beau00.html">Beau Maggi</a></strong> were both on the team last season, but <strong>Beau </strong>sat out the year utilizing his redshirt season. This year, <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/lambson_mitchell00.htm… Lambson</a></strong> is joined on the pitching staff by his brother <strong>Mark</strong>.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 9.75pt 0pt 0in; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Double Duty:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Junior OF <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/magee_brandon00.html">… Magee</a></strong> is no stranger to ASU athletics, playing linebacker for the Sun Devil football team. Magee was second on the team in tackles this past season, totaling 73 including five for loss and 1.5 sacks. </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 9.75pt 0pt 0in; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">2011 Pre-Season Honors:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/macphee_zack00.html">Z… MacPhee</a> </span></strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">was named a Preseason First Team All-American by the NCBWA, ESPN and by Collegiate Baseball and was a Second Team choice by Baseball America. <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/marrero_deven00.html">… Marrero</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ruettiger_johnny00.htm… Ruettiger</a></strong> were also Second Team picks by Baseball America, while <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/lambson_mitchell00.htm… Lambson</a> </strong>and<strong> <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/torrez_riccio00.html">… Torrez</a></strong> joined <strong>Marrero</strong> as Third Team choices by Collegiate Baseball. <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/wilson_zach00.html">Za… Wilson</a></strong> was a Third Team choice by Baseball America. <strong>Lambson</strong> was also named to the Stopper of the Year Watch List. <strong>Lambson</strong> and <strong>Marrero</strong> were also named Preseason All-Americans by Perfect Game.<strong></strong></span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Hall “O” Famer:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">The 2011 College Baseball Hall of Fame Class was announced by the College Baseball Foundation and Sun Devil Legend<strong> Oddibe McDowell</strong> was one of eight men to earn induction. <strong>McDowell</strong> will become the seventh member of the Hall of Fame to come from Arizona State. <strong>McDowell</strong> was a standout in the outfield from 1983 to 1984. He was a career .380 hitter with 30 home runs and 31 doubles. In 1984, he hit .405 with 23 home runs, a performance that earned him the Golden Spikes Award. That same year he was named Player of the Year by both Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America. He also was a two-time All-American and was the first Sun Devil to have his number retired.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 9.75pt 0pt 0in; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"><br><strong>Feeling The Draft:</strong></span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">There are 19 members of the 2011 Sun Devils who have had their name called during the annual Major League Baseball draft, including <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/carrillo_xorge00.html"… Carrillo</a></strong>, who was drafted last season but opted to return to school. Carrillo has been drafted three times, as has <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ottoson_kyle00.html">K… Ottoson</a></strong>.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"><span> </span><em></em></span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 9.75pt 0pt 0in; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Pac-10 Picks:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Arizona State was picked to finish third in the 2011 Preseason Pac-10 Coaches’ Poll. UCLA was picked to finish first, receiving eight first place votes, with Stanford second with two first place votes.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Player of the Week:</span></strong><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 9.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Junior <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/torrez_riccio00.html">… Torrez</a></strong> was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week following opening weekend, the fourth straight season a Sun Devil has earned Player of the Week honors following the season’s first action. <strong><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html">Ma… Newman</a></strong> was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week following the Auburn series. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"></span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 9.75pt 0pt 0in; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 9.75pt 0pt 0in; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Tough Schedule:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">The Sun Devils will play 27 games this season against teams ranked in the Preseason Top 30. 10 of the 27 games will come against Preseason Top 10 teams.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 9.75pt 0pt 0in; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 9.75pt 0pt 0in; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Did You Know:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Including the Auburn series ASU just completed, the Devils will play 17 out of 20 games against ranked opponents. Only Oral Roberts is unranked.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><strong><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">Up Next:</span></strong></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">The Sun Devils will head to Fullerton, California for a two-game midweek series with the Cal State Fullerton Titans before returning home and opening Pac-10 play with the Arizona Wildcats.</span></p><separator></separator><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p>
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