Winner takes all in Game 3
June 9th, 2008, 3:32 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Zeiger
The Tempe Super Regional comes down to one game on Monday at Packard Stadium, with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., for a first-round date with Rice, likely on Sunday.
Here are the lineups:
FRESNO STATE (41-29): SS Danny Muno, CF Gavin Hedstrom, 2B Eric Wetzel, LF Steve Susdorf, 1B Alan Ahmady, RF Steve Detwiler, 3B Tommy Mendonca, DH Jake Johnson, C Danny Grubb
Right-hander Justin Miller (6-3, 4.62 ERA), who worked 1 2/3 innings of relief on Saturday, is the starting pitcher.
ARIZONA STATE (49-12): RF Ryan Sontag, LF Jason Kipnis, 3B Brett Wallace, 1B Ike Davis, C Petey Paramore, P/DH Matt Newman, RF Mike Leake, 2B Raoul Torrez, SS Greg Bordes
Newman (1-0, 4.60 ERA) will throw the first ball, but it figures to be pitching-by-committee for both teams.
ANALYSIS: The P/DH designation for Newman enables the Sun Devils to remove him from the game and still keep the designated hitter active. Leake is in the outfield instead of Michael Jones, probably because his hitting numbers are better (a .341 average to Jones’ .172). And you can bet that Leake — who threw 118 pitches on Saturday — will be called on to work an inning or two if needed.
