March 21, 2008

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. -

By Matt Storey

Arizona State's 19-game winning streak to start the season came to an end with a 6-3 loss to Northern Colorado Friday night in the Bob Schaefer Memorial Tournament. The loss drops Arizona State to 19-1 on the year, ending the longest winning streak to begin a season since 1961.

The Sun Devils struck out 10 times and stranded 13 runners in the game, including loading the bases in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings but coming away with no runs.

Freshman Seth Blair took the loss, allowing four earned runs in the third inning, to drop to 2-1 on the season.

ASU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Jason Kipnis that scored Raoul Torrez, and then Kipnis came around to score on a balk.

The Bears then took the lead with a four-run third inning, but the Sun Devils climbed back within one in the fourth after a solo home run to left by Kiel Roling, his third of the season.

Northern Colorado's pitching, led by starter Chris Reap, shut down the ASU offense the rest of the night, and Kevin Sandberg had RBI doubles in the fifth and seventh innings to extend his team's lead.

The Devils threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with no one out, but Rocky Laguna grounded into a double play and Mike Leake struck out looking to end the game.

Also, in earlier action at the Bob Schaefer Memorial Tournament, UC Irvine defeated Florida International 5-2.

The Sun Devils return to action Saturday, hosting a doubleheader with FIU. The first game will start at 4 p.m. with the second game beginning 45 minutes after conclusion of the opener.