Colleges

The 10th inning

By wire services
Published June 23, 2005

FLORIDA FIRSTS

The Gators did not score in the first inning for the first time in the Series on Wednesday. Leadoff batter Jeff Corsaletti walked and scored against Tennessee and doubled and scored against Nebraska. Wednesday, he popped up to the pitcher on a bunt and Matt LaPorta was stranded after a two-out single. And when Travis Buck homered in the first, it marked the first time Florida trailed since 2-0 in the second against Notre Dame in the final region tournament game. Florida went on to win 23-2.

Arizona State, 3-0 in its region tournament, is 5-0 when facing elimination. The previous four: JUNE11: One day after the winning run scored on a balk during an intentional walk, the Sun Devils beat Cal State Fullerton 6-2 in Game 2 of the super region. Erik Averill gave up one run in 72/3 innings, and Arizona State scored four in the eighth, highlighted by Eric Sogard's two-run double.

JUNE12: Down 7-2, the Sun Devils scored two in the fifth and three in the sixth to oust Fullerton 9-8. Joe Persichina's homer in the eighth made it 8-7, and Jason Urquidez pitched 32/3 innings of shutout relief.

SUNDAY: The Sun Devils scored three in the eighth, highlighted by Seth Dhaenens' double, to oust Tennessee 4-2. It was just the second time in 21 games this season Arizona State won when trailing after seven innings.

TUESDAY: Jeff Larish's third homer of the game, with two outs in the ninth, sent it to extra innings, and J.J. Sferra's bloop single in the 11th ousted Nebraska 8-7.

Arizona State is the fourth team since 2000 to defeat an unbeaten team and force a second game for a berth in the title series:

2004: Unbeaten Fullerton lost 5-3 to South Carolina but took the second game 4-0 and went on to win the title.

2003: Stanford beat unbeaten Fullerton 5-3 and 7-5 in 10 innings before losing to Rice in the final.

2002: South Carolina beat unbeaten Clemson 12-4 and 10-2 before losing to Texas in the final.

Arizona State coach Pat Murphy started Seth Garrison at designated hitter. The reliever had no plans on hitting, though. He is out for the tournament after Sunday's emergency appendectomy. Rocky Laguna pinch hit for Garrison in the second, but Garrison still will be listed as a participant in the Series.

ESPN Classic will air Tuesday's game between Arizona State and Nebraska, won by the Sun Devils 8-7 in 11 innings, at 9 p.m. Friday.

[Last modified June 23, 2005, 00:46:08]