TEMPE, Ariz. — Done in the desert, Part 2.
That is Arkansas’ fate again after Arizona State pounded the Razorbacks 13-4 Sunday night to win the championship of the Tempe Regional. Arizona State grabbed an early 3-0 lead then blew the game open by scoring seven runs in the sixth inning.
Arkansas (40-22) earned a shot at Arizona State (42-16) after beating Charlotte 11-3 in an elimination game Sunday afternoon.
The Razorbacks were no match for the Sun Devils, who advanced to this week’s super regional against the winner of the Austin, Texas Regional.
“It was a long day and I thought we played extremely well the first game,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “We were one out away from getting out of the first against Arizona State, then they hit one into the trees and we’re down 2-0. We knew we’d struggle against their left-hander. They got the big lead and they were a little better than us.”
Arkansas finished 2-2 in the Tempe Regional after being sent to the losers’ bracket after a 3-2 loss to Charlotte on Friday. Arizona State also ended Arkansas’ season last year, when the Sun Devils beat the Razorbacks in backto-back 12-inning games during a Super Regional at Packard Stadium.
Arizona State jumped to a 3-0 lead against Arkansas freshman Barrett Astin, who was making his third start of the year.
The Sun Devils then blew the game open with seven runs in the sixth inning against relievers Trent Daniel and Colby Suggs. Arizona State had five hits in the inning and Daniel walked a batter with the bases loaded to force in another run.
Joey DeMichele had a home run and four RBI to lead Arizona State, which outhit Arkansas 13-4. Lefthander Mitchell Lambson (7-3) pitched 61/3 innings for the victory while starting only his second game of the year.
Astin (5-2) lasted three innings before he was replaced by Daniel, who allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Arizona State led 10-0 before Arkansas scored its first run on an RBI double by James McCann in the sixth. The Sun Devils then added three more runs in the seventh inning to lead 13-1.
Arizona State jumped ahead in the first inning after Johnny Ruettiger led off with a triple down into the corner in right field. Astin retired the next two batters before DeMichele hit a long home run to right to put Arizona State ahead 2-0.
The Sun Devils added another run in the second on consecutive doubles by Zack McPhee and Andrew Aplin.
Arkansas loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning but did not score after James McCann popped up on the infield.
Arkansas had two singles in the fifth inning but lost a runner when Matt Reynolds tried to stretch his hit into a double. Bo Bigham then grounded out to end the inning.
ARKANSAS 11, CHARLOTTE 3
Arkansas built a seven-run lead and defeated Charlotte in an elimination game Sunday afternoon at the Tempe Regional. Kyle Robinson had a double, triple and three RBI to lead the Razorbacks (40-21), who were sent to the losers bracket after a 3-2 loss to Charlotte (43-16) on Friday.
Charlotte heads home after losing to Arkansas and Arizona State, which pounded the 49ers 16-1 in a late game Saturday night.
Freshman Ryne Stanek (4-2) followed his victory over Alabama in the SEC Tournament with another strong showing against Charlotte. Stanek, a 6-4 right-hander, threw a complete-game six-hitter and helped save the bullpen for Arkansas’ second game on Sunday night.
“I’ve solidified some things with my mechanics and slowed myself down,” Stanek said of his recent improvement. “I was going too fast and I was a little out of control.”
Arkansas was already ahead 7-0 when Justin Seager led off the fifth inning with a home run to right field off Stanek.
Arkansas took control offensively early against Joe Yermal (6-3), who lasted four innings before being replaced by Ryan Mas. Robinson had a two-run double to highlight a four-run, first-inning surge for the Razorbacks, who’ve mostly struggled to put together big innings this season.
Robinson added an RBI triple in the fifth inning and James McCann followed with a two-run single in the sixth to give Arkansas a 9-1 lead. Bo Bigham finished with three hits while Robinson and Mc-Cann each had three RBI.
Dominic Ficociello drove in Arkansas’ first run with a surprise bunt that scored Tim Carver, who walked in the first. Collin Kuhn hit a single and Robinson drove home Ficociello and Kuhn with a double against the fence in center field. Jarrod McKinney continued his hot-hitting with a double to give Arkansas a 4-0 lead after one inning.
Sports, Pages 15 on 06/06/2011