Former Irish coach brings 17th-ranked Sun Devils
By CHRIS FEDERICO
Sports Editor
Today, the Notre Dame baseball team hosts 17th-ranked Arizona State, led by former Irish coach Pat Murphy. The game marks the first time the former Irish coach returns to campus after taking the head baseball coach job with the Sun Devils in 1995.
"I don't want [the games] to be about me," Murphy said. "I want it to be about the players. I think the most special thing about Notre Dame is the people that go to school here. That's what I learned from being here seven years. The people that go to school here are really special, and I want our kids to experience what it's like."
The Irish have been playing some of their best ball of the season, winning 11 straight and 20 of their last 22.
The usually powerful Arizona State squad has experienced some troubles lately. Coming off a series loss to Pac-10 rival California and a two-run victory at Oklahoma, the Sun Devils are 26-15 and 9-6 in their conference.
"We're real young this year, real young," Murphy said. "We are very inexperienced and very injured. It came at a bad time, but we're still hanging in there."
Arizona State is led at the plate by outfielders Andre Ethier and Jon Sheaffer, both hitting .367 on the year.
Even though the Sun Devils will prove a daunting opponent for the Irish, especially during a Big East break week, coach Paul Mainieri says his team relishes the opportunity to play such top competition.
"We are extremely excited about the opportunity to play Arizona State University because it's a school that has represented excellence in college baseball through the years," Mainieri said. "They represent greatness. That's where Notre Dame wants to get in the sport of baseball. They are to college baseball what Notre Dame is to football. From that standpoint, I think our players are very excited about that challenge."
Conditions around Eck Stadium Thursday were extremely helpful to hitters as a steady 20 mile-per-hour wind blew straight out to center field. With an Arizona State team that has been known for its power and the emergence of several long-ball hitters for the Irish, conditions could be difficult for pitchers during the two-game series.
"If this wind blows like it is today, it's going to be a bizarre game," Mainieri said Thursday afternoon. "There will be a lot of things happening, but I don't know who it will be an advantage to. I know that we get the last at-bat, and that's always important when the wind's blowing out, because they'll have to get us out in that last inning."
All Sports Stories for Friday, April 26, 2002
