ASU baseball hits road for Kansas, Wichita State

Every college baseball team has had to deal with the effects of the NCAA shortening the season a month, and Arizona State is feeling the pinch more than ever right now.

ASU baseball powers past UCLA

ASU baseball falls at Cal State Fullerton

The Sun Devils are squeezing in two midweek nonconference games today and Wednesday, giving them five contests in six days in three cities. What's more, the 2,500-mile road trip is in the middle of final exams.

ASU finished a three-game series at UCLA on Sunday, and a portion of its traveling party flew to Kansas on Monday. Thirteen players remained in Tempe to take tests and will join the team today, in time for the game at Kansas State.

"It sounds brutal, but we'll be all right," coach Pat Murphy said. "The school has made every accommodation that you can make for us while we are on the road. We have an academic adviser with us. Everyone is respectful of the players who have to stay up late to study.

"But you know what? It's kind of a cool thing. It brings everyone closer together. I don't think it's a negative."

Today's game and Wednesday's visit to Wichita State are the Sun Devils' final midweek contests of the season.

First baseman/pitcher Ike Davis made the trip, but Murphy said the junior is likely to remain out through the weekend due to a rib muscle strain. Davis has missed the team's past five games. That absence has enabled third baseman Brett Wallace to pass Davis for the team lead in batting average (.404 to .401) and tie him in home runs (15). Davis still leads the team in RBIs, with 62 to Wallace's 59.

ASU tried to use Davis as a decoy Sunday. In the eighth inning, he was announced as a pinch hitter as Murphy tried to force the Bruins into a pitching change, but UCLA coach John Savage didn't bite. Michael Jones replaced Davis before he saw a pitch.

"He had no chance of playing," Murphy said. "He came out of the dugout with an ice bag over his shoulder. Luckily, it was a small one, so no one really noticed. He had his turf shoes on. We were just trying to get UCLA to make a change."

Pitcher Stephen Sauer (shoulder) did not make on the trip. Murphy said that Jason Franzblau will take the mound for one of the two games, with right-hander Dustin Brader or righty Matt Newman, a freshman outfielder who has made two relief appearances, getting the other start.

Ace starting pitcher Mike Leake has gotten a chance in the field since Davis' injury. He played first base on Sunday, going 3-for-4 with his first career home run. The sophomore is batting .400 (6-for-15) with six RBIs.

Leake, who can play several positions, has long wanted to be a regular player. Murphy said he is earning that right.

"He's capable of playing every day; I just didn't want him to because of his (pitching value)," Murphy said. "But how can you argue with how he's playing?"