Murphy full of praise after elimination

OMAHA, Neb.— Pat Murphy dabbed at his eyes in an anteroom at Rosenblatt Stadium late Friday night. His Bruce Springsteen T-shirt read “No Surrender,” and he believes that could not describe his team better.

Texas ousts Sun Devils in CWS classic

6-run lead not enough for Leake, ASU

“This is a special group,” the Arizona State baseball coach said.

“I’m as proud of this team as I am of any team I’ve ever been a part of. Maybe more proud, just because of how they conducted themselves and how they competed.”

Murphy spoke 30 minutes after ASU’s season came to a sudden halt in a 4-3 loss to Texas, when the Longhorns hit two bases-empty home runs in the last of the ninth inning for a 4-3 victory.

The Sun Devils (51-14) lost twice to Texas in three games and finished tied for third in the College World Series, the 16th time in their 23 appearances they have ended that high.

It was no small feat for a team that entered the season with what Murphy believes was the least experience of any team in an NCAA major conference.

“I’ll always remember every game we played, every memory we’ve had,” said right-hander Mike Leake, who won 40 games in his three seasons.

Juniors Leake and Jason Kipnis led the way, with large contributions from a stellar junior-college group that included No. 2 starter Josh Spence and Nos. 3-4 hitters Carlos Ramirez and Kole Calhoun.

“I can’t even fathom coaching a game without Leake,” Murphy said. “He will be inducted in the college baseball Hall of Fame some day.

“I felt like this after (Dustin) Pedroia left. To have someone who is so special. When Pedroia took the field, you were like, 'Whew, we got Pedroia. We got a shot.’ The same thing with” Leake.

Kipnis hit .405 in ASU’s nine postseason games. His 11-pitch at-bat that resulted in a ninth-inning single that set up ASU to take a 3-2 lead Friday typified his grit.

“The group of guys that made this team up — the character, the camaraderie,” Kipnis said. “Eventually, I think, as time goes past, I will look back on this game. I think I will remember playing with those guys rather than losing to Texas.”

Calhoun hit safely in all four College World Series games, and his 1.200 slugging percentage is tied for second in World Series history.

Spence made two quality starts, winning once and throwing 248 pitches in a span of four days. Ramirez started every game of the season.

“The two guys who were returning, Leake and Kipnis, put up unbelievable years. Then you throw in Spence, Ramirez and Calhoun. Those three guys … I’ve never had junior-college kids play with such a positive attitude,” Murphy said. “They played the game with passion.”

Most of the position starters will return next year, including shortstop and leadoff hitter Drew Maggi and left-hander Mitchell Lambson, who set a school freshman strikeout record with 99.

“There weren’t a lot of guys who had a lot of experience, so they were just willing to follow, willing to listen,” Murphy said.

“And they were fearless in wanting to go for it. This is something they are going to remember. They are a team.”

College World Series
Friday’s games
LSU 14, Arkansas 5, Arkansas eliminated
Texas 4, Arizona State 3, Arizona State eliminated

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Best-of-3
Monday: LSU (54-16) vs. Texas (49-14-1), 4 p.m.
Tuesday: LSU vs. Texas, 4 p.m.
Wednesday: LSU vs. Texas, 4 p.m., if necessary