ASU starter runs out of gas early

OMAHA — Arizona State pitcher Jason Urquidez wasn't sick. He didn't hurt himself, either.

So why did Urquidez, who had two dominating performances against Cal State Fullerton in last weekend's Super Regional, last only two innings against Nebraska?

Because, as Pat Murphy said, Urquidez simply didn't have it.

"This isn't the time of year when that can happen," said Murphy, the Arizona State head coach.

So Murphy pulled Urquidez after two innings Friday night in the Sun Devils' opening game of the College World Series, with ASU trailing only 2-1.

Zechry Zinicola pitched three scoreless innings of relief — long enough for the Sun Devils to rally for a 3-2 lead. But it didn't last, as Nebraska rallied for a 5-3 victory at Rosenblatt Stadium.

But Murphy wasn't second-guessing his quick hook with Urquidez.

"Sometimes, you've got to make a move," Murphy said. "I felt like Jason was in trouble every inning, although the trouble that he was in wasn't about them hitting the ball hard off him. The trouble he was in was that he was behind in the count over and over."

Nebraska scored twice in the first inning on two hits, a walk and an error. Urquidez allowed two more baserunners in the second but struck out All-American Alex Gordon after falling behind in the count 2-0.

That was Urquidez's last batter. He threw 52 pitches in facing 12 batters.

"I could see it wasn't just a matter of settling in," Murphy said. "I saw it in the first inning. He had great stuff in the pen from what I understand, but I saw he just didn't have his normal stuff."

A senior right-hander, Urquidez allowed only five hits and one run in 111/3 innings for a 0.79 ERA in two appearances against Cal State Fullerton last weekend. He earned the victory on Sunday with 32/3 innings of scoreless relief after having thrown 109 pitches on Friday.

"I don't think he was laboring," ASU catcher Tuffy Gosewich said of Urquidez's performance Friday. "I just don't think he had his normal command, his tightness on the off-speed stuff. Control in and out, as a whole, I don't think he had it."

Zinicola, who remained in the game as the designated hitter, allowed no hits in his first three innings. He walked one and hit a batter.

"Coach came over and asked if my arm felt like I was ready to go in," said Zinicola, a sophomore right-hander with a 5.55 ERA in relief action this season. "I told him I was ready whatever inning I had to go in. I felt like I was mentally and physically prepared to go in the game in that situation."

Murphy said he was impressed with what Zinicola brought out of the bullpen.

"I know Zec Zinicola is capable of being really special," Murphy said, "and he showed me that for three innings."

But in the sixth, Zinicola allowed a single to Andy Gerch, walked Ryan Bohanan and hit Daniel Bruce with a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Murphy brought in Brett Bordes, and Ryan Wehrle lined Bordes' first pitch into center field for a two-run single.

That gave Nebraska the lead for good.

"We had opportunities," Murphy said. "They had some balls hit through the infield that were timely, good placing."

Arizona State had a big hit, too. Gosewich launched a bases-loaded double to right field in the top of the sixth inning that scored two, giving the Sun Devils a one-run lead.

Problem was, ASU had a runner thrown out at the plate on the play.

"We're a pitch or two away from winning that ball game, as poorly as we played," Murphy said. "Well, I don't think we played that poorly. It's a pretty damn tough environment."

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.