Arizona State baseball coach Pat Murphy has not yet announced his starting pitcher for Sunday’s game against North Carolina, and it may not be as cut and dried as it would seem.
With the season right-hander Mike Leake is having (16-1 with a 1.36 ERA), it would almost seem like a no-brainer to throw him out there. But with the way North Carolina’s lineup stacks up, left-hander Josh Spence could be the pick.
North Carolina’s top four hitters all bat from the left side, including Dustin Ackley, the No. 2 overall selection in Tuesday’s draft. Against Clemson, Spence gave lefties fits with a slider that broke down and away. His three-quarters delivery sometimes drops to an almost sidearm angle, which can really make it tough on left-handers.
If Murphy pulls the trigger on Spence, it would also mean Leake would be ready for a possible matchup with Texas in the second game. The Longhorns are the No. 1 seed in the tournament, and the team that wins the first two games in the College World Series plays at a tremendous advantage.
Murphy has never been afraid to do things unconventionally. We’ll see what he decides soon.
