TEMPE -- All Pat Murphy could do was smile.
His Sun Devils had just been blanked on the road against Oregon State, unable to solve a solid Beavers’ left-handed starter on a chilly night in Corvallis. The Oregon State pitching staff had perfectly executed their game plan of quieting the bat of prized Sun Devil shortstop Willie Bloomquist, who had turned in a rare 0-for-4 night at the plate on this night.
Bill Bloomquist, Willie’s father, caught Murphy on his walk back to the bus. Their eyes met, and Murphy, sensing Bloomquist’s frustrations after a lame night of baseball, let out a chuckle.