TUCSON -- Maybe junior right-hander Tony Barnette has found his niche on the ASU baseball team.
Making his first start Tuesday against UA, Barnette washed away nine-plus innings of troublesome relief work and allowed ASU's pitching staff to rest its arms for the weekend's three-game series at top-ranked Tulane.
Barnette (1-0) lasted into the sixth inning, giving up one earned run on five hits for a no-decision. He struck out three and walked two.
It marked the second consecutive successful outing for Barnette, who allowed just one hit in 3 2/3 innings and struck out five Saturday in ASU's 7-5 triumph over Oklahoma. This time, Barnette proved he's capable of handling the rock out of the gate.
"Having back-to-back outings like that, that shows everyone has trust in him and we can pitch him a lot more," ASU junior left-hander Brett Bordes said of Barnette. "No one is worried what's going to happen when he comes in. We know he's going to go out there and throw some zeros on the board."
Barnette could have earned his second win of the season Tuesday had Bordes not blown a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh.
The Central Arizona College transfer showed resolve after a shaky first inning in which he gave up a leadoff triple to junior left fielder Trevor Crowe and allowed senior right fielder Jeff Van Houten to reach on a single.
In the third, Barnette was aided by freshman shortstop Andrew Romine's acrobatic catch in foul territory. He also benefited from a pair of warning-track grabs in the fourth and he escaped a potential jam in the fifth before being relieved by Bordes with one out in the sixth.
Bordes figures that ASU coach Pat Murphy won't think twice about using Barnette as a starter later in the season.
"He can pitch anywhere in our rotation," Bordes said. "Middle relief, closing the game, starting the game, whatever ae he can do it all."
Reach the reporter at brian.gomez@asu.edu.