#1 baseball sweeps Trojans 5-2

March 30, 2008

The top ranked Sun Devils used a four run first inning and stellar bullpen work to sweep the USC Trojans 5-2 on Sunday afternoon in Tempe. 3,387 fans came out to Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark to witness Arizona State improve to 25-1 on the year, including a 3-0 mark in Pac-10 play. A total of 11,358 fans came out during the weekend to see ASU sweep the Trojans in a regular season Pac-10 series for the first time since 1998.<separator></separator>The Devils got on the board first when <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/paramore_petey00.html"… Paramore</a> blooped a ball to left field to score <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/kipnis_jason00.html">J… Kipnis</a> from third. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html">Ma… Newman</a> made it 3-0 with a single to left that scored <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/wallace_brett00.html">… Wallace</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/paramore_petey00.html"… Paramore</a>. With <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/sontag_ryan00.html">Ry… Sontag</a> on third, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/champagnie_marcel00.ht… Champagnie</a> hit a tapper to the pitcher that scored a run to push it to 4-0. USC got one back in the top of the second on a Hector Rabago solo homer that made it 4-1.<separator></separator>ASU would add to their lead in the third, when <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/torrez_raoul00.html">R… Torrez</a> was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Trojans would cut it to 5-2 in the fourth, but neither team would score again the rest of the afternoon. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/rafferty_tommy00.html"… Rafferty</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/dorado_reyes00.html">R… Dorado</a> came out of the Sun Devil bullpen and combined to shut down the Trojan offense. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/sauer_stephen00.html">… Sauer</a> got the start for ASU, lasting three innings and allowing two runs.<separator></separator> Rafferty (5-0) picked up the win, his second of the series. He threw 3.1 innings, allowing three hits and striking out two. Dorado threw the final 2.1 innings, working out of a jam in the seventh and finishing out the game to pick up his first save. He struck out four and allowed only two hits.<separator></separator><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html">Ma… Newman</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/champagnie_marcel00.ht… Champagnie</a> each had two hits in the victory, with Newman picking up two RBI.<separator></separator>The Devils host Wofford for a two-game midweek series beginning Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.<separator></separator>