#1 baseball sweeps UMass 17-9

Number one Arizona State pounded out 18 hits and 17 runs on Sunday, sweeping the UMass Minutemen 17-9 in front of 2,733 at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. ASU outscored UMass 43-17 in the three-game series and improved to 12-0 on the year.

The Devils pushed a run across in the first inning, when Ike Davis scored from third after a botched pick off attempt at second base. The 1-0 lead would grow to 2-0 in the fourth, after a Marcel Champagnie triple down the right field line scored Davis.

The Minutemen cut it to 2-1 in the fifth after an unearned run, but Arizona State responded by scoring six in the fifth to put the lead at 8-1. Brett Wallace started the scoring by singling home Jason Kipnis, then stole third base and scored when the catcher's throw went into the outfield. A Champagnie double brought home two more, then a Matt Newman RBI single made it 7-1. Champagnie scored from third when Newman was thrown out attempting to steal second, making it 8-1.

Greg Bordes made it 9-1 in the sixth with a sacrifice fly that scored Kiel Roling. Sontag made it 10-1 with a solo blast to center, his first of the season. Mike Murphy would score later in the inning from third after a throwing error by the pitcher.

After UMass scored three times in the top of the eighth, the Sun Devils continued their bottom of the eighth inning dominance, scoring five more times to push the lead to 17-4. Freshman Tillman Pugh started things off by homering to left center for his first career home run, and a Jason Jarvis sac fly with the bases loaded made it 16-4. Jason Kipnis then capped off the weekend with a three-run shot, his team-leading sixth of the year, to make it 17-4.

UMass would score five unearned runs in the ninth off Seth Blair, but it was not enough, as Arizona State completed the sweep.

Dustin Brader (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Jason Franzblau, who lasted four innings, allowing an unearned run and striking out four. Brader pitched a perfect fifth inning to earn the victory. Kyle Brule and RJ Preach also threw for the Devils.

Jason Kipnis was 3-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, matching the three hits of Ryan Sontag, who also scored three times. Brett Wallace, Ike Davis and Marcel Champagnie all had two hits apiece.

The Devils will play host to the Arkansas Razorbacks for a two-game mid-week series beginning Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.