Baseball holds off Oregon State, wins 15-12
It was another wild and wacky Sunday in the Pac-10, as Arizona State withstood a late Oregon State rally to take the series finale 15-12 in front of 3,279 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. With the win, the Sun Devils improve to 31-6 on the year, 7-5 in Pac-10 play.
The two teams went through a combined 12 pitchers (seven for OSU and five for ASU) and scored 27 runs on 26 hits. Beaver pitchers surrendered 13 walks and hit a batter. Neither starter made it through the second inning, as ASU's Reyes Dorado was chased after 1.1 innings after allowing six runs on four hits. OSU's Jorge Reyes lasted only 1.2 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits and taking the loss.
Stephen Sauer picked up the win for Arizona State to improve to 4-1. He entered in the second and lasted one inning, allowing only one hit and one walk. He was the beneficiary of a five run second inning by the ASU offense.
The Devils started fast for the first time all weekend when Brett Wallace homered off Reyes with two men on in the first. It was his 10th homer of the season and his first since March 22. That lead did not last long, as the Beavers pushed six across in the top of the second. Oregon State used four singles and a walk to force Dorado out and bring Sauer in. Sauer allowed a double that plated two and an RBI ground out before getting out of the inning.
Arizona State answered right back, scoring five times to take an 8-6 lead. Arizona State loaded the bases with two outs, setting up Brett Wallace's two run single up the middle. That was all for Reyes, as he exited for Josh Osich, who was brought in to face Ike Davis. Davis, who sat out last night's game with a lower leg injury, welcomes Osich to the game with a three-run blast onto Rural Road. It was the 15th homer of the season for Davis.
ASU would strike again in the third, scoring three to stretch their lead to 11-6. After two walks and an error loaded the bases once again, Rocky Laguna singled home a run. Greg Bordes brought another home with his RBI grounder, then Ryan Sontag singled to center to bring home another run.
The Beavers refused to go away, answering ASU in the sixth and cutting the lead to 11-9. The Beavers scored three runs in the inning, all with two outs. Tommy Rafferty was tagged for the runs before giving way to Ike Davis.
The Sun Devils responded in the bottom of the inning, thanks to free passes issued by Oregon State. Brett Wallace and Ike Davis led off the inning with walks, then were moved over on a Petey Paramore sacrifice bunt. Matt Newman was intentionally walked to load the bases for Raoul Torrez. Torrez made the Beavers pay, doubling down the left field line to clear the bases. Ryan Sontag would single home another run before the inning was over, putting ASU up 15-9.
OSU mounted a comeback in the ninth, but their three runs weren't enough as the Devils held on to salvage the final game of the three game series.
Ike Davis pitched the final 3.1 innings, striking out five to earn his fourth save of the season. Seth Blair threw two thirds of an inning out of the bullpen, and Tommy Rafferty also went 2.2 innings.
Ryan Sontag was 3-6 with two RBI, while Brett Wallace went 3-5 with five runs batted in. Rocky Laguna had two hits and an RBI and Ike Davis and Raoul Torrez each brought home three.
Arizona State now travels to Fullerton, California for a two-game midweek series with Cal State Fullerton beginning Tuesday. They return to Tempe to host Cal in a three-game Pac-10 series that gets underway on Friday night.