Baseball loses heartbreaker at #15 Cal State Fullerton

Arizona State's furious comeback in the seventh and eighth innings went for naught, as #15 Cal State Fullerton walked off with a 10-9 win in the opening game of a two-game midweek series at Goodwin Field. The loss drops ASU to 31-7 on the season.

The Sun Devils, who led 5-0 after a half inning, scored one in the seventh and two in the eighth to tie the score at nine, but Cal State Fullerton used a triple by Gary Brown and a two out single by Christian Colon in the bottom of the ninth to earn the victory.

The inability to get hits with runners on base once again cost the Sun Devils, as they stranded 15unners, including leaving the bases loaded twice. It was the 13th time this season Arizona State has stranded at least 10 runners and the third straight game.

Starter Josh Satow lasted five innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits. Dustin Brader went one, allowing two runs on two hits and Jason Franzblau went 1.2 and did not allow a hit. Ike Davis took the loss, dropping him to 4-1 on the year. He went one inning, allowing one run on two hits.

Davis got the scoring started in the top of the first, doubling home Jason Kipnis to put ASU up 1-0. After a walk to Paramore loaded the bases, Matt Newman made it 2-0 with his infield single to the pitcher. Raoul Torrez brought another run home when his bunt up the first base line caused a wild throw by the pitcher. It went to 5-0 when Greg Bordes laced a two-run double down the left field line. That chased Titans starter Travis Kelly after just two-thirds of an inning.

Cal State Fullerton responded off starter Josh Satow, pushing three across to cut the ASU lead to 5-3. They took the lead in the second thanks to a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly that made it 6-5.

ASU pulled even in the top of third after a Kiel Roling pinch hit RBI single scored Raoul Torrez.

Two-out runs, which have haunted the Devils all season, again were the thorn in ASU's side in the sixth inning. Cal State Fullerton scored three runs with two outs to take a 9-6 lead heading to the seventh. Josh Satow walked the leadoff hitter, his fifth free pass of the game, and was relieved by Dustin Brader. Brader allowed a sac bunt and a fly out, but then surrendered an RBI single, a hit batter and a two run triple to allow the Titans to jump back into the lead.

The Devils were able to draw a little closer in the seventh when Ryan Sontag scored on an error by the second baseman. In the eighth, a Kiel Roling RBI double made it 9-8. Jason Kipnis would tie it at nine with a bullet off the foot of Titan's pitcher Adam Jorgenson. The ball ricocheted into right field, allowing Roling to score from second.

Greg Bordes was 2-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Brett Wallace reached base five times, walking three times, getting hit by a pitch and reaching on error. Jason Kipnis was 3-6 with an RBI and a stolen base. Ike Davis was 2-4 with two RBI and Kiel Roling was 2-4 with two RBI. As a team, ASU drew nine walks.

The Devils and Titans will square off again tomorrow night at 6 p.m. from Goodwin Field in Fullerton.