Baseball rallies for win over San Diego

The No. 1 Arizona State University baseball team rallied from an early five-run deficit to defeat San Diego 11-6 on Tuesday in front of 3,095 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The Sun Devils improve to 27-1 on the season with the win.

The Toreros scored five two-out runs in the second inning off ASU starter Jimmy Patterson to take the early lead. The Sun Devils got one back in the third on an RBI infield single by Zack MacPhee. Then in the fourth, Patterson, who continued on as the designated hitter after leaving on the mound, hit his first career home run, a two-run shot to left center to make it 5-3.

ASU then tied the game in the fourth, as MacPhee had an RBI single and Drew Maggi scored on a double play. The Devils then took their first lead in the seventh when Zach Wilson ripped a two-run double to the right center field gap. San Diego threatened in the eighth inning, scoring a run and loading the bases with one out, but freshman reliever Jake Barrett escaped the jam with a strikeout and a foul pop out.

The Sun Devils then got four runs in the bottom of the eighth, with MacPhee again providing the big hit on a two-run triple to the right field corner. It was MacPhee's 10th triple of the season, making him the first ASU player to have double-digit triples in a season since Lemmie Miller had 11 in 1981.

MacPhee led the way offensively, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored, and Maggi went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Wilson added three RBI of his own, and Deven Marrero had two hits on the night.

Patterson went only 1.2 innings, allowing six hits and five runs, but he took a no decision. Freshman Alex Blackford came on to relieve him and threw 3.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen, while Mitchell Lambson earned the win with two perfect innings of relief. Lambson struck out four in two innings and improved to 3-0 on the season with the victory. Barrett pitched the eighth, allowing a run on two hits while striking out two, and Jordan Swagerty finished off the game with a scoreless ninth.

The Sun Devils will return to Pac-10 Conference play on Friday, when they begin a three-game series at Washington State. First pitch for Game One is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Bailey-Brayton Field in Pullman.