Baseball win over Cal ties 49-year old school record
<p>The No. 1 Arizona State University baseball team tied a 49-year-old school record on Friday, defeating California 12-5 in front of a sellout crowd of 4,371 at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The victory, which was also the Pac-10 Conference opener, puts the Sun Devils at 21-0 on the season, tying the 1961 team for the best start in school history.</p><separator></separator><p>ASU wasted no time in getting out in front, scoring three runs in the first inning. <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Matt Newman</span></a> drove in two runs with a single and <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/wilson_zach00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Zach Wilson</span></a> then followed him with an RBI single to give the Sun Devils an early lead.</p><separator></separator><p>Cal would score a run in the third, but the Devils answered in the bottom half of the third on a two-run single by <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/maggi_drew00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Drew Maggi</span></a>. ASU added two more in the fifth with an RBI triple by <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/macphee_zack00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Zack MacPhee</span></a> and a run-scoring single by Newman.</p><separator></separator><p>The Golden Bears made things interesting in the sixth, scoring four runs against ASU starter <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/blair_seth00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Seth Blair</span></a>. However, once again the Sun Devils showed their ability to answer quickly, scoring five runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ruettiger_johnny00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Johnny Ruettiger</span></a> scored on an error, and then <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/calhoun_kole00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Kole Calhoun</span></a> and <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/newman_matt00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Matt Newman</span></a> both had two-run singles to cap off the scoring.</p><separator></separator><p>Newman was 3-for-5 and tied a career-high with five RBI to lead the Devils at the plate. Maggi, MacPhee, Wilson and <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/barnes_austin00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Austin Barnes</span></a> also had two hits apiece on the night, while Maggi and Calhoun had two RBI each. All nine starters for ASU reached base at least once in the game.</p><separator></separator><p>Blair went 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits and five runs with five strikeouts. He earned the win and improved to 4-0 on the season. <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/lambson_mitchell00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Mitchell Lambson</span></a>, <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/barrett_jake00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Jake Barrett</span></a> and <a href="/sports/m-basebl/mtt/rodgers_brady00.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Brady Rodgers</span></a> combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings of relief. The three relievers allowed just one hit while striking out six in total.</p><separator></separator><p>The Sun Devils continue their three-game series with California on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.</p>