Baseball win over Cal ties 49-year old school record

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.

ASU wasted no time in getting out in front, scoring three runs in the first inning. Matt Newman drove in two runs with a single and Zach Wilson then followed him with an RBI single to give the Sun Devils an early lead.

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 Drew Maggi. ASU added two more in the fifth with an RBI triple by Zack MacPhee and a run-scoring single by Newman.

The Golden Bears made things interesting in the sixth, scoring four runs against ASU starter Seth Blair. However, once again the Sun Devils showed their ability to answer quickly, scoring five runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Johnny Ruettiger scored on an error, and then Kole Calhoun and Matt Newman both had two-run singles to cap off the scoring.

Newman was 3-for-5 and tied a career-high with five RBI to lead the Devils at the plate. Maggi, MacPhee, Wilson and Austin Barnes 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.

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. Mitchell Lambson, Jake Barrett and Brady Rodgers combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings of relief. The three relievers allowed just one hit while striking out six in total.

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.