Baseball shuts out Washington 12-0
Pitching in front of his family and friends, Arizona State's Kramer Champlin spun a gem on Saturday at Husky Ballpark, shutting out Washington in a 12-0 Sun Devil win. The Olympia, Washington native went the distance for his second complete game shutout of the season, helping ASU win the series and improve to 38-13, 16-7 in Pac-10 play.
Champlin struck out seven and scattered six hits over his nine innings, upping his record to 8-2 on the year. He was supported by 15 hits from his offense, who handed Washington their worst loss of the season. It marked the second time this season ASU has had starting pitchers throw consecutive complete game shutouts. Champlin and Jake Barrett did it to California in April.
For the second straight day Arizona State got on the board with a third inning rally. Xorge Carrillo led the inning off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a single by Andrew Aplin. Johnny Ruettiger brought home Carillo with an RBI single that made it 1-0. After a sacrifice put runners at second and third, Riccio Torrez smashed a ball to third base that kicked off the glove of Jacob Lamb and rolled up the third base line, allowing Aplin and Ruettiger to score and make it 3-0 Sun Devils.
ASU added another run in the fifth without recording a base hit. The Devils took advantage of three base on balls and a bases loaded passed ball to make it 4-0. They would again pile on to their lead in the sixth inning, plating two runs. Zach Wilson led off with a double to left then came home on an RBI single by Matt Newman. With two outs and the bases empty, Carrillo doubled to left center. Aplin followed that with a single to the second baseman Reggie Jones, but the throw was high by Jones to first, allowing Carrillo to score and make it 6-0.
A two-out rally would again help the Devils increase their lead. After the first two hitters in the eighth went out, Deven Marrero and Carrillo each singled. It then appeared that Aplin had grounded out to end the inning, but Washington's B.K. Santy was called for catcher's interference, extending the inning. Ruettiger made the Huskies pay, clearing the bases with a triple to the right field gap and making it 9-0 Arizona State. ASU wasn't done, as they would add two more runs to their tally. Abe Ruiz hit a pinch hit two-run homer in the top of the ninth, his second career home run. His only other round-tripper came on February 21, 2009, a pinch hit grand slam against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Freshman James McDonald, who pinch hit in the ninth as well, recorded his first career a hit, a double down the right field line. Xorge Carrillo equaled his career high with his three hits. Johnny Ruettiger had a pair of hits and four RBI, while Zach Wilson and Andrew Aplin each had two hits as well. The Sun Devils and Huskies will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. from Husky Ballpark.