March 24, 2007
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Thanks to some strong pitching performances and a key hit by Kiel Roling, the Arizona State Sun Devils knocked off the USC Trojans 4-3 at Dedeaux Field on Saturday afternoon. Mike Leake turned in a great effort in his second career start, going 7.1 innings before handing the game over to Jason Jarvis, who closed the door on Trojans, helping the Sun Devils improve to 21-7, 2-0 in Pac-10 play.
Leake (6-1) picked up the win after allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out five. One day after making his ASU debut as a pinch hitter, Jarvis got his first action on the mound, recording the final five outs to nail down his first career save.
The Trojans got on the board first when Michael Torres took Mike Leake deep to center for a 1-0 USC lead in the bottom of the second. Eric Sogard put the Devils on top in the third, sending a two-run blast to right field to make it 2-1 ASU. It was Sogard's fifth round-tripper of the year. Andrew Romine knocked in a run in the top of the fourth to make it 3-1.
The Trojans tied the game in the bottom of seventh, touching Leake for two runs to make it 3-3. Kiel Roling put ASU back on top with an RBI single that scored Ike Davis to make it 4-3.
USC would threaten in the eighth, putting two men on with one away against Leake. Pat Murphy made the decision to bring in Jason Jarvis to try and quell the Trojan rally. Jarvis did the job, getting the first batter he faced to send a sharp ground ball up the middle. Eric Sogard made a gorgeous diving stop, starting the inning ending double play. Jarvis then shut down USC in the ninth to record the save.
Kiel Roling was 2-3, including the game-winning RBI. Tim Smith also added two hits for the Devils, who were out hit by the Trojans 8-7. Arizona State stranded nine runners on base, while USC left six.
The Sun Devils and Trojans will wrap up the three-game set tomorrow afternoon in Los Angeles. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Dedeaux Field.