May 24, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona entered Thursday night's game with Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year Preston Guilmet on the hill, looking to even the three-game series with ASU. Instead, the potent Sun Devil offense battered the UA ace to the tune of eight runs, four of them earned, to pick up the 8-7 victory over Arizona. Josh Satow was magnificent again, allowing only two runs while fanning seven to improve his mark to 11-3. Jason Jarvis recorded the final four outs to pick up his 10th save of the year. With the win, Arizona State is now 43-12, 19-4 in Pac-10 play.
The Wildcats crossed home plate first, taking a 2-0 lead off Satow in the third. ASU cut it to 2-1 when Eric Sogard drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the third, then an Ike Davis ground out scored Tim Smith from third to tie the game. Petey Paramore reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed a run to score to make it 3-2. Kiel Roling made Preston Guilmet pay for the error, sending a three-run blast to Rural Road to make it 6-2 ASU. It was the 13th dinger of the year for Roling.
Matt Spencer made it 7-2 in the fifth, sending a laser beam over the right field wall for his eighth homer of the year. Arizona State added another in the sixth inning to make 8-2. After Tim Smith drew a two out walk, he stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch then came home when the Wildcats catcher threw the ball into left field trying to throw Smith out on the wild pitch.
Arizona wouldn't quit, scoring five times in the eighth off Dustin Brader and Matt Spencer, all with two outs. Jarvis came on to record the final out of the eighth, then retired the Cats in order in the ninth to secure the victory.
Satow scattered ten hits over his seven innings, walking only one against his seven strike outs. Brett Wallace went 2-4 on the evening.
The Sun Devils will close out the regular season tomorrow afternoon, hosting Arizona in a Friday matinee. First pitch for the series finale is at 1 p.m. from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.