April 25, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - By Matt Storey
Behind a complete game from starting pitcher Mike Leake, #4 Arizona State defeated #6 California 11-7 Friday night in front of a crowd of 2,784 at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The Sun Devils improved to 33-7, 8-5 in the Pac-10, with the win.
Leake earned his 20th career victory and improved to 7-1 on the season, allowing five earned runs and striking out six in his second complete game of the year.
The Sun Devils started off fast again, scoring three in the bottom of the first after Cal scored a run in the top of the first. Ryan Sontag scored on a wild pitch by Tyson Ross and Matt Newman had a two-out single up the middle to drive in two.
The Bears took the lead back with four runs in the top of the second, and ASU scored a run with a sacrifice fly by Jason Kipnis in the bottom of the inning.
Cal scored two more runs in the fifth to extend its lead to 7-4, before Brett Wallace hit his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot to center, in the bottom half of the fifth.
The Sun Devils then took control of the game with a four-run sixth. Raoul Torrez scored on a balk, Wallace had an RBI single to right and Kiel Roling came up with a bases loaded single to bring in Jason Kipnis and Wallace.
ASU added a run each in the seventh and eighth innings on Ryan Sontag's sacrifice fly to left and an Andy Workman RBI fielder's choice.
Wallace, Roling and Sontag all had two hits each to lead the Sun Devil offense in the victory.
ASU hosts Cal again tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.
NOTES: Mike Leake becomes just the ninth Sun Devil to earn 20 career victories in his second season at ASU...ASU men's basketball head coach Herb Sendek threw out the first pitch and sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch of Friday night's game.