April 26, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. -
By Matt Storey
Mike Leake was the star of the show again Saturday night, as No. 4 Arizona State defeated No. 6 California 11-7 in front of a crowd of 2,130 at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The Sun Devils improve to 34-7, 9-5 in the Pac-10, with the victory.
One night after throwing a complete game and earning his 20th career victory as the starting pitcher, Leake started at first base and drove in four runs, and his night included a bases-loaded three-run triple that put the Devils ahead for good in the bottom of the seventh.
Tommy Rafferty earned the win out of the bullpen and improved to 8-0 on the season, as he struck out four and allowed just two hits to shut out the Bears over the final three innings.
Greg Bordes got the scoring started with a two-run double to right center in the bottom of the second.
Cal took the lead back with three runs in the top of the third off Sun Devil starter Jason Franzblau, but ASU answered with a two-out rally in the bottom half of the inning. Brett Wallace walked and Petey Paramore singled, and Kiel Roling then drove them both in with a single through the left side.
After the Bears tied the game in the fifth, the Sun Devils responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Leake drove in a run with a bases-loaded sacrifice bunt before Wallace and Roling both scored on wild pitches.
Cal tied the game in the sixth, as catcher Dylan Tonneson hit a three-run homer to right field off Seth Blair.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh, when Leake cleared the bases with his three-run triple down the right field line and then scored on a wild pitch to cap off the scoring.
Bordes and Ryan Sontag had two hits apiece, while Wallace, Leake and Roling drew a combined seven walks to lead the ASU offense. Ike Davis was not available to play on Saturday. His status for Sunday is also doubtful.
The Sun Devils look for the sweep of the Bears tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.