March 28, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - One day after Josh Spence turned in a sterling performance on the mound, Mike Leake did the same, pacing the #2 Sun Devils to a 10-1 victory over USC at Dedeaux Field. Leake went eight innings, allowing only four hits and one run to earn the win, moving him to 6-1 on the year. It was the 30th victory of Leake's career, the third most in school history in the Aluminum Bat Era (1974-Present). With the win, ASU is now 19-3, 5-0 in Pac-10 play.
For the second straight game, the Trojans took an early lead, only to see the Sun Devils even the game and eventually take a lead which they would not relinquish. USC struck in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 lead off Leake. Grant Green hit a two-out triple to left centerfield, then he was brought home by an infield single off the bat of Anthony Vasquez to give the Trojans a one run lead.
Matt Newman evened things up in the top of the third, sending a shot off the wall in right field that scored Jared McDonald. Newman's single off the wall came on the 12th pitch of the at-bat. Jason Kipnis followed Newman with a sac fly to left that brought home Raoul Torrez to make it 2-1 Arizona State.
Newman struck again in the fifth, knocking in his second run of the game with a double to right center that brought home Raoul Torrez to make it 3-1 Devils. Kipnis would bring Newman home with a double to right that made it 4-1.
Kipnis and Newman teamed up again in the top of the ninth to extend the ASU lead. After Newman drew a leadoff walk, Kipnis blasted a shot down the right field line for his seventh home run of the season and a 6-1 Sun Devil lead. It would grow to 7-1 thanks to a fielding gaffe by USC's Grant Green. With Carlos Ramirez at third and Kole Calhoun at first, Calhoun broke for second. The throw was fielded by Green and when he attempted to apply the tag, the ball shot out of his glove and rolled into right field, allowing Ramirez to score and Calhoun to advance to third. Calhoun was credited with a stolen base and Green charged with the error. Calhoun would come home on a wild pitch by Jeff Grijalva to make it 8-1. Jared McDonald added the exclamation point on a six run ninth inning, hitting his second home run of the year, a two-run bomb down the right field line to put the Devils up 10-1. Jordan Swagerty pitched the bottom of the ninth, striking out two to secure the victory.
Newman and Kipnis each had three hits, while Kipnis knocked in four runs. Jared McDonald was 2-4 with two RBI.
ASU and USC will conclude their series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. from Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles.