Feb. 19, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - Four Sun Devil pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout as the No. 5 Arizona State University baseball team defeated Northern Illinois 8-0 in the 2010 season opener Friday. A crowd of 3,011 fans saw the Sun Devils earn their 1,000th all-time victory at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. It was also the first victory for Tim Esmay as Arizona State's head coach.
Arizona State improved to 40-11-1 all-time in season openers, including wins in four straight seasons.
Seth Blair got the start and went five innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out five to get the victory. Mitchell Lambson followed with two perfect innings, freshman Jake Barrett retired the side in order in the eighth and Jordan Swagerty finished the game by striking out the side in the ninth.
Zack MacPhee led the Sun Devil offense with three hits and drove in two runs. Zach Wilson and Matt Newman had two hits apiece, with each of them hitting a home run. Drew Maggi and Kole Calhoun also drew three walks each.
Wilson got ASU on the board in the second inning, hitting his first career home run to left field. The Sun Devils added four more runs in the third on an RBI triple by MacPhee and a three-run homer down the right field line by Newman.
MacPhee brought in another run with a double in the fourth, and Calhoun and Johnny Ruettiger each had RBI groundouts.
The Sun Devils continue their series with the Huskies on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.