March 6, 2010
SURPRISE, Ariz. - The second-ranked Sun Devil baseball pounded out 22 hits on their way to a 16-2 victory over UC Riverside at the Coca-Cola Classic at Surprise Stadium. It was the second time this season Arizona State topped the 20-hit mark, improving their record to 10-0.
Jimmy Patterson got the start for the Sun Devils, going six innings and allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out three, picking up his first career win for the Devils. Alex Blackford threw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen to pick up his first career save.
UC Riverside jumped on Patterson in the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on the Devils early. Tony Nix doubled down the left field line to score Brian McConkey from first to put the Highlanders on top. The Devils would strike back in the bottom of the first scoring three times. After Drew Maggi tripled to lead off the inning, Zack MacPhee laced a ball into left field to bring him home and tie the score. MacPhee would move to third on a Kole Calhoun single, then would come home when Riccio Torrez grounded into a double play. With two gone, Matt Newman doubled off the wall in center and would come around to score on a Zach Wilson RBI single that made it 3-1. Maggi would make it 4-1 in the second with a double down the right field line that scored Andrew Aplin from first.
The Sun Devils would chase Highlanders starter in the Matt Larkins in the third, plating five runs to take a 9-1 lead. Wilson started the rally with an RBI single that scored Riccio Torrez, who had walked with one out in the inning. With two gone, Austin Barnes sent a single to left that scored Newman, then Aplin brought home a run with a single to right that scored Wilson. The Devils would add two more unearned runs after a throwing error by UCR third baseman Trent Jemmett.
Larkins went 2.2 innings, allowing nine runs, seven earned, on 11 hits and picking up the loss. He was one of six pitchers for UC Riverside.
The Highlanders would add a run in the fourth on a solo homer by Michael Hur, but ASU would get it back in the fifth when Matt Newman drew a bases loaded walk to make it 10-2. ASU would make it 11-2 on an RBI single by Maggi in the sixth. Kole Calhoun's first homer of the year in the seventh made it 12-2, then a Newman RBI single pushed it to 13-2.
The Sun Devils would add three more in the eighth to push the lead to 16-2. Maggi led things off with a double and he would score later on a wild pitch. Daniel Milner had a pinch hit RBI double that plated Deven Marrero. Brandon Magee, who is also a linebacker on the Sun Devil football team, picked up his first career hit in the inning, a pinch hit single to center. A Johnny Ruettiger sac fly would cap the scoring for the night.
10 Sun Devils collected at least one hit, led by Drew Maggi who was 4-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. He also drew two walks. Andrew Aplin, Zach Wilson and Matt Newman each had three hits, while Zack MacPhee, Kole Calhoun and Austin Barnes all had two hits.
The Sun Devils wrap-up play in the Coca-Cola Classic tomorrow, when they take on the FIU Golden Panthers at Surprise Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 45 minutes following the MLB Spring Training game.