April 9, 2010
PULLMAN, Wash. - Arizona State dropped the opener of the three-game Pac-10 series with Washington State, falling 6-5 at Bailey-Brayton Field in Pullman. The Cougars plated a run in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with the win, dropping the Devils to 27-2 on the year, 5-2 in Pac-10 play.
Washington State's third baseman Matt Argyropoulos led off the ninth with a double off Mitchell Lambson, then was brought home by pinch hitter Patrick Claussen off of Jordan Swagerty to win it for WSU. Lambson took the loss, dropping him to 3-1 on the year.
Seth Blair started for the Devils, lasting 6.1 innings and allowing five runs, only two earned. He gave up seven hits and struck out seven, getting a no decision. Lambson went two innings, allowing the one run while striking out two.
The Sun Devils offense started quickly, plating two runs in the top of the first. After Drew Maggi reached on error, he advanced to third on a bad pickoff throw by Chad Arnold. He would score on a Zack MacPhee RBI single. MacPhee then stole second and came home on an RBI single by Riccio Torrez. The Cougars struck right back in the bottom half of the inning, plating four runs, including three unearned, to take a 4-2 lead.
Arizona State fought back to grab the lead in the top of the fifth. After Austin Barnes led the inning off with a double to right, Raoul Torrez brought him home with his own double to center to make it 4-3. MacPhee put the Devils on top 5-4 with a laser beam over the right field wall, his fourth homer of the season.
The Cougars would push a run across in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game at 5-5. After a one out single ended Blair's night, Mitchell Lambson gave up a triple to Gary Kukendall that scored the equalizer.
Zack MacPhee was 2-2 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Johnny Ruettiger also had two hits.
The Sun Devils and Cougars will square off again tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Bailey-Brayton Field.