May 16, 2010
TUCSON, Ariz. - The No. 2 Arizona State University baseball team lost 12-4 to No. 25 Arizona on Sunday at Sancet Stadium in Tucson. The Sun Devils drop to 42-6 overall, 15-5 in the Pac-10, after the loss.
The Wildcats took control of the game with a five-run fourth inning that put them ahead 7-2, with the big hit coming on a two-out, three-run homer by Joey Rickard. Arizona right fielder Steve Selsky went 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored to lead the Wildcat offense.
Merrill Kelly allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits over 3.2 innings, taking his first loss of the season and falling to 9-1. The 12 runs were the most ASU has allowed this season, and the Devils also tied a season high with four errors in the loss.
ASU took the lead with a run in the first, but Arizona answered with two runs in the second. Austin Barnes had an RBI double in the top of the third to tie the score before the Wildcats plated five runs in the fourth. Arizona extended the lead to 8-2 with a run in the fifth.
The Sun Devils threatened in the sixth, scoring two runs on RBI singles by Johnny Ruettiger and Deven Marrero and having runners on second and third with two outs, but Matt Newman grounded out to end the inning. Arizona then got the runs back in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run double by Selsky, his fourth hit of the game.
ASU again threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs, but Arizona reliever Bryce Bandilla struck out Raoul Torrez and got Marrero to ground into a double play to end the inning. The Wildcats then added two more in the bottom of the eighth to cap off the scoring.
The two teams will complete their three-game series on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. at Sancet Stadium in Tucson.