May 22, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - Raoul Torrez's go-ahead single in the eighth led the No. 3 Arizona State University baseball team to a 6-5 win over Oregon State on Saturday at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. A crowd of 4,123 saw the Sun Devils improve to 45-6 overall, 18-5 in the Pac-10, with the victory.
With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Deven Marrero and Andrew Aplin had back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third with one out. Torrez then chopped a single into left field to score Marrero for what would prove to be the game-winning run.
Jordan Swagerty fended off an Oregon State rally in the ninth, as the Beavers put two men on before Adalberto Santos flew out to end the game. It gave Swagerty his 12th save on the season, tying the single-season school record held by Doug Nurnberg (1965) and Kevin Dukes (1981).
Oregon State scored two runs in the first against ASU starter Merrill Kelly, but that would be all they got against Kelly, as he allowed just one hit and no runs over the next six innings.
ASU broke through in the third, taking the lead on a three-run home run by Kole Calhoun, his team-high 12th of the season and second in as many games. The Sun Devils extended the lead with an RBI groundout by Marrero in the sixth and a run-scoring double by Riccio Torrez in the seventh.
The Beavers would not go away easily however, as they scored three runs against reliever Mitchell Lambson in the eighth on a two-run homer by Santos and a solo homer by pinch hitter Andy Quiring.
After Matt Boyd retired Johnny Ruettiger to start the bottom of the eighth, Oregon State went to Kevin Rhoderick out of the bullpen, and he allowed the three straight singles by Marrero, Aplin and Raoul Torrez.
Lambson got the win to improve to 7-2 on the season. Kelly went seven innings and gave up just four hits and two runs while striking out seven, but he took a no decision.
The Sun Devils will complete their three-game series with Oregon State on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.