March 12, 2011
AUBURN, Ala. - The #7 Sun Devils used a 17-hit onslaught to beat the Auburn Tigers 9-5 at Plainsman Park. Matt Newman's two homers and Joey DeMichele's five hits helped lead ASU to its second straight win over the SEC's Tigers and up its record to 11-2 on the season.
The Devils trailed early for the second straight night, but once again were able to rally back. After trailing early then scratching back to tie, ASU scored two in the seventh to take the lead and two more in the ninth to solidify the lead. Freshman Trevor Williams shut down the Tiger bats over the final 2.2 innings to secure the win.
The Tigers took an early lead, scoring two off starter Kyle Ottoson in the second inning. Auburn was aided by two Sun Devil miscues, including a play at the plate where catcher Xorge Carrillo dropped the ball after it appeared Andrew Aplin had thrown out the runner at home.
The Devils answered back in the third, slicing the lead in half. Joey DeMichele led of the inning with a double down the left field line then scored on a Carrillo double. Carrillo was thrown out at third trying to advance on a bad throw. The Devils would put two more runners on but could not tack any more on, moving to the bottom of the third trailing 2-1.
The Tigers built their lead back up in their half of the third, scoring two more times against Ottoson. After a leadoff bunt single, a walk and a sac bunt, Wes Gilmer singled to right to make it 3-1. The next batter grounded a ball to MacPhee, who threw wild to first allowing another run to score to make it 4-1. That was all for Ottoson, who gave way to Alex Blackford. Ottoson lasted 2.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits.
Arizona State tied it in the fourth thanks to a Matt Newman two-run homer to right that made it 4-3. It was the first homer of the year for Newman and his first in almost a full year. His last round-tripper came on March 14, 2010 at Packard Stadium against Auburn. After a Tiger pitching change, Joey DeMichele singled then took second on a bad throw back to the infield. He came around to score on Carrillo's double off the left field wall to make it 4-4.
The Devils grabbed their first lead of the day in the top of the sixth. DeMichele led off with a double, moved to second on a Carrillo ground out and then scored when Aplin grounded to second and the throw home was not in time.
The Tigers would come right back, tying it up in the bottom of the sixth. After a leadoff single and a strike out, Blackford walked the next two hitters to load the bases. He was relieved by Mark Lambson who gave up a sac fly to tie it at 5-5 before retiring the side with a strike out. Blackford went three innings, allowing one run on three hits. Lambson would go an inning, allowing two hits and striking out one.
As has been the pattern all weekend, the Devils responded in the top half of the seventh. Riccio Torrez started things with a walk and then stole second. After a Wilson infield single, Torrez moved to third on a wild pitch. A sac fly by Marrero scored Torrez and allowed Wilson to move to second on a throwing error. He would score on a Newman double to right that made it 7-5.
Arizona State would add some insurance in the ninth to push the lead to 9-5. After the first two batters were retired, Matt Newman launched his second homer of the game to right field to make it 8-5. It is the third career multi-homer game for Newman, with the others coming against Fresno State in game three of the 2008 Super Regional and at Cal in 2009. DeMichele followed Newman with a laser beam off the wall in right for a double and came home on an RBI single by Carrillo to make it 9-5.
Trevor Williams, who came on in relief of Lambson, pitched the final 2.2 innings and allowed only a walk while striking out two. Lambson picked up the win, the first of his career, while Williams earned his first career save. It is the fourth straight game a Lambson has earned the win on the mound, as Mark's brother Mitchell was the winner in the previous three contests.
Joey DeMichele set a new career high with his five hits, including four runs scored. Three of those hits were doubles. Newman was 3-5 with four RBI, while Wilson and Carrillo also collected three hits. Carrillo also drove in three runs.
The Devils and Tigers will close out the series tomorrow, as first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Arizona time from Plainsman Park.