May 22, 2011
SEATTLE, Wash. - The Washington Huskies, after not scoring a run in the first two games of the series, were able to salvage a game at home, beating Arizona State 3-0 on Sunday at Husky Ballpark. For the second straight Sunday the Sun Devil offense was virtually non-existent, as they were held to only six hits and shutout for the first time in five years. Last weekend at USC they managed only three hits in a Sunday loss to the Trojans. The loss drops ASU to 38-14, 16-8 in Pac-10 play.
Arizona State was last held without a run on April 7, 2006, when Tim Lincecum and the Washington Huskies beat ASU 8-0 in Tempe. Lincecum struck out 12 and allowed only two hits in that game.
Starter Kyle Ottoson (3-1) pitched well, but it was two costly walks that ultimately cost him the game. He went 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out three and walked three, including two in his final inning that came around to score. On the other side, Washington starter Jacob Clem was dominant, holding Arizona State to only six hits while throwing his second complete game of the year. It was the sixth straight conference weekend where an opposing pitcher has thrown a complete game against the Sun Devils.
After being shutout for the first 22.1 innings of the series, the Huskies were finally able to break through in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Ottoson sandwiched a pair of walks around a strike out, he was lifted for Alex Blackford. Blackford's first pitch was smashed to centerfield by Jacob Lamb for a double, scoring Reggie Jones. One batter later the Huskies added to their lead on a Ryan Wiggins double that scored two more to make it 3-0.
The Sun Devils finally mounted an offensive threat in the seventh, loading the bases with nobody out after three straight singles. But Clem was able to work out of it, getting a force out at the plate and an inning ending double play to come away unscathed.
Zach Wilson had three hits in the loss. The Sun Devils will return home on Friday night for the final Pac-10 series ever at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Arizona State will host the UCLA Bruins in a three-game set to close out the regular season.