Feb. 26, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - By Kris Knief--
Arizona State rebounded from its first loss of the season on Friday by sweeping a doubleheader from the Delaware Blue Hens on Saturday, winning game one 9-2 and game two 10-2. 3,272 fans saw ASU collect 33 hits in the two games to improve to 5-1 on the year.
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early lead against the Blue Hens in the first game when Riccio Torrez scored on a Zach Wilson double off the left field wall. The Devils would score again in the bottom of the fourth when Abe Ruiz doubled to the gap in left center scoring Matt Newman and Xorge Carrillo. They would add runs again in the sixth and in the eight to put the game out of reach.
Pitcher Kyle Ottoson made his first career start and was strong, going seven innings allowing two runs on four hits and striking out eight. He earned the win to move to 2-0 on the young season.
Zach Wilson was the hitting star of the game one, going 5-5 with three doubles and four RBI. The five hits and three doubles were both career highs for the junior. He is the first Sun Devil since Ike Davis in 2007 to collect three doubles in a game. Johnny Ruettiger had two hits and stole two bases, giving him nine on the year.
In the second game, the Sun Devils would jump on the Blue Hens early again, scoring three runs on three hits in the second inning. Johnny Ruettiger led the way with an RBI triple to left center. The Devils would score again in the fourth inning on another Ruettiger hit, an infield single that scored Austin Barnes. The fifth was all the Devils when they scored five runs on five hits with the biggest being Andy Workman's double to right scoring Barnes and Matt Newman.
Starter Kramer Champlin went six innings, allowing only five hits and striking out six to earn his second win of the year. Mitchell Lambson made his 2011 debut going one and a third perfect innings while striking out two.
Zach Wilson went a combined 7-10 in the two games, driving in five runs. Johnny Ruettiger collected five hits and four RBI in the two games, and Zack MacPhee contributed three RBI as well. As a team, the Sun Devils stole seven bases on Saturday, giving them 24 through the first six games of 2011.
The Devils and Blue Hens will wrap up their series on Sunday at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.