March 18, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - Starting pitcher Kramer Champlin held the Oral Roberts at bay for almost the entire game and the Sun Devils used a big fourth inning to earn a 5-1 victory on Friday night at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. 3,206 fans saw the Devils improve to 14-3 on the year.
Champlin was magnificent on the bump for the Devils, tossing a complete game. He held the Golden Eagles scoreless over the first eight innings, allowing only one run on six hits while striking out eight. He improves to 3-0 on the year. The last complete game by a Sun Devil hurler was on June 7, 2009 when Josh Spence went the distance in an Omaha-clinching 8-2 win over Clemson in the Super Regional.
The Devils got on the board in the second, scoring a run to take an early 1-0 lead. With runners at the corners and two away, Andrew Aplin doubled off the first base bag to score Austin Barnes and make it 1-0.
Johnny Ruettiger would make it 3-0 in the fourth on a bases loaded single through the right side that scored Barnes and Joey DeMichele. With runners at the corners, Ruettiger broke for second. The throw from the catcher was late and bounced away from the shortstop allowing Aplin to score from third. Riccio Torrez then brought home Ruettiger with a single up the middle to make it 5-0.
That was all the offense that ASU would need, as Champlin kept the ORU hitters off-balance from the outset and also got some help from some sterling defense. Riccio Torrez made several highlight reel stops at third base and Matt Newman made a great catch on a foul ball, crashing into the wall and holding on for the out. Torrez, Austin Barnes and Andrew Aplin all collected three hits, while Johnny Ruettiger drove in two runs in the victory.
The Devils and Golden Eagles will continue their series tomorrow night in Tempe. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.