May 2, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - The pitching of Kyle Ottoson and the bat of Michael Benjamin propelled Arizona State to a 3-0 win over the BYU Cougars in Tempe on Monday night. ASU did not collect their first base hit of the game until the seventh inning but still earned the win, improving to 32-10 on the year.
The game was a pitchers duel as Ottoson and BYU starting pitcher Matthew Neil went pitch for pitch. Arizona State would finally break through in the sixth without getting a hit. Benjamin hit a one-out comebacker to Neil, but his throw was high and ended up in the crowd, putting Benjamin on second base. After moving to third on a groundout, he would score on a wild pitch to put ASU up 1-0.
The first Arizona State hit would come in the seventh inning, as Joey DeMichele broke up the no hit bid with a double to left. Benjamin, making his first career start, made it a night he will never forget in the eighth inning. With a man on and the Devils clinging to the 1-0 lead, Benjamin muscled a ball over the left field fence and onto Rio Salado Parkway for his first career hit and home run. That made 3-0. Benjamin is the first Sun Devil to hit a home run for his first career hit since Abe Ruiz accomplished the same feat in 2009 when he hit a pitch hit grand slam in a 13-5 victory against Milwaukee-Wisconsin.
The left arms of Ottoson and Mitchell Lambson took care of the rest, limiting the Cougars to only three hits. Ottoson went seven innings, striking out seven. Lambson was perfect for two innings, striking out one to earn his seventh save of the year and secure the victory for the Devils.
The Devils will wrap up their two game series with the Cougars Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30p.m.from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.