March 23, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 14th-ranked Arizona State baseball team opened its Pac-12 home schedule with a win over Cal, 5-1, on Friday night in front of 2,581 fans at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Right-hander Brady Rodgers (4-0) earned his fourth win of the season after giving up one run in a complete game. He struck out six while allowing eight hits and a walk.
Andrew Aplin secured three hits and an RBI, and Abe Ruiz hit his seventh home run of the season as four different Sun Devils drove in a run.
Cal committed a pair of errors in the second inning, leading to three unearned runs for the Sun Devils. Michael Benjamin and Aplin each picked up an RBI as ASU jumped out to an early three-run lead.
ASU tacked on a run in the third frame to stretch its advantage to four after James McDonald scored Ruiz on an RBI single.
Ruiz led off the fifth inning with a solo home run over the right-field wall to extend the Devils' lead, 5-1.
Left-hander Justin Jones (2-3) took the loss after conceding five runs, with just two earned, on nine hits in eight innings.
The Golden Bears scored their only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI sacrifice fly by Darrel Matthews.
The Sun Devils play the second part of a three-game series against Cal at 6:30 p.m. (PT) on Saturday at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens will have the call on KDUS The Fan 1060 Am.