March 24, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 14th-ranked Arizona State baseball team had the game-winning run on second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but fell to Cal, 3-2, on Saturday night in front of 2,515 fans at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Right-hander Trevor Williams (5-1) retired 22 of the last 25 batters he faced, including five perfect innings, but took his first collegiate loss after allowing one run and two unearned runs in a career-long 8 2/3 frames. He finished the night with three strikeouts and two walks.
Joey DeMichele, who headed to the plate with the bases loaded after Marrero walked on four pitches with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, drove a hard-hit ball to center field that was caught near the warning track to end the game.
Right-hander Jake Barrett struck out Cal's final batter after taking the mound with runners on first and third and two outs in the top of the ninth.
Right-hander Matt Flemer (3-2) was pulled following Stankiewicz's two-run double after throwing 6 1/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out four.
ASU threatened in the bottom of the eighth as DeMichele began the frame with a double down the left-field line, but Cal closed out the next three Sun Devil batters to keep its one-run lead.
The Golden Bears capitalized on a pair of errors by Drew Stankiewicz in the opening two innings to take the early 2-0 lead on two unearned runs. Andrew Knapp drove in a run on an RBI single in the first and Bruno collected an RBI sacrifice fly in the following frame.
Chad Krist hit a home run to left field in the top of the sixth to push Cal's advantage to three.
Stankiewicz atoned for his early miscues with a two-run double into right field in the bottom of the seventh inning to bring ASU within one, 2-3. Two singles on two pitches to lead off the frame started the rally for the Sun Devils, and a fielders choice followed by a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Stankiewicz.
The Sun Devils close out their three-game series against Cal at 12:30 p.m. (PT) on Sunday at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens will have the call on KDUS The Fan 1060 Am.
Game Notes: Before the loss tonight, ASU had beaten Cal eight straight times and 11 consecutive at Packard Stadium.