April 21, 2012
Click here for a photo gallery from the game (Photos by Denis Concordel)
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The 19th-ranked Arizona State baseball team rallied to tie the game three separate times before falling to No. 8 Stanford, 8-7, on a walk-off single Saturday at Sunken Diamond in Palo Alto, Calif.
Michael Benjamin hit a two-out RBI double down the left-field line with the Devils (24-15, 9-8) trailing by one to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning, but Stanford hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the frame to get the win.
Right-hander Jake Barrett (1-3) took the loss after allowing the game-winning single in the ninth inning.
Starting right-hander Trevor Williams allowed seven runs on 11 hits while striking out two and walking none in six innings. Right-hander Robert Ravago took the mound in the seventh and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Right-hander AJ Vanegas (3-0) got the win after conceding one run on two hits in two innings. Starting left-hander Brett Mooneyham lasted six innings and gave up three runs on five hits.
The Cardinal (24-10, 7-7) took an early one-run lead on an RBI groundout after getting a pair of hits in the opening frame.
Stanford doubled its lead, 2-0, in the third inning with a solo home run by Danny Diekroeger.
The Sun Devils tied the game at two runs apiece in the fifth inning behind a pair of RBI doubles by Deven Marrero and Joey DeMichele. Coffman led off the frame with a single and Marrero came through with an RBI double three batters later to give ASU its first run of the game. DeMichele followed with an RBI double of his own to score Marrero.
Stanford retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a double and an RBI single by Stephen Piscotty.
An RBI single by Benjamin in the sixth frame brought home Beau Maggi, who reached base on a hit by pitch, and knotted the game at three.
Alex Blandino hit a three-run homer and Tyler Gaffney recorded an RBI double as the Cardinal once again recaptured the lead with a four-run sixth inning.
ASU secured three runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut the deficit to one, 7-6.
Marrero walked to begin the frame, advanced to third on a single and scored on a passed ball. James McDonald picked up an RBI single and Benjamin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to walk in the third run of the inning.
The Sun Devils play the series finale against the Cardinal on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Sunken Diamond. Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens will have the call for Sun Devil Sports Network on The Fan AM 1060.
Sunday's projected pitching matchup:
ASU - RHP Darin Gillies (1-3, 3.67 ERA)
Stanford - TBA
Game notes: Attendance was 1,759...Stanford's projected starter on Sunday, AJ Vanegas, pitched the eighth and ninth innings...game time was 3 hours, 10 minutes.