May 19, 2012
Pac-12 Baseball Standings as of May 19, 2012 games
Oregon, 19-8
Arizona, 17-9 (1.5 GB)
UCLA, 17-9 (1.5 GB)
Arizona State, 16-10 (2.5 GB)
Stanford, 16-10 (2.5 GB)
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 16th-ranked Arizona State baseball team secured its sixth Pac-12 conference series win of the season with an 8-4 victory over Washington on Saturday night at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Right-hander Trevor Williams (11-2) earned his conference-leading 11th win of the season after striking out six and giving up four runs, including two earned, on six hits in eight innings.
Beau Maggi hit his first career home run and Abe Ruiz recorded three RBI to pace the Sun Devils (34-18, 16-10), who are one win away from recording their fourth consecutive home conference sweep.
The Huskies (27-23, 11-15) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by Chase Anselment. Williams walked the second batter of the game, ending a streak of 40 1/3 consecutive innings without issuing a walk that dated back to April 6, and Michael Benjamin committed a fielding error to put runners on first and second.
ASU answered in the second inning with Maggi's three-run homer to gain the advantage, 3-2. James McDonald, who scored from second, and Benjamin, who scored from first, each singled to reach base.
Back of Arizona State baseball jerseys tonight (via @DougTammaro) say.ly/yJh3lSI
-- darren rovell (@darrenrovell) May 20, 2012
Ruiz drove home Andrew Aplin on an RBI double in the third inning to push ASU's advantage to two, 4-2.
The Devils added three runs in the fifth inning on RBI singles by Nathaniel Causey, and an RBI groundout by Ruiz.
Washington cut the Devils' lead down to three, 7-4, with an RBI single in both the sixth and seventh innings.
ASU extended its advatange to four in the seventh inning on an RBI sacrifice fly to right field by Ruiz, his third RBI of the game.
Huskies starting right-hander Aaron West (0-1) took his first loss of the season after conceding four runs on five hits in three innings.
The Sun Devils host Washington for their final home game of the season at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Packard Stadium. Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens of the Sun Devil Sports Network have the call on The Fan AM 1060, and Fox Sports Arizona will stream the game live online.
Senior Day will be held prior to the game as Ruiz, Joseph Lopez and Adrian Gomez will be honored on the field.
Saturday's projected pitching matchup:
ASU - RHP Alex Blackford (1-3, 5.51)
Washington - RHP Aaron West (7-5, 2.44)
Game notes: Right-hander Jake Barrett made his 28th appearance of the season and closed out the ninth inning.