March 9, 2013
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SUNDAY STATS | HIGHLIGHTS - final out of game one | HIGHLIGHTS
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 19th-ranked Arizona State University baseball team shutout Long Beach State for the second straight game en route to a 6-0 victory in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
The Sun Devils posted consecutive nine-inning shutouts for the first time since the opening two games of the 2012 season when ASU beat Western Michigan 10-0 and 13-0, respectively on Feb. 18 and 19.
Starting left-hander Ryan Kellogg (3-0) allowed just five base runners in a career-high seven innings as he earned his third win of the season. Kellogg gave up two hits, one walk and hit two batters while striking out five.
Kellogg and game one starter Trevor Williams combined to throw 16 scoreless innings with five hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts in Saturday's doubleheader.
Right fielder Trever Allen hit his fourth home run of the season and third baseman Michael Benjamin extended his hitting streak to a team-high 11 games with a pair of hits to pace the Sun Devils (9-2-1) offense.
ASU took a two-run lead in the third inning behind three consecutive hits. First baseman David Graybill led off the third inning with a double down the right-field line and scored two batters later on a single by shortstop Drew Stankiewicz, and center fielder Kasey Coffman, who also singled, was plated on a double-play groundout from designated hitter Max Rossiter.
Allen knocked a solo home run over the left-field wall to begin the fourth frame and give the Devils a three-run advantage, 3-0.
The Devils broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, including freshman Dalton DiNatale's first career RBI on a fielder's choice. Coffman followed with another RBI fielder's choice and Rossiter tacked on a run-scoring single.
Right-hander Alex Blackford and left-hander Matt Dunbar pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, respectively, to close out the game for ASU.
LBSU (6-9) starter Jake Stassi (0-1) took his first loss of the season after surrendering six hits on three runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Up Next:
The series finale between the Sun Devils and Long Beach State begins at 12:30 p.m. (PT) Sunday. The MidFirst Bank Sun Devil IMG Sports Network is broadcasting the game online through the All-Access Player on thesundevils.com. Fans can also follow the team on Twitter at @ASU_Baseball for live scoring and updates from the weekend, and check thesundevils.com for stats, notes and more.
Pitching Matchup
Sunday:
ASU - LHP Adam McCreery (0-1, 6.57)
LBSU - RHP Jon Maciel (1-2, 5.00)
First Pitch Notes: Sergeant Nick Kimmel and Corporal Cody Elliot threw out the ceremonial first pitches. Sergeant Kimmel joined the United States Marine Corps in 2008 in lue of baseball scholarship here at ASU and served two combat tours to Afghanistan. Corporal Elliot joined the United States Marine Corps in 2007 and also served two combat tours to Afghanistan.
Game Notes: Coach Esmay is 62-13 all-time against non-conference foes...ASU is 485-142 in doubleheaders, including 10-1 under coach Esmay...the Sun Devils did not commit an error in either game Saturday...ASU has not committed an error in four of 10 games this year...all eight position players in both games were Arizona locals.
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