May 15, 2013
Pac-12 Baseball Standings as of 10 p.m. PT, May 15, 2013 (rankings according to Baseball America):
No. 6 Oregon State: 20-4, 41-8
No. 10 Oregon: 19-5, 42-11 (1 GB)
No. 8 UCLA: 17-7, 34-15 (3 GB)
No. 13 Arizona State: 14-10, 33-15-1 (6 GB)
Stanford: 11-13, 26-21 (9 GB)
Arizona: 10-14, 29-20 (10 GB)
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 13th-ranked Arizona State University baseball team responded from an early five-run deficit to take an 8-5 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday night at Packard Stadium.
The Sun Devils (33-15-1) fell behind by five runs, 5-0, after the opening inning and a half, but scored six runs over the next four frames to take the lead.
A quartet of relievers held the Red Raiders (23-27) scoreless in the final seven innings, including left-hander Adam McCreery (2-3), who threw 3 1/3 scoreless frames and struck out four to earn his second win of the season. He has not given up an earned run in the past 9 1/3 innings he's pitched dating back to April 30 at Arizona.
Designated hitter Nate Causey collected four RBI in the game and now has 10 RBI in the past two games. He went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a pair of run-scoring singles, third baseman Michael Benjamin went 4-for-5 with an RBI and center fielder Kasey Coffman finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored to lead ASU.
Right-hander Ryan Burr (11) struck out two in the ninth inning to record his 11th save of the season, which ties him with Jason Jarvis for the school's freshmen single-season saves record.
Texas Tech scored two runs in the first on an RBI groundout and a run-scoring single, and added three in the second inning on an RBI single and a two-run single, to jump out to a quick lead, 5-0.
Causey led off the bottom of the second with his second home run in his past two at-bats to put the Devils on the board before three runs in the third inning brought them within one, 5-4. Coffman secured an RBI double while both second baseman James McDonald and Causey knocked in RBI singles.
The Devils took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run single by Causey that scored Coffman and Benjamin, who singled and doubled to start the inning. A run-scoring double from Benjamin and an RBI groundout by McDonald extended ASU's advantage to three, 8-5.
Right-hander Josh McAlister entered the game in the top of the sixth and retired six consecutive batters before surrendering a pair of hits in the eighth. He threw 2 2/3 scoreless frames before left-hander Matt Dunbar recorded the final out of the inning.
Starting right-hander Eric Melbostad gave up five runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision. He was replaced by McCreery with two outs in the top of the second.
Texas Tech starting right-hander Matt Withrow went three innings and allowed four runs on six hits in a no-decision. Right-hander Matt Custred (1-2) took the loss after conceding four runs on four hits in two innings.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils host a three-game Pac-12 set against Arizona over the weekend with first pitch on Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., and at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. All three games will be broadcast by Tim Healey (@TimHealeyASU) and former Sun Devil baseball star Seth Dhaenens (@sethdhaenens) on the MidFirst Bank Sun Devil IMG Sports Network on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 and on the All-Access Player at thesundevils.com. Saturday's game will also be broadcast on Sirius XM Radio on channel 91. 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.
Sun Devils On Pac-12 Network
at Washington on Saturday, May 25, in Seattle at 4 p.m. PT
at Washington on Sunday, May 26, in Seattle at 12:00 p.m. PT
Game Notes:
ASU has registered double-digit hits in 13 of its past 16 games...ASU has hit a home run in 12 of its past 15 games...McAlister has allowed one earned run in 10.2 innings this season.
Baseball Promotional Schedule
FRIDAY, May 17 vs Arizona at 6:30 p.m.
- Head Football Coach Todd Graham will throw out a first pitch and sign autographs pre-game for 45 minutes on the third-base concourse
- Territorial Cup will be on-site for fans to view and take photos
- The final Friday Night Poster Series giveaway features outfielder Trever Allen
- Sixth installment of Friday Night Fireworks
SATURDAY, May 18 vs Arizona at 6:30 p.m.
- Final Baseball Bingo of the season
- Adopt-A-Dog Night
- Homes Fur Good and the Luv of Dogz Fund will be right outside of Packard Stadium from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. with their loveable companions available for adoption on site
SUNDAY, May 19 vs Arizona at 12 p.m.
- Senior Day
- Honoring pitchers Alex Blackford and Matt Dunbar, and catcher Max Rossiter
- Arizona's First Responders
- Support First Responders from around the Valley with an event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Highway patrol cars and fire trucks
- Share the Road Program
- EMT staff and vehicles
- Support First Responders from around the Valley with an event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Postseason Tickets:
Season ticket holders can renew and/or pre order postseason tickets by calling their service representative at 480.965.5333 or visiting the Sun Devil Ticket Office at Sun Devil Stadium.
Season Ticket Renewal:
The deadline to retain your seats and receive the best possible price is Saturday, June 22. Meeting the renewal deadline will also ensure you receive priority when selecting seats at the new Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 2015.
Territorial Cup:
The 2012-13 Territorial Cup hangs in the balance as the two teams split the two non-conference games in Tucson and the winner of the series will win the 2012-13 Territorial Cup. The two teams face each other five times this season and split the two non-conference tilts in Tucson before the three-game Pac-12 series at Packard Stadium this weekend.
Twitter: @ASU_Baseball | Facebook: Sun Devil Baseball | Instagram: ASU_Baseball