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SURPRISE, Ariz. – Sophomore left-handed pitchers Ryan Kellogg and Brett Lilek combined to strike out 15 batters and scatter just three hits to lead the 29th-ranked Arizona State University baseball team to a 6-1 win over No. 14 Oklahoma State on Sunday in the final day of the Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz.
The Sun Devils (6-4) swept their three games in Surprise over the weekend and have now won four in a row.
Kellogg (1-1) struck out a career-high 10 and allowed one run on a pair of hits in five innings to earn the win. He struck out the side to begin the game and recorded 10 of his first 12 outs on strikeouts to become the first Sun Devil with double-digit strikeouts since Alex Blackford had 10 on March 2, 2012 against Northern Illinois in Surprise.
Lilek (1) notched his first collegiate save after he took over in the sixth inning and retired 11 straight batters before he conceded a two-out single in the top of the ninth. His five strikeouts in four innings upped his season total to 15 in three appearances.
A pair of sophomores also led the way offensively for the Devils as shortstop Jordan Aboites notched a pair of RBI, the first two of his career, and left fielder Chris Beall went 3-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored.
The Cowboys (10-2) took three walks in the top of the second to load the bases and struck first with an RBI single from third baseman Craig McConaughy to take a one-run lead. The Devils answered in the bottom of the frame with three base hits, including an RBI single from Aboites that scored third baseman Dalton DiNatale from second, to tie the game, 1-1.
ASU jumped out to a three-run advantage, 4-1, behind a trio of runs in the bottom of the fourth. First baseman Joey Bielek singled to begin the frame and DiNatale took a walk to put the Devils in scoring position. Beall then knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single, Aboites secured his second RBI of the game on a groundout to the shortstop and Beall scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Center fielder Johnny Sewald extended the Devils’ lead in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single and Bielek drove in pinch hitter Nate Causey, who doubled off the right-field wall, in the following inning to tally his first career RBI and put ASU ahead, 6-1.
Cowboys starting right-hander Thomas Hatch (2-1) took his first loss of the season after he surrendered four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 frames.
Up Next
The Sun Devils host undefeated Tennessee for a three-game series at Packard Stadium on March 7-9. First pitch on Friday and Saturday is at 6:30 pm MT and the series finale on Sunday is set for a 12:30 pm MT start. All three games will be live streamed via Pac-12.com, and links to the stream can be found on the baseball schedule on thesundevils.com.
Notes
Coach Esmay moved to 78-20-1 in non-conference games at ASU…the Devils moved to 13-7 all-time against Oklahoma State…ASU moved to 29-11-1 all-time in the Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic in Surprise…the Devils logged three two-out RBI in the game...ASU has not committed an error in back-to-back games, the second time this season they've been perfect in the field in consecutive games
Tip Your Cap To Packard Celebration
17 Days of Greatness – Center fielder Mike Kelly (1989-91) will become the 17th Sun Devil to have his number honored on the outfield fence in a ceremony on March 8. From Feb. 20 through March 7, we’re taking a look back at the 16 Sun Devil greats whose numbers have already been recognized.
Season tickets starting at $99, single-game tickets and Mini Packs are on sale now. Admission for ASU students is free with a valid Sun Card. Purchasing season tickets will also give fans first opportunity and priority at selecting seats at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 2015. Ariz.
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