PHOENIX – Starting left-hander Ryan Kellogg tossed a complete-game shutout to lead No. 12 Sun Devil Baseball to a series-opening win against Washington State, 5-0, on Thursday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Kellogg tallied a season-high 11 strikeouts, one short of tying his career high, and did not issue a walk for the 17th start of his career. He became the first Sun Devil since Mike Leake in May 2009 to record double-digit strikeouts with zero bases on balls.
Right fielder Trever Allen and catcher Brian Serven paced the offense with a pair of two-run hits, and the Sun Devils’ (31-18, 16-9) defense worked with Kellogg to post the team’s first shutout of the season.
Kellogg picked up his 27th career win to become the 12th Sun Devil pitcher in Arizona State history, and just the fourth left-hander, to reach that mark, and the first since Leake from 2007-09. He struck out the side in the first inning and retired 16 in a row after he conceded a leadoff double in the third inning.
Allen laced a two-run single down the left-field line in the bottom of the second inning to stake the Devils a 2-0 lead. Third baseman David Greer singled up the middle and first baseman Joey Bielek followed with a base hit, which was mishandled by WSU’s center fielder to allow both runners to move into scoring position and eventually score.
A pair of doubles extended the Devils’ lead, 3-0, in the seventh inning. Greer led off the frame with a knock to center field and designated hitter RJ Ybarra drove him home three batters later.
Serven added to ASU’s advantage with a two-run double in the eighth inning after pinch hitter Coltin Gerhart and shortstop Colby Woodmansee each reached base via walks.
The Cougars (27-24, 9-16) threatened in both the eighth and ninth innings. Kellogg gave up a pair of one-out singles in the eighth, but recorded consecutive swinging strikeouts to strand runners at second and third. The first two runners in the ninth reached base on a passed ball and a single, but Kellogg induced a double-play line drive to Bielek at first and a groundout to end the game.
Phoenix Muni has drawn 100,291 fans this season to mark the first time since 2010 and the eighth time since 1988 that ASU has had more than 100,000 in attendance in the regular season.
WSU starting right-hander Sean Hartnett (3-5) went seven innings but took the loss after he allowed three runs, including two earned, on six hits.
Notes
Kellogg moved to 19-2 in Pac-12 starts in his career and recorded the 26th quality start of his career…ASU is 23-6 when leading after six innings and 23-2 when leading after eight…Greer registered a hit for the 33rd time in the past 38 games…Ybarra recorded his seventh two-out RBI of the season…Allen collected his 18th multi-RBI game, second-most on the team.
Up Next
The Sun Devils take on Washington State in game two of the teams’ three-game series at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 15, at Phoenix Muni. The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks and broadcast on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.
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