April 26, 2011
Arizona State 4, Arizona 3 (Box Score)
TUCSON, Ariz. - No. 8 Arizona State scored three runs in the second inning off Arizona ace Kurt Heyer and added a run in the fifth inning which proved to be enough as the visiting Sun Devils downed the host Wildcats, 4-3, on Tuesday evening at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium.
Arizona State (29-9) scored three runs on five hits in the second inning. After consecutive singles to open the frame, Xorge Carrillo delivered a two-run double to open up a 2-0 lead. Andy Workman followed with an RBI single to tack on another run off Heyer.
Arizona (24-16) answered with two runs in the home half of the second inning. Robert Refsnyder tripled to lead off and scored on Johnny Field's RBI single. Alex Mejia later drove in Field with a two-out RBI single to put the Wildcats within a run.
The Sun Devils then tacked on an extra run in the fifth inning following a leadoff triple by Zack MacPhee. Riccio Torrez plated MacPhee with an RBI grounout to extend ASU's lea to 4-2.
The Wildcats again responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Mejia doubled to lead off and advanced to third on a single by Bryce Ortega. Joey Rickard lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, which allowed Mejia to score and cut the deficit to one run.
But the Wildcats could not score any more runs despite the fact ASU starter Kyle Ottoson was lifted with two outs in the fifth inning. Alex Blackford, who earned the win out of the bullpen, came on and tossed 2.2 perfect innings of relief, before turning the game over to two more relievers.
Trevor Williams picked up where Blackford left off and retired all four batters he faced in 1.1 innings of relief, extending the Sun Devil's pitching staff streak to 13 consecutive batters retired against the Wildcats dating back to the fifth inning.
The streak was broken by pinch-hitter Bobby Rinard, who lifted a double down the right field line with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of Mitchell Lambson, who replaced Williams. Lambson settled in and induced a game-ending groundout by Mejia to preserve his sixth save of the season.
Arizona received also received a strong performance from its bullpen. Bryce Bandilla retired all nine batters he faced in three perfect innings of relief.
Heyer was tabbed as the starter on Tuesday after receiving an extra day of rest over the weekend since his last outing at Oregon last Thursday night. He pitched six innings and gave up four runs on nine hits to go with five strikeouts as he dropped to 6-3 on the season.
Arizona will return to Pac-10 Conference play this weekend. The Wildcats host USC Friday-Sunday at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. (MST) on Friday an Saturday, with a noon start slated for Sunday.
