May 16, 2012
Box Score
Arizona 10, Arizona State 2 (Box Score)
TEMPE, Ariz. - Mathew Troupe tossed five shutout innings in his first collegiate start and Bobby Brown homered and drove in three runs as No. 14 Arizona downed No. 18 Arizona State, 10-2, in a non-conference contest between the two rivals on Wednesday evening at Packard Stadium.
Arizona (34-15) jumped out the a three-run lead in the first and broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning that gave the Wildcats a 10-run lead. It was plenty of run support to secure a fourth-straight road victory.
Troupe (W, 3-1) made his first career start and threw five strong innings. The right-hander did not allow a run and gave up just two hits, and actually retired the first 11 batters of the game in order. Despite three walks, he struck out a career-high six in the contest.
He turned the game over to Tyler Crawford, who kept the Sun Devils off the board until Abe Ruiz hit a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning to prevent the shutout bid. The homer was followed by three straight singles and a second run, which set the score at its final.
Arizona State (32-18) dug itself a hole early. Starter Darin Gillies (L, 1-4) hit the first two batters of the game, then misplayed a bunt attempt by Alex Mejia which loaded the bases. Robert Refsnyder followed with a two-run double down the left field, and Seth Mejias-Brean then drove in Mejia on a fielder's choice to spot the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Arizona added another run in the top of the third off reliever Adam McCreery. With runners on the corners and two down, Joseph Maggi lined a single to centerfield to drive in Riley Moore, which pushed UA's to 4-0.
Brown then hit his fourth home run of the season to lead of the fifth inning. It was Arizona's seventh long ball in the last six games.
The Wildcats broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning. After reliever Joseph Lopez walked the bases loaded, Brown roped a two-run single to right field. Mathew Dunbar replaced Lopez and walked Moore to again load the bases, before Trent Gilbert drove in a pair of runs with a single, and Brandon Dixon drove in the fifth run on a groundout for a 10-0 lead.
Crawford earned his second save after working the final four innings. He gave up five hits and the two runs, but struck out three and did not issue a walk.
Arizona will continue its seven-game road swing with a Pac-12 series at USC this weekend. The three-game set gets underway on Friday evening at 6 p.m. at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles.
