April 19, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State's Seth Blair pitched 6.2-strong innings, batterymate Carlos Ramirez hit a two-run double during a five-run fourth inning and the host Sun Devils (28-8, 13-2 Pac-10) completed a three-game sweep with a 6-3 victory over visiting Stanford (15-16, 7-8) this afternoon at Packard Stadium. The Cardinal suffered its first Pac-10 sweep in 15 conference series, dating back to 2007.
Stanford was done in by a big inning for the second straight game. After Arizona State scored seven runs in the eighth to win 7-2 on Saturday night, the Sun Devils used a five-run fourth inning to propel them today. Cardinal starter Brett Mooneyham, who had won each of his last three starts, struggled with his command from the onset. After the freshman left-hander stranded six runners through three scoreless innings, he could not escape the fourth as Arizona State scored five runs on three hits. The Sun Devils also took advantage of four walks, two wild pitches and a Stanford error. Mooneyham (3-2) yielded just three singles, but walked eight and allowed four runs in 3.1 innings.
Adam Gaylord provided perhaps the biggest Cardinal highlight of the day with a solo home run - the first of his collegiate career - off Blair in the seventh. Kellen Kiilsgaard also went deep for Stanford, hitting a solo shot off Arizona State closer Mitchell Lambson in the eighth for his team-leading eighth homer of the year. Stanford scored its first run in the sixth, as Kiilsgaard plated Jeff Whitlow with a sacrifice fly.
Colin Walsh reached base safely for the 13th straight game and extended his career-high hitting streak to nine games with a single during Stanford's fourth-inning rally. Freshman reliever Brian Busick tossed his second perfect relief inning of the series, completing a week in which he retired all 12 batters faced over four outings (one start).
Stanford opens a season-high seven-game homestand tomorrow night, when the Cardinal hosts Santa Clara at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. PT.