May 27, 2010
STANFORD, Calif.-- Seth Blair (11-0) out dueled Brett Mooneyham (3-6) as No. 2-ranked Arizona State (46-7, 19-6) won the series opener 4-2 over No. 25-ranked Stanford (30-22, 13-12 Pac-10) on Thursday evening. The win gives the Sun Devil at least a share of the Pac-10 title.
Mooneyham in another solid second half start, struck out seven over 7.0 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, but trailed heading into the late innings.
Blair pitched the first 6.0 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts to remain undefeated.
After both teams traded runs over the first three innings, Zach MacPhee's sacrifice fly in the fourth gave ASU a 3-2 lead. An unearned run then came across in the ninth when a Kenny Diekroeger error extended the inning and an infield single by Johnny Ruettiger put ASU up by two.
Mitchell Lampson pitched 2.1 shutout innings of relief, before Jordan Swagerty secured his Pac-10 leading 13th save.
Blair twice worked out of jams with the tying run in scoring position. He forced Stephen Piscotty to fly out with the bases loaded in the fourth and struck out Dave Giuliani with two runners on in the fifth.
The series continues on Friday at 5:30 p.m and Saturday at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Zach Jones was hit on the hand on a bunt attempt in the second inning, leaving the game. He is day-to-day... Colin Walsh homered for his team leading seventh home run of the season in the first... Arizona State is the third former No. 1 team Stanford has played this season, following UCLA and Texas.