May 29, 2010
STANFORD, Calif.-- Conference champion and No. 2-ranked Arizona State (47-8, 20-7 Pac-10) survived a tough series, to win the rubber game at No. 25-ranked Stanford (31-23, 14-13 Pac-10) 8-6 in the regular season finale on Saturday.
Stanford cut the lead to 7-6 in the eighth and sent the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth but Jordan Swagerty secured his 14th save by striking out the side, despite two singles in the ninth.
Senior Adam Gaylord homered in his final regular season game at Sunken Diamond, giving the Cardinal an early lead, as costly errors on both sides gave each team leads later.
ASU had 12 hits, including three by Riccio Torrez and Drew Maggi, both who accounted for all three homers.
Zach MacPhee delivered the go-ahead run in the seventh, redeeming himself after an earlier error, to give ASU a 6-5 lead. Following a two-out throwing error by Jake Schlander, MacPhee delivered a two-run single off of reliever Danny Sandbrink (2-2) to give the Sun Devils its final lead of the day.
ASU kept in front with single runs in the eighth and the ninth to make a winner out of reliever Brady Rodgers (4-3). Rodgers pitched three perfect innings before a Jake Schlander sacrifice fly brought Stanford to within 7-6 in the eighth.
The Cardinal led twice early, as a MacPhee error at second, led to the tying and go-ahead run to score in the fourth. An RBI single from Jake Stewart followed by a Colin Walsh sacrifice fly made it 5-4.
Three homers by ASU, including two solo shots by Maggi and a two-run shot by Riccio Torrez, gave the Sun Devils a 4-2 lead in the top of the inning. Gaylord countered with a two-run home run in the second to make it 2-1.
Announcements for the 16 NCAA Regional sites will occur on Sunday and the 64-team field will be announced on Monday at 9:30 a.m on ESPN.
NOTES: Dave Giuliani threw out Xorge Carrillo trying to stretch a single into a double in the fifth. It was the third outfield assist in two weeks for the junior... the outfield defense continued in the seventh with Tyler Gaffney making a sliding catch in right toward the line... with head coach Mark Marquess in Indianapolis as part of his duties with the selection committee 34-year assistant Dean Stotz coached the offense and 17-year coach Rusty Filter was the defensive and pitching coach... prior to first pitch, Stanford baseball honored its three seniors, infielder and starting designated hitter Saturday, Gaylord, and pitchers Kyle Thompson and Cory Bannister. Thompson is serving as a team manager this season, Bannister's career was cut short due to Tommy John surgery.