ASU Baseball: Devils Take Game One From UofA

Last night in Tucson, the ASU baseball team took game one from the Arizona Wildcats by a final score of 2-1.  This game was a pitchers duel from the beginning.  With the wind blowing in from center field, it figured to be a low scoring contest.  And as is usual in pitchers duels, the defense for both teams played a huge role in the outcome.

Starting ASU pitcher Brett Lilek was outstanding, going 7 innings and giving up only one run, which was unearned.  The bullpen made things interesting in the 8th inning, but got out of a bases loaded jam with a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat. Ryan Burr closed down the 9th inning for the save.

ASU scored both of their runs in the 7th inning.  Drew Stankiewicz doubled and Nate Causey was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Catcher RJ Ybarra hit a fly ball to score Seawald on the tag-up from third.  Arizona attempted to appeal the tag-up at third base, believing that Seawald left early.  But on the throw over to third from the mound on the appeal, the ball sailed into the dugout, scoring Stankiewicz from second base.

It was a weird play that Devils in Detail has never seen in the game of baseball.

But the Devils will take it.  Even coach Esmay was quoted as simply saying “Thank You” in his post-game interview.

Tonight, the Devils take the field again for game two of this PAC-12 conference series.  ASU and UA fans should probably expect another hotly contested game.  This rivalry being what it is, coupled with the fact that neither team is a power-hitting team-it should be interesting.  First pitch is at 7 pm.