(Tempe, AZ) – Trailing by three runs in the top of the ninth, Oregon State batted around and scored five runs against the Arizona State bullpen to take game one of this three game Pac-10 series, 6 to 4. It was a pitchers duel early on Friday night as OSU starter Mike Stutes brought a no hitter into the eighth, while ASU starter Mike Leake gave up only one run through eight complete innings.
Stutes made the potent ASU offense look silly, striking out nine Devils on the evening. But in the third inning Stutes had a slight hiccup as he hit Raoul Torrez in the back with a 2-2 pitch. A pair of walks followed, while a Jason Kipnis sacrifice fly to left field tied the game at one.
Oregon State had scored the games first run in the top of the second. Ryan Ortiz had an infield single and Jordan Lennerton followed with a ball to the right field fence that scored Ortiz from first on the double.
Both pitchers cruised through the middle innings, and in the sixth Leake helped himself by completing an odd double play. Leading off the inning for OSU John Wallace got himself into an 0-2 hole, but was plunked and advanced to first. Next, Wallace took off towards second base on a 3-1 pitch, however Jason Ogata popped the ball foul towards the Beaver dugout down the first base line. The ball didn’t get very high or far and Ike Davis was able to catch it and fire to Leake covering at first to double up the runner.
ASU finally got to Stutes in the eighth as Matt Newman broke up the no hitter with a single just past the OSU second basemen. Going for speed Mike Jones would pinch runner for Newman, and Torrez sacrificed Jones into scoring position with an excellent bunt on an 0-2 pitch. With first base open, Brett Wallace was intentionally walked. Consecutive singles to right by Kipnis and Davis scored two runs and ended Stutes’ night. Kraig Sitton came on pitch to Petey Paramore, but a double to the left field fence would add another Devil run.
With a 4 to 1 lead in the ninth ASU would go to their bullpen, but Ike Davis was unavailable due to a right hamstring injury he experienced earlier in the game. Tommy Rafferty started out strong by striking out the first batter he faced, but a walk to Lennerton, a Daniel Robertson single and a triple to Lonnie Lechelt past a diving Ryan Sontag in left field would be it. Reyes Dorado was the next victim, giving up a single, a walk and another single. Stephen Sauer would appear next and finally recorded an out, but it was via an Ogata sacrifice to right that scored another Beaver run. A George Drew single to left followed, but Ryan Ortiz grounded out and ended the half inning.
In the bottom of the ninth it looked like ASU might also attack the bullpen as the first two batters reached safely, but Kevin Rhoderick struck out the next two and Brett Wallace grounded out to end the game.
