No. 1 Arizona State Stays Perfect Against No. 2 Arizona

Arizona came close to tying the game in the top of the ninth, as close as 90 feet, but the Wildcats were unable to bring freshman Bryce Ortega home. 

Ortega led off the ninth with a single to center; he advanced on a Dwight Childs' sacrifice bunt, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Matt Presley struck out looking and Jon Gaston hit a ground ball to second to end the game. This seems to be the story for the Wildcats; they also left a runner stranded at third in the sixth.

Arizona State didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard, scoring two runs in the first, before the Sun Devils scored a third on a double steal attempt. Davis would score before Rocky Laguna was thrown out at second to end the inning.

The Wildcats answered with two runs in second inning to make it a one-run game. 

The lead would be short lived, as the Sun Devils matched the Wildcats by knocking in two runs in the bottom of the second to regain their three-run lead after a fielding error by Brad Glenn.

The Wildcats were able to answer in the fourth, scoring one run on a Weldon single, and a pair of runs on a double by Childs, tying the game a five a piece.

Arizona State answered, as they had all night, with a Keil Rolin sacrifice fly in the fourth to take the lead once and for all.

Arizona State scored six runs on six hits, committed two errors, and left five men on base. Sun Devil pitching struck out 14 and only walked one.

Arizona was able to accumulate nine hits, but only five runs.  The Wildcats committed two errors and left six men on base.  Arizona pitching struck out 11 and walked five Sun Devil batters.

Arizona State continues its perfect run at 18-0, while Arizona drops to 12-3.  Arizona looks to bounce back against USC in their Pac-10 opening series.  The Sun Devils will play five games in four days, including a weekend capper against No. 9 UC-Irvine.