Young teams faced off in a rubber match as ASU (22-10-1) took on USC (13-22). With the constant struggle of finding a Sunday starter, senior Alex Blackford gave the Sun Devils a shot in the arm as they beat USC 6-5.
Blackford had a no-hitter through four and two-thirds innings before an RBI single by USC’s Robinson, as the Trojans got four runs in the inning on Sun Devil errors. Blackford settled down and got out of the fifth.
The senior from Colorado went six innings, only gave up four runs (one earned), with five strikeouts and a walk. He did it all on 77 pitches.
The offense was highlighted by an early hit parade in the second as ASU racked up five runs. Freshman Dalton DiNatale had a two-run double, Kasey Coffman had an RBI single. James McDonald and Trever Allen each had two doubles on the day.
Things got interesting in the seventh when Matt Dunbar came in to relieve Blackford. He gave up a double and two walks to load the bases for the Trojans.
After loading the bases, Dunbar struck out the following batter and was immediately relieved by Darin Gillies. Gillies only gave up one run on a sacrifice fly to center in one and two-thirds innings, working out of the jam efficiently.
Freshman closer Ryan Burr shut the door on the Trojans in the ninth as he recorded his seventh save on the season.
The Sun Devils had seven extra-base hits and look to keep their bats hot against their bitter rival the Arizona Wildcats on Tuesday.
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