The Arizona State Baseball team scored early and often Friday night in route to a 11-3 win over the UC Riverside Highlanders. ASU improve to 4-0 this season, the Highlanders fell to 2-3.
ASU put up four runs in the first inning behind a Joey DeMichele two RBI triple and RBI singles by Deven Marerro and Abe Ruiz. The junior DeMichele scored three runs and went 2-3 on the night.
The Sun Devils got another outstanding start from junior Brady Rodgers, who threw seven shutout innings, striking out nine batters in route to his second win on the season.
"A lot of my off speed was working," said Rodgers. "I was throwing a ton of strikes, I was trying to make them put the ball in play."
Rodgers has yet to give up a run in 13 innings pitched. "He (Rodgers) was good tonight, he was very efficient tonight, and it's nice to have a guy like Brady Rodgers on a Friday night to set the tone," said head coach Tim Esmay.
Senior first baseman Abe Ruiz once again had a big night for the Sun Devils. The slugging Ruiz went 3-4 tonight with four RBI's and a home run (his third in four games this season).
"Ruiz was good again tonight," said Esmay. "He's not taken anything for granted, that man comes out focused and working hard."
Arizona State continues its three game series with the Highlanders tomorrow at Packard Stadium. Freshman Adam McCreery is expected to start for the Sun Devils. He will be opposed on the mound by Eddie Orozco from UC Riverside. First pitch is at 1 PM.