The surging Arizona State baseball team travels to Northern California to take on the Stanford Carinal this weekend in a three game Pac-12 series. The Sun Devils (24-13, 9-6) are on a six game conference winning streak and have moved into second place in the Pac-12.
The Cardinal (22-10, 5-7) have lost three of their last four games including a loss on Tuesday against San Jose State.
The series opener on Friday features on of the best pitching match ups in the country as Brady Rodgers (6-1) duels against Stanford ace Mark Appel (4-1).
Rodgers has the best ERA in the Pac-12 (1.12) and has thrown three complete games this season. Appel has an ERA of 2.86, and has also thrown three complete games. Appel is an early favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in June's MLB draft.
At the plate ASU leads the Pac-12 in home runs (29), slugging percentage (.444), triples (15), and total bases (555). On the mound, Brady Rodgers ranks sixth in the country in ERA and Trevor Williams ranks second in the Pac-12 in ERA with a 1.45 mark.
Reliever Jake Barrett has six saves in 19 appearances this season, and has only allowed three runs in 20 1/3 innings pitched.
Full weekend preview, all games can be heard on The Fan AM 1060.
Friday - 5:30 p.m.
ASU - RHP Brady Rodgers
Stanford - RHP Mark Appel
Saturday - 1 p.m.
ASU - RHP Trevor Williams
Stanford - LHP Brett Mooneyham
Sunday - 1 p.m.
ASU - RHP Darin Gillies
Stanford - RHP AJ Vanegas
ASU Player to Watch:
Darin Gillies, RHP: ASU has a dominant one-two punch in Rodgers and Williams, however freshman starter Darin Gillies will have a major impact on this series. Head coach Tim Esmay has said that the Pac-12 is won on Sundays, and Gillies has been pitching well of late. He recorded his first collegiate victory last Sunday with five solid innings of work. A repeat performance will put ASU in a great spot to improve their conference standing.