The Arizona State baseball team continued its dominance of Pac-12 opponents at Packard Stadium as the Sun Devils defeated the Washington Huskies 8-4 Saturday night in front of 2,850 fans at Packard Stadium.
Right-hander Trevor Williams picked up his team leading 11th victory of the season as the sophomore gave up two earned runs over eight innings pitched, allowing six hits and walking one batter.
For the second straight night, Washington hitters gave ASU pitchers fits early, as the Huskies put up two unearned runs in the first inning, aided by an error by Michael Benjamin.
"This team that we are playing (Washington) does a really good job of taking advantage of you," said head coach Tim Esmay. "They have done a really good job this weekend of getting a two out hit, they are committed to moving guys over, and giving up outs to get runs."
Down by two runs, ASU responded in the second inning when Beau Maggi hit a three-run home run over the right field fence to give ASU a 3-2 lead.
"In my opinion it was one of the bigger at bats we have had this year," said Esmay about Maggi's home run. "Just because of the way the game started."
ASU extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning when Abe Ruiz hit an RBI double that scored Andrew Aplin, who led off the inning with a walk. ASU broke the game open in the fifth inning and it was Aplin once again that started the rally.
The junior center fielder doubled to lead off the inning and scored when the next batter, Deven Marrero, singled to center field. An RBI ground out by Ruiz and an RBI single by freshman DH Nathaniel Causey extended the Sun Devils lead to 7-2.
Williams (11-2) went deep into the game once again for the Sun Devils, Jake Barrett relieved Williams and pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the ASU victory.
"They (Washington) made me make pitches, they made me throw to them," said Williams. "They hit me, and our infielders made plays, and we got out of the game with a win."
ASU goes for the sweep of Washington tomorrow at Packard Stadium with the first pitch coming at 12:30 p.m. Right-hander Alex Blackford (1-3, 5.51) is on the bump for the Sun Devils.