photo courtesy Sun Devils Athletics
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Junior Jordan Aboites contributed at the plate and from the mound, driving in two runs and hurling 2.2 scoreless innings to propel the No. 14 Arizona State Sun Devils clinched the series win over No. 8 Oklahoma State with a 5-3 victory on Saturday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The right-hander recorded two strike outs on the bump and went 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple and a run scored to go along with his two RBI.
Aboites entered the game to clean up a sixth inning jam left behind by senior right-handed reliever Darin Gillies who failed to record an out after relieving starter Ryan Kellogg (Jr., LHP). Kellogg allowed three earned runs over five innings of work with four strikeouts and two walks.
Aboites got a strike out and a pair of fly outs to end the threat before being pulled from his own jam with two outs and two runners on in the eighth. Closer Ryan Burr (Jr., RHP) who got out of the inning and then recorded a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the year.
In the first inning, Aboites singled Johnny Sewald to third from where he would score on a sac fly to take the early 1-0 lead. After Oklahoma State took a 2-1 lead in the second on a two-run double by senior catcher Bryan Case, Aboites answered with a two-run triple of his own in the home half of the inning to take back the lead at 3-2 that would be extended to 4-2 on a RJ Ybarra (Jr., C) sacrifice fly.
Cowboys’ starter Jon Perrin (Sr., RHP) had a rough outing lasting only an inning and a third while allowing four runs, three earned on four hits and two walks. Senior second baseman Tim Arakawa went 3-for-5 in the losing effort.
Arizona State aims to sweep the series on Sunday with starters too be announced.
