Sophomore pitcher Ryan Burr winds up for a pitch during the Sun Devils' 6-6 tie with Gonzaga at Surprise
Stadium on March 3, 2013. Burr tied ASU's career
saves record Saturday afternoon with his 25th.
(Hector Salas Almeida/The State Press)
Roughly 14 hours after walking off winners in their season opener at Phoenix Muni, No. 18 ASU baseball had a tough act to follow Saturday afternoon.
Junior closer Ryan Burr’s shutdown performance in the eighth and ninth innings, to pick up his 25th career save, tying a school record – helped the Sun Devils (2-0) come close to it, in a 5-3 win over No. 12 Oklahoma State.
Don’t expect him to break the record tomorrow, however.
“We’ve got a lot of season left,” head coach Tracy Smith said. “He wanted the ball, and I trust that kid. (But) I think he’s done his job for the weekend.”
Junior starting pitcher Ryan Kellogg threw five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits to avenge a 6-5 loss in Stillwater, Oklahoma, last season, and picked up his eighth career win over a ranked team as ASU beat Oklahoma State 5-3.
Kellogg was hit by a line drive in the fifth inning, but was still able to finish his outing.
Head coach Tracy Smith turned to senior Darin Gillies in the sixth.
Gillies walked the first two hitters he faced, in what was essentially more a cameo than an appearance on the mound. Smith yanked him in favor of junior second baseman/reliever Jordan Aboites.
After Saturday’s game, Smith confirmed that he will in fact hand Gillies the ball to start Sunday.
Meanwhile, junior center fielder Johnny Sewald resumed his role as ASU’s offensive catalyst, following up his three-hit night with a single and two runs scored.
The Cowboys answered with an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Kevin Bradley after Kellogg allowed a single and a walk, to give Oklahoma State a 2-1 lead.
In response, after sophomore catcher Brian Serven was hit by a pitch, Sewald stroked a single to left. A wild pitch placed runners on second and third, positioning Aboites for an RBI triple to take a 3-2 lead.
In addition to contributing as a middle reliever, his offensive impact in his first two starts at second base was evident.
Video by Stefan Modrich | Sports Reporter
Fitting with the theme of position players parlayed into new roles, junior first baseman Chris Beall made a pair of diving stops – including one with the bases loaded – and recorded seven putouts, a performance that affirmed Smith’s decision to move him there.
“He’s athletic, and he wants to be good,” Smith said. “He willingly puts in the work, and that’s good to see from an upperclassman.”
Winning a series over a team that swept ASU last year in Stillwater, Oklahoma, is no small feat. But also means that tomorrow’s result may be an even better test to judge the Sun Devils in this young season.
“We’ll learn a lot more about our team tomorrow,” Smith said. “Are we satisfied with taking two out of three, or will we put together one more good one?”
Reach the reporter at smodrich@asu.edu or on Twitter @StefanJModrich.
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