Junior Ryan Kellogg throws eight innings in a win against Gonzaga University at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Saturday Feb. 28, 2015. (Jacob Stanek/The State Press)No. 17 ASU baseball (7-4) defeated Gonzaga (5-7) 5-2 behind another quality performance from junior starting pitcher Ryan Kellogg (3-0) and an offense that provided the necessary run support.
A game after ASU's other ace, Brett Lilek, was pulled after giving up five runs in 2.2 innings, Kellogg gave up a solo home run to Mitchell Gunsolus on the first pitch of the game.
Kellogg said he focused on trying to forget about the first home run as quickly as possible.
"I always thought the first pitch of the game was a free strike, but apparently it's not anymore," he said. "It is what it is, move to the next guy and keep trying to roll."
In the same inning, Kellogg escaped a bases loaded jam by inducing a double play.
After that, he settled in and only gave up nine hits and two runs while striking out four in eight innings.
ASU's offense came to life in the bottom of the third when sophomore Colby Woodmansee's RBI-single tied the game. In the next inning, junior Jordan Aboites' sacrifice fly brought in the go-ahead run, making it 2-1 ASU.
Kellogg kept control on the mound, inducing grounders and pitching for weak contact.
Head coach Tracy Smith used the word "composure" to describe Kellogg's performance against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
"What I loved is that he gives up the solo home run on the first pitch and then had the bases loaded with one out, but it didn't change," he said. "He still was very aggressive in the strike zone, which is good to see because a lot of kids would've pitched to the circumstance and emotion of that inning, but it didn't affect him."
He also noted the ways that Kellogg separates himself from other pitchers.
"He has better than average stuff, but doesn't have great stuff," Smith said. "What separates him and why he has probably one a lot of games here is that he competes, and I'll take that any day of the week."
In ASU's last game against Purdue, it was fueled by a nine-run fifth inning. On Saturday, the Sun Devils scored two insurance runs to give Kellogg a cushion.
Junior catcher RJ Ybarra grounded into a double play with the bases loaded, but still brought home a run.
Junior Dalton DiNatale hits for a single against Gonzaga University at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Saturday Feb. 28, 2015. (Jacob Stanek/The State Press)The next batter, junior third baseman Dalton DiNatale hit a two-out RBI-double down the right field line to extend the lead to 4-1. He ranked second on the team with 16 two-out RBIs last season.
In the bottom of the sixth, Aboites gave ASU its second RBI off a double play groundout, which continued the solid offensive performance.
ASU had 13 hits in the game, making it 30 hits in the past two games for the team. Smith said he was pleased because the majority of the at-bats were good ones.
"I thought Gonzaga's pitcher was pretty good, he was locating the baseball and keeping it down," he said.
However, he said the offense still needs improvement.
"We need to get some guys rolling for us to be consistent," Smith said. "Better approaches will lead to better results—it's a pretty simple formula."
Gonzaga junior starting pitcher Andrew Sopko (1-1) pitched six innings and gave up five runs on twelve hits before relievers Derek Peterson and Eli Morgan combined to give up no runs the rest of the game.
Kellogg gave up his second run, another solo homer, of the game to Bulldogs center fielder Tyler Frost, but it did not damper a clean outing from the junior ace.
ASU's defense contributed to the win as well, turning three double plays behind Kellogg.
"Knowing the defense can make double plays like that is essential," Kellogg said. "I always believe in these guys and trust them. They turned a couple big ones today and saved a lot of runs."
In addition, junior and ASU career saves record-holder Ryan Burr picked up his fourth save of the season.
Saturday's win closed out the inaugural Phoenix Municipal Classic where ASU went 3-1, its only loss coming to Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.
Looking ahead, the Sun Devils will play the Arizona Diamondbacks in a much-anticipated exhibition game on March 3 at 3:10 p.m.
Smith said the exhibition game will be a fun event, but ASU will be trying to rest players to avoid injuries and give newer players opportunities to prove themselves.
"We're a little thin and we've got some guys who are playing with injuries that will need to rest," he said. "It's going to be great for ASU and the community, but we're not looking to go out and try to lay one on the Diamondbacks—we're going to try to stay healthy and look at some other guys who haven't had a chance to pitch or play."
Reach the reporter at Justin.Toscano@asu.edu or follow @justintoscano3 on Twitter.
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