May 1, 2009
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Junior right hander Mike Leake turned in another absolute gem, throwing his second straight complete game in a 4-2 Arizona State win over Oregon State. Leake ran his record to 11-1 on the year, tossing his eighth career complete game and fourth this season. The Sun Devils improve to 33-9, 16-3 in Pac-10 play.
A Goss Stadium regular season record crowd of 3,129 watched Leake allow only three hits while striking out six. He kept the Beavers scoreless for the first eight innings before allowing two sacrifice flies before recording the final out.
The Sun Devils played small ball to grab an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Drew Maggi was hit by a pitch to start the game, stole second, then moved to third on a fly ball by Carlos Ramirez. With Maggi at third and two outs, Matt Newman laid down a perfect squeeze bunt, allowing Maggi to score on the infield single.
ASU would add two more in the third to extend their lead to 3-0. With runners on second and third, Ramirez hit a ball deep into the whole at short. Joey Wong's throw got by the first baseman, allowing both Raoul Torrez and Drew Maggi to score. Arizona State would push the lead to 4-0 in the fifth after a Zach Wilson sacrifice fly scored Maggi, who had doubled down the left field line and then moved to third on a wild pitch.
That would be all the offense Mike Leake would need, as he picked up his 35th career win, fifth most in Arizona State history. Leake becomes the first pitcher since Josh Satow in March of 2007 to throw back-to-back complete games.
Drew Maggi continued to be a spark plug in the leadoff spot for the Sun Devils, as he reached base three times, scored three runs and collected two hits.
The Sun Devils played without Jason Kipnis, who was a last minute scratch due to a stiff neck. His status for the remainder of the weekend is day-to-day. The Sun Devils and Beavers square off again on Saturday at 5 p.m. from Coleman Stadium at Goss Field in Corvallis.