TEMPE, Ariz. -- The eighth-ranked Arizona State baseball team brought the tying run to the plate in the final inning but couldn't complete its rally in a 5-3 loss to Stanford on Friday night in front of 3,305 fans at Packard Stadium.
Starting pitcher Trevor Williams and relievers Matt Dunbar and Darin Gillies held the Cardinal scoreless for the final six innings, but the Sun Devils (29-13-1, 11-8) could not overcome an early five-run deficit.
ASU trailed 5-0 after the top of the fourth frame, then scored two runs in the bottom of that inning and one in the seventh to get within 5-3. The Devils had the tying run on base in both the seventh and eighth innings and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth before succumbing.
The pitching staff tied a season high with 12 strikeouts, including seven by Williams (5-4), who took the loss after conceding five runs on nine hits and three walks in six innings.
There were a combined seven strikeouts through the first two scoreless innings before the Cardinal (25-15, 10-9) scored three runs in the top of the third to take the lead. Williams loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a single before center fielder Austin Wilson hit a two-run single up the middle and second baseman Danny Diekroeger followed with an RBI single.
Stanford stretched the lead to five with a pair of RBI singles in the top of the fourth, but ASU responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame to cut the deficit to 5-2. Second baseman James McDonaldled off the inning with base hit, and designated hitter RJ Ybarra doubled to left field two batters later to bring up right fielder Trever Allen, who drove in two runs with a stand-up double.
Center fielder Kasey Coffman got ASU to within 5-3 with a sacrifice fly to center field in the seventh inning. That came after first baseman Dalton DiNatale reached first on a throwing error by Cardinal shortstop Lonnie Kauppila, shortstop Drew Stankiewicz followed with a single and left fielder Jake Peevyhouse walked in an eight-pitch at-bat to load the bases for Coffman.
Dunbar gave up three hits and struck out a pair in 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Gillies allowed just one base runner and struck out three over the final 1 1/3 innings.
Stanford starter Mark Appel (8-3) struck out 13 in 7 2/3 innings to earn the win. He allowed three runs, including two earned, on five hits. Left-hander Garrett Hughes (3) secured the save with 1 1/3 scoreless frames.
