No.11 baseball downs Sun Devils to win series
Sophomore Jonah Nickerson improves to 7-0 on the season as Beavers defeat No. 20 ASU
Sean McLean
The Daily Barometer
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Jonah Nickerson pitched seven strong innings and Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in three runs as No. 11 Oregon State defeated No. 20 Arizona State 5-1 on Sunday.
With the win, OSU took the series by winning two out of three games against the Sun Devils.
"I thought they did a great job today, we made some big plays, and Nickerson and Gunderson were just great," said OSU manager Pat Casey.
"I mean, to hold that team to one run, that's pretty special."
In front of a record-selling crowd of 2,120, which broke the school-record of 2,012 set on Saturday, the Beavers (32-8, 11-4 Pac-10) kept the Sun Devils' bats silent and made key defensive plays when they needed to.
"Anytime you beat Arizona State, win a series, it's a great feeling and it's a good win for the program," said Ellsbury, who went 2 for 4 on the afternoon.
"Our pitching was outstanding, Jonah was awesome, he's giving us great starts every time he's pitched, and once again he's come through."
After being shut down offensively on Saturday, the Beavers bats finally erupted in the bottom of the third.
Ellsbury tied the game with an RBI single and would score the go-ahead run later that inning.
He then provided some insurance the next inning with a two-out bases-loaded single that knocked in the final two runs of the day for the Beavers.
"I thought that we were sitting on our hands a little bit, so we started Jacoby, and I think that kind of got us going," Casey said.
"I think we needed to be the aggressors and push it a little bit and we did, and the ball bounced our way."
Nickerson, who entered Sunday's game with a 6-0 record, allowed just one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out four.
"Jonah was just sharp and I think he felt the energy of the crowd," Casey said.
"It was a tough matchup cause they ran seven left-handers at him, but everything worked for him."
When Nickerson ran into trouble in the seventh, closer Kevin Gunderson entered the ball game and shut down the Sun Devil offense.
With two outs and two runners on, Gunderson struck out leadoff hitter Colin Curtis to end the inning.
ASU (29-17, 10-5 Pac-10) threatened again in the top of the eighth, but the Beaver defense stepped up and made some crucial plays.
After a Sun Devil single to start the inning, right fielder Mike Lissman made a diving catch, followed by a leaping snag by first baseman Andy Jenkins for the force out at second.
Gunderson finished the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing no runs and just two hits.
He earned his ninth save of the season, tying the OSU season record. He also tied the OSU career record for saves with 12.
"When I came in, I was facing a tough hitter with Colin Curtis, and I was hoping I could throw him off a little bit with my slider," Gunderson said.
"My last two innings I thought I threw well, made my pitches, felt good and strong, and I'm glad we got the win."
On Saturday, the Beavers could not find the key hit and the Sun Devils prevailed 3-1.
Starter Anton Maxwell put together a solid outing, allowing just three runs, one earned and nine hits in over six innings of work.
The offense, however, could not supply Maxwell with any run support, as ASU starter Jason Urquidez allowed just one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings.
On Friday, the Beavers won the first game of the series 6-5. Down 2-0 in the fourth inning, Mike Lissman hit his first home run of the season, a three run shot that gave the Beavers the lead that they would not relinquish.
Starter Dallas Buck gave the Beavers seven strong innings, and Gunderson would earn his eighth save of the season.
With the conclusion of this weekend's series, the Beavers are just one game behind Arizona for first place in the Pac-10.
They face Portland at home on Tuesday before traveling to Los Angeles to face Pac-10 foe UCLA this weekend.
Sean McLean, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com, 737-6378
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