Satow Pitches Devils Past Huskies

Josh Satow had thrown only one pitch and already faced a 1-0 deficit. Andy Lentz sent the first offering from Satow over the fence, but that would be all that Washington would get off of the senior southpaw as he dominated the Huskies the rest of the way leading the Devils to an 11-4 victory at Packard Stadium.

Satow had to work out of a jam to salvage the first inning, working out of a bases loaded jam by getting Brett Wilcox to fly out. Satow recovered and didn’t allow another run in his six innings of work.

ASU would re-gain the lead in the bottom of the second inning, plating three runs. After falling behind 0-2, Petey Paramore worked a walk out of UW starter Jason Erickson and Kiel Roling also coaxed a walk. Matt Newman sacrificed the runners to second and third, before Raoul Torrez gave the Devils the lead with a 2RBI double to right field past the right fielder who made a diving attempt. Greg Bordes’ double to right scored Torrez and ASU had a 3-1 lead.

The game stayed at 3-1 all the way until the sixth inning, mainly due to Satow and Raoul Torrez. Torrez saved a run in the fourth with a spectacular diving catch robbing Michael Burgher of a RBI. Satow picked up a big strikeout in the fifth that left the bases loaded.

Kiel Roling added to ASU’s lead by leading off the sixth with his seventh home run of the season. After two outs in the sixth, Greg Bordes kept the inning alive with a single back up the middle and Ryan Sontag walked to set up Jason Kipnis. Kipnis connected for a three-run home run to center field and ASU jumped to a 7-1 advantage.

Satow exited after six and Washington cut into the ASU lead against the bullpen. Jason Franzblau only faced two batters, walking Bradley Boyer and allowing a single to Aaron Russell, before being pulled for Stephen Sauer. Sauer struck out UW star Kyle Conley, but then walked Troy Scott to load the bases. Brett Wilcox drove in two runs to make it 7-4. Tommy Rafferty worked out of the jam and would close out the game for ASU to pick up his fourth save.

Matt Newman’s sacrifice fly would give ASU one of those runs back in the seventh. Ike Davis led off with a walk and Petey Paramore singled and both runners moved up on Rocky Laguna’s sacrifice bunt.

The Devils used the long ball to add to their lead in the eighth. Ryan Sontag hit a solo shot to center with one out and after Jason Kipnis singled, Brett Wallace sent his 18th to left center making it 11-4 Devils.

Satow allowed just one run on six hits, while walking three and striking out four to pick up his seventh win of the year. Tommy Rafferty pitched the final 2 2/3 innings allowing just two hits and no runs.

Jason Kipnis, Greg Bordes and Ryan Sontag each had two hits for the Devils, who moved to 2.5 games ahead on second place Stanford, as the Cardinal dropped a 9-6 decision against Arizona.

ASU will try and sweep Washington for the first time since 2001 on Sunday and will send Seth Blair (3-1, 7.16) to the mound to try and do so. Washington will counter with Pac-10 strikeout leader Nick Haughian (6-4, 2.98) at 1PM.