ASU Baseball: Sun Devils drop first conference series since March

The weather is starting to heat up in Tempe, but it's not due to the ASU baseball team.

The Sun Devils (21-16, 10-8 Pac-12) dropped two of three to Stanford, losing their first Pac-12 series since Mar. 14-16 against Washington.

The Cardinal (15-17, 6-9) took the opening game Thursday night after falling behind 3-0 after four innings.

The Sun Devils jumped out to the early advantage thanks to a two-run home run from junior first baseman Nate Causey, his third of the season, and an RBI single from junior second baseman Drew Stankiewicz.

Sophomore starter Brett Lilek pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings, striking out six and allowing just four hits, but picked up his third consecutive no-decision.

Freshman reliever Eder Erives allowed three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to even the game then fellow freshman Hever Bueno (0-1) allowed the game-winning RBI single to Cardinal senior first baseman Danny Diekroeger with two outs in the bottom of the ninth

The Sun Devils and sophomore starter Ryan Kellogg reversed their fortune Friday night, though.

Kellogg pitched seven strong innings, allowing just seven hits and two runs (zero earned) to pick up his team-leading fifth win of the season.

Unlike Thursday, the Sun Devils were able to able to hold a 3-0 lead, which they gained through a two-run home run by freshman catcher Brian Serven and a sacrifice fly from redshirt junior second baseman Tucker Esmay.

Sophomore closer Ryan Burr pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his eighth save of the season.

The Sun Devils were unable to carry over Friday's momentum, wasting a good start from junior Darin Gillies for the second time in as many weeks, falling 1-0 in the series finale Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat marked the third time the Sun Devils have been shutout in 2014.

The Cardinal scored the only run on a solo home run from Diekroeger off Gillies in the fourth inning.

Gillies went a career-long eight innings, the second consecutive week he recorded a career-high, and allowed just four hits and struck out four.

Unfortunately, the Sun Devils weren't able to scratch a run across the plate despite having the tying run on base in four of the final five innings.

The Sun Devils return to action on the road next weekend for a three-game set against Territorial Cup rival UA.