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Saturdays and big time pitching performances have become synonymous with Arizona State baseball this season, and that is all thanks to junior southpaw Ryan Kellogg.
Kellogg was at his best again today against Oregon, throwing a complete game three hitter as the Sun Devils edged the Ducks for a 2-1 win. The victory clinched the team's first road series win of the year.
Oregon starter David Peterson didn't exactly have a bad day, either. Both pitchers were dealing up until the fifth inning, when the maroon and gold finally broke through for the first run of the game. Peterson made a critical mistake with two outs and Joey Bielek standing on third as the home plate umpire ruled the pitcher moved illegally after coming set. The balk scored Bielek and put the maroon and gold ahead 1-0.
The Ducks finally got to Kellogg in their half of the seventh as the left-hander started to lose a little command. He issued back-to-back walks, both with two outs, and Phil Craig-St. Louis tied the game up with a base hit back up the middle.
Eager to get the lead back, ASU's offense answered in the top of the eighth. Freshman Andrew Snow led off with a single to center field, and he moved to second on a beautiful sacrifice bunt off the bat of Johnny Sewald. Oregon coach George Horton then opted to turn to his bullpen after Peterson walked the next hitter he faced. The decision would not be a good one.
Colby Woodmansee stepped to the plate next and added to his list of game-winning hits, knocking reliever Stephen Nogosek's pitch into right field. Motoring hard from second, Snow beat the throw in to give the Sun Devils a 2-1 advantage.
That would be enough with the way Kellogg (4-0) was dealing. He faced the minimum in the eighth and got the Ducks to go quietly again in the bottom of the ninth, sealing his third win against teams ranked in the top 15 this season. Peterson (2-2) ended up taking the loss.
ASUimproved to 15-6 with the win and is now 4-1 in Pac-12 play. Oregon continued its midseason slide, now losers of six of its last seven. Horton's club, considered to be one of the most talented he has had since he took the job in 2009, now sits at 14-8 (1-4).
The Sun Devils will go for the sweep tomorrow in Eugene. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. PST and left-hander Brett Lilek will get the start on the mound for the maroon and gold.