March 1, 2009

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 4 Arizona State University baseball team fell 5-2 to No. 15 Missouri on Sunday in the final game of the DeMarini Invitational in front of a crowd of 3,168 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The Sun Devils dropped to 8-1 on the season with loss.

Josh Spence started on the mound and got a no decision, going 6.2 innings and allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out eight. He was struck in the face by a line drive in the top of the seventh and had to leave the game. Jordan Swagerty allowed three runs in the eighth inning to take the loss.

ASU scored first on an RBI single by Kole Calhoun in the fourth, but the Sun Devils were unable to add any more runs in the inning despite having the bases loaded with no outs.

Missouri then took the lead with two runs in the seventh, but the Devils tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when Matt Newman scored from third on a groundball by Drew Maggi. Missouri third baseman Kyle Mach attempted to throw Newman out at home, but the throw was too late and Newman scored to tie the game.

The Tigers would take the lead for good in the top of the eighth, as Ryan Lollis drove in a run with a double and Trevor Coleman followed with a two-run homer to right center. The game ended after eight innings due to travel restrictions.

Calhoun and Jason Kipnis led the ASU offense with two hits each.

In earlier action at the DeMarini Invitational, Oregon State defeated Northern Illinois 2-1.

The Sun Devils will return to the diamond on Thursday, hosting Holy Cross for the first of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.