Lambson's game leads baseball to win at WA

With a chance at a rare Pac-10 road sweep on Sunday, the #3 Arizona State Sun Devils called on freshman Mitchell Lambson to make his first career start against Washington. Lambson answered the call in a big way, throwing a complete game, leading Arizona State to a 6-2 win and a three-game sweep of the Huskies. With the win, the Sun Devils improve to 23-5, 8-1 in Pac-10 play.

Lambson struck out nine and allowed two runs on five hits in his first career start, going the distance to improve to 5-1 on the year. The Arizona State offense scored in only two innings, but Lambson made it hold up.

Arizona State drew first blood in the second, taking a 2-0 lead. Drew Maggi singled to left center to score Andy Workman and Zack MacPhee to put ASU up by two. The Sun Devils would hang a four spot in the fourth, taking a six run lead. Workman started the inning with a single to short then moved to second on a wild pitch. Jared McDonald blooped a ball into shallow left field to put runners at the corners. McDonald took off for second on the first pitch to Zack MacPhee, and the throw from catcher Brett Wilcox went into centerfield, allowing Workman to score. MacPhee struck out and was followed by a Maggi walk, putting runners at the corners with one out. Raoul Torrez then laid down a perfect bunt up the first base line, allowing McDonald to score easily. The throw to first got by the first baseman, allowing Maggi to move up to third and Torrez to go to second. Matt Newman then brought them both home with a single to left center to make it 6-0.

Washington would answer in the bottom of the sixth off Lambson. Kyle Conley cut the Sun Devil lead to 6-2 with his 10th homer of the year, a two-run shot to left. That would be all the Huskies would get, as Arizona State won its fourth straight game.

Matt Newman led the Sun Devil offense, going 2-4 and driving in two. Drew Maggi went 1-3 and also brought home two runs.

The Sun Devils now head to Arkansas for a two-game midweek series with the Razorbacks that gets underway on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. Arizona time from Baum Stadium.