ASU failed to clinch the Pac-10 baseball title outright Friday night, but Raoul Torrez at least saved the Sun Devils the indignity of being shut out for first time in four years. Down to the Devils’ last strike, Torrez hit a grounder past the shortstop to drive in two runs in a 5-2 loss to host Stanford.

ASU clinched at least a tie for the Pac-10 title with a victory Thursday and needs a win in the regular season finale at 1 p.m. Saturday or a UCLA loss to clinch the crown.  ASU holds the tiebreaker with the Bruins.

Stanford starter Jordan Pries (4-3) scattered six hits in eight innings. ASU couldn’t get a runner past second until the ninth. One who did get to second, Kole Calhoun, was picked off. Two other times, the Devils were thrown out trying to steal second.

Raoul Torrez and Riccio Torrez each had two hits for the Devils.

Former Desert Mountain star Merrill Kelly (9-2) pitched seven innings, giving up five runs, three earned.

Despite a frustrating evening, the Devils managed to get the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Pries, who already had two complete games this season, started the ninth but was pulled after walking Zack MacPhee and Calhoun. Alex Pracher relieved and got the next two batters before Andrew Aplin walked, loading the bases.

Raoul Torrez followed with his single on a 3-2 pitch, scoring MacPhee and Calhoun.

Pracher got Matt Newman to pop out for the final out.