March 19, 2013
LUBBOCK, Texas - The 20th-ranked Arizona State University baseball team lost on a walk-off walk in the ninth inning to Texas Tech, 8-7, on Tuesday night at Rip Griffin Park in Lubbock, Texas.
The Sun Devils (12-5-1, 1-2) battled through six lead changes and four ties to take a one-run advantage in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single by left fielder Jake Peevyhouse, but Texas Tech (15-8, 2-1) scored two runs in the bottom of the frame on four walks and a hit batter to secure the walk-off win.
Left fielder Jake Peevyhouse knocked in four RBI on three hits, both career highs, and has now registered at least two hits in five consecutive games.
The Devils used four two-out base hits, including a two-run double by Peevyhouse and an RBI single by right fielder Trever Allen, to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Second baseman James McDonald and catcher Max Rossiter each singled and scored on Peevyhouse's double before he was plated by Allen's base knock.
The Red Raiders added one run in the bottom of the first and tacked on three more in the third inning to take a one-run advantage, 4-3.
Allen followed with a triple, his third of the season, in the top of the ensuing inning and scored on the next at-bat on an RBI groundout by shortstop Drew Stankiewicz to even the score, 4-4.
Texas Tech countered with a run in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead, 5-4, after center fielder Brett Bell singled, stole consecutive bases and scored on a two-out single to left field.
Peevyhouse hit a two-out RBI double to center field to score McDonald, who singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch, to tie the game at five runs apiece.
Catcher Nate Causey hit a go-ahead single to shallow right field in the top of the eighth to score Stankiewicz, who led off the frame with a double, but Texas Tech evened the score, 6-6, in the bottom of the inning on a run-scoring double-play groundout.
ASU starting right-hander Eric Melbostad went three innings in his first career start and gave up four runs, including three earned, on five hits and a walk.
Right-hander Billy Young made his first appearance of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning and did not allow a run or a hit in 1 1/3 frames.
Left-hander Matt Dunbar replaced Young with one out in the seventh inning and recorded two quick outs, but was replaced with two outs in the eighth after loading the bases and conceding one run.
Right-hander Ryan Burr (0-1) induced a groundout to end the eighth and did not allow a hit in the ninth, but took his first loss of the season after allowing the game-winning run.
Red Raider starting right-hander Johnathon Tripp gave up four runs on six hits in four innings, and reliever Jerad McCrummen (1-2) earned the win in his 60th career appearance.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils head to Corvallis, Ore., for a three-game series with No. 3 Oregon State Friday-Sunday. All three conference games against the Beavers will be carried on The Fan AM 1060, and Sunday's series finale will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. Fans can also follow the team on Twitter at @ASU_Baseball for live scoring and updates from the weekend, and check thesundevils.com for stats, notes and more.
Game Notes:
Peevyhouse is on an eight-game winning streak...coach Esmay is 64-12-1 in non-conference games...Causey stole his first base of the season in the fifth inning (and his second career - March 28, 2012, vs. CS Fullerton)....Michael Benjamin's 16-game hitting streak was snapped...Johnny Sewald replaced Coffman in center field in the bottom of the sixth inning...Texas Tech head football coach Kliff Kingsbury threw out the ceremonial first pitch....three of Peevyhouse's RBI came with two outs.
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