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TUCSON, Ariz. - The Arizona State University baseball team dropped the Territorial Cup series finale to Arizona, 6-1, on Sunday at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Ariz.
The Sun Devils (23-17, 12-9) remain in a tie for third place in the Pac-12 after securing their fifth Pac-12 Conference series win of the season the night before.
The Wildcats (18-25, 7-14) struck first on a two-out, two-run double by designated hitter Michael Hoard in the bottom of the opening frame and never relinquished their lead behind a pitching staff that held ASU to just two hits.
Center fielder Johnny Sewald recorded both of the Devils’ hits and now has 13 multi-hit games this season, tied for the second most on the team.
Starting right-hander Darin Gillies (1-4) gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings to take the loss. Four relievers combined to pitch the final half of the game, including right-hander Jordan Aboites, who allowed one hit and one run in a pair of innings.
A leadoff single by the Wildcats in the first inning was negated by a double play, but a walk and a base hit in the next two at-bats resulted in Hoard’s double and an early 2-0 lead for UA.
Shortstop Drew Stankiewicz helped ASU cut its deficit in half, 2-1, with a sacrifice fly to left field in the top of the third. Second baseman Tucker Esmay walked and moved from first to third on a single by center fielder Johnny Sewald before coming home on Stankiewicz’s third RBI of the series.
UA used three singles and a sacrifice fly in the fourth to extend its advantage to three, and added one more run in the fifth inning to move ahead by four, 5-1.
Right-handed reliever Hever Bueno inherited a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the bottom of the fifth, but induced a lineout and a groundout to end the frame, and did not allow a hit in 1 1/3 innings.
Right-hander Ryan Burr took the mound with two outs and runners on the corners in the bottom of the eighth, and threw a wild pitch to the first batter he faced to bring home Arizona’s sixth run of the game.
Wildcats left-hander Cody Moffett (2-2) tossed three scoreless inning of relief to earn the win and starting right-hander Tyger Talley scattered two hits and a run across 4 1/3 frames.
Notes
ASU moved to 215-241 all-time against Arizona, including 192-125 since 1959…ASU turned nine double plays in the three-game series.
Up Next
The Sun Devils host New Mexico State on April 29 at 6:30 pm before heading to Stillwater, Okla., for a three-game non-conference series with Oklahoma State May 2-4. Tuesday’s game will be streamed live online and broadcast on NBC Sports AM 1060 by Tim Healey (PxP, @TimHealeyASU) and Seth Dhaenens (color, @sethdhaenens). Friday’s game is set for a 4:30 pm start, Saturday at 1 pm and Sunday at 11 am (all times PT), and all three will be streamed online via OSU’s website. Live stats will also be available for all four games.
Postseason Banquet | Register HERE!
Join the Sun Devil Baseball program and fellow supporters for an unforgettable evening. The 31st annual Baseball Postseason Banquet will be held on May 27 on the outfield grass at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $60 or buy a table for 10 people for $600. Fans can also sponsor a student-athlete’s dinner for $60. There will be open parking in front of Packard Stadium in Lot 59.
Single-game tickets, Mini Packs and Flex Plans are on sale now. Admission for ASU students is free with a valid Sun Card. Purchasing season tickets will give fans first opportunity and priority at selecting seats at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 2015. Ariz.
Join the conversation all season using the hashtag #OccupyPackard
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