PHOENIX –A five-run seventh inning and strong pitching led No. 17 Sun Devil Baseball to a 7-4 win over Oklahoma on Wednesday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils (3-1) scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to overcome a 4-2 lead by the Sooners (3-3), and right-handed relievers Jordan Aboites and Ryan Burr closed out the final two frames to complete the rally.
Burr (2) took over in the ninth and notched his 26th career save, and second of the season, to set the program’s career saves record and break the longest-standing individual record in school history.
A pair of singles by left fielder Jake Peevyhouse and first baseman Chris Beall got things started in the seventh for Arizona State, which notched six hits and batted around in the inning. Right fielder Trever Allen followed with a RBI double to shallow right field before shortstop Colby Woodmansee drove a two-out, two-run double to left field to bring home the go-ahead run. Third baseman Dalton DiNatale drew a walk after an OU pitching change, and catcher Brian Serven and center fielder Johnny Sewald each notched a RBI single to open a three-run lead, 7-4.
Starting right-hander Seth Martinez did not allow an earned run in six innings and scattered just three hits. He struck out five and held the Sooners scoreless over the final half of his outing, including two perfect frames.
Serven went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, Sewald went 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored, and Woodmansee added three hits and drove in a pair of runs to pace the Devils.
Left-hander Tucker Baca (1-0) made his first career appearance with one out in the top of the seventh and quickly retired the only two batters he faced to earn a five-pitch win. Aboites struck out one in a perfect eighth to set up Burr’s record-breaking save.
The Sooners capitalized on a fielding error by Woodmansee in the top of the third inning to take an early 3-0 lead. Martinez induced a pop fly with two outs in the frame and a runner on second, but it was dropped in shallow left field to extend the inning. UO shortstop Sheldon Neuse then hit the first pitch he faced over the left-field wall for a three-run home run.
Designated hitter Joey Bielek put the Devils on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with his first RBI of the season. Sewald, who reached base via his second single of the game, moved to second on a throwing error by the Sooners’ third baseman and scored two batters later.
The Devils used three base hits in the bottom of the fourth to cut their deficit to one, 2-3. Allen and Woodmansee each singled to lead off the frame, and Serven drove in his first run of the season with a single down the left-field line.
OU second baseman Kolbey Carpenter doubled to lead off the top of the seventh, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Taylor Alspaugh to extend its lead back to a pair, 4-2.
OU right-hander Ralph Garza, Jr., (0-1) conceded four runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss. Starting left-hander Jeffrey Curran allowed two runs, including one earned, on eight hits and a walk in four innings.
Notes
Leadoff batter Sewald has reached base in the first at-bat of the game in three of the Devils’ four games…David Graybill made his first appearance of the season in left field in the eighth inning and recorded his first at-bat...ASU improved to 49-19 all-time against the Sooners.
Up Next
The Devils host No. 1 TCU for a three-game series Feb. 20-22. All three games will be live streamed via thesundevils.com and Saturday’s contest will also be broadcast on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Tim Healey (PxP) and Seth Dhaenens (color).