PHOENIX – Left fielder Jake Peevyhouse drove a bases-loaded single into right field to give No. 5 Sun Devil Baseball a 5-4 walk-off win against No. 24 Arizona on Saturday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in front of Arizona State’s largest home crowd in the past 33 years.
The Sun Devils (22-9, 10-3) recorded their fifth walk-off win of the season and improved to 11-6 in one-run games in front of 6,247 fans, the most since Feb. 28, 1982, against Arizona at Packard Stadium.
Peevyhouse added a two-run homer in the fifth inning, his first since April 30, 2013, to give ASU its first lead of the game and he finished the night with three hits and three RBI. First baseman Joey Bielek notched three hits, including a single in the ninth inning that resulted in the game-winning run.
ASU took a 1-0 lead in the five-game Territorial Cup baseball series and the Devils currently leads the overall Territorial Cup standings, 7.5-5.5, with seven sports still undecided.
Right-hander Ryan Burr (6-0) entered the game in the ninth inning and earned a three-out win to improve to 6-0 this season. He recorded three straight outs after he gave up a leadoff single, including a pop-up by Kingery, the nation’s top hitter, to send the game into the bottom of the ninth tied at four runs apiece.
Bielek and second baseman Andrew Snow each tallied a one-out single in the ninth to chase UA right-handed reliever Nathan Bannister (5-1), and center fielder Johnny Sewald took a walk to load the bases. Peevyhouse, who jumped ahead in the count 3-0, took a pair of strikes before he delivered the walk-off single.
Both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings before Arizona an early 3-0 lead in the fourth. The Devils countered with four runs in the middle innings to move ahead by a run, but the Wildcats scored once in the seventh to tie the game, 4-4.
The Wildcats (22-10, 7-6) took used a two-run double from designated hitter Michael Hoard and a two-out RBI single by left fielder Cody Ramer to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Catcher Riley Moore, who led off the frame, fouled a ball just past the visitor’s dugout and a fan interfered with third baseman David Greer as he was trying to make the out near the stands to extend the at-bat. Moore hit the next pitch through the right side for a single and scored the game’s first run three batters later.
Three infield singles and a sacrifice bunt brought home a run for the Devils in the bottom of the fourth to cut their deficit to two, 1-3. Shortstop Colby Woodmansee and catcher Brian Serven, who partnered to catch the Wildcats stealing second to end the previous frame, each singled and advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by Greer before right fielder Trever Allen’s short chopper drove in ASU’s first run.
Peevyhouse’s two-run homer to right field punctuated ASU’s three-run fifth inning and pushed them to a 4-3 lead. Bielek and Snow led off the frame with a single and a double, respectively, and Sewald plated Bielek on a sacrifice fly to left field before Peevyhouse’s go-ahead home run.
ASU right-hander Eder Erives took over in the top of the sixth after a leadoff double by Moore and recorded three consecutive outs via two strikeouts and a shallow fly ball to end the frame. Erives allowed just one run on three hits and struck out three in 2 2/3 relief innings.
Ramer hit a one-out single and scored the tying run on a RBI double from second baseman Scott Kingery as the Wildcats tied the game at four runs apiece in the top of the seventh.
Freshman left-hander Andrew Shaps replaced Erives in the top of the eighth with a runner on second and two outs, and induced a swinging strikeout to end the threat.
ASU starting right-hander Seth Martinez did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, but conceded three runs on three hits in the frame, and was chased after he allowed a leadoff double in the sixth. UA starting right-hander Cody Hamlin scattered nine hits and gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Notes
Peevyhouse is the fifth different Sun Devil this season to record a walk-off hit at Muni...Greer has a hit in 19 of the past 20 games…DiNatale made his first appearance since Feb. 28 after he injured his thumb in the team’s March 3 exhibition against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Up Next
The Sun Devils host Arizona in the second game of the teams’ three-game series April 12 at 5 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The game will be televised on Pac-12 Networks with Roxy Bernstein and Jerry Kindall on the call, and broadcast on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens.
Sunday’s Pitching Matchup
UA: LHP Xavier Borde (2-0, 1.69 ERA)
ASU: LHP Ryan Kellogg (5-1, 3.56 ERA)
Family Section, Family Four Pack
The Family Section, located in Section 20 on the third-base line near the picnic area, does not permit alcohol or inappropriate language. A general admission ticket is the only requirement to gain entry into the section. Family Four Pack’s include four tickets to the game, four big hot dogs and four 32 oz. fountain drinks, and start at just $60. Family Four Packs are available for all home mid-week and Sunday games. Click here to purchase.
2015 Flex and Mini Plans
Flex and Mini Plans are available now for the 2015 season at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. A Flex Plan allows fans to receive discounted prices up to 46 percent without having to choose games in advance. Fans will receive nine ticket vouchers that are redeemable for any game, in any quantity, in the infield reserved seating sections. Mini Plans offer fans the opportunity to pick and choose any five games this season. Click here to view Flex and Mini Plan options.
Transitioning The Legacy Campaign
Season ticket holders also have an opportunity to make a capital campaign commitment towards the Phoenix Muni renovations. All gifts, no matter the size, are important and appreciated, and can be a one-time gift or a five-year pledge. Fans interested in naming opportunities at Phoenix Muni can contact the Sun Devil Club at 480-727-7700. All commitments are tax-deductible through the Sun Devil Club. Join our community and own a piece of our hometown team.
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