SEATTLE – A three-run rally with two outs in the eighth inning erased No. 4 Sun Devil Baseball’s late lead as they fell to Washington, 9-7, in the series opener on Friday night at Husky Stadium in Seattle.
Arizona State broke a 6-6 tie with one run in the top of the eighth, but the Huskies (21-14, 7-9) responded with three runs on two outs in the bottom of the frame to take a 9-7 lead into the final inning.
UW used a pair of two-run homers in the first and second innings, respectively, to jump out to a 4-1 lead. However, center fielder Johnny Sewald’s three-run homer in the fourth capped off a four-run inning and gave ASU its first lead of the game, 5-4. The Sun Devils (23-11, 11-5) added one run in the fifth before a two-run homer, UW’s third of the game, tied the game at six runs apiece.
Five Devils recorded a pair of hits as ASU tallied double-digit hits for the fifth time in the past six games, including five extra-base hits for the fifth time this season. Third baseman David Greer went 2-for-4 with two runs and a pair of doubles to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, shortstop Colby Woodmansee added two doubles and Sewald drove in three runs.
Right-handed reliever Eric Melbostad (0-1) was responsible for all three runs in the eighth inning and took his first loss of the season. He gave up a game-tying RBI double to UW second baseman Josh Cushing and issued a walk before right-hander Ryan Burr took over. Catcher Joey Morgan singled a 0-2 pitch into shallow left-center field to drive in the go-ahead run and center fielder Braden Bishop followed with a RBI single to left field to put the Huskies ahead by a pair.
Starting right-hander Seth Martinez allowed six runs on three home runs in 6 2/3 innings. He conceded four runs on two homers in the first two innings before he retired 11 straight batters and did not allow a hit in four consecutive frames. He issued a one-out walk and a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh and was replaced by Melbostad with two outs in the inning.
UW first baseman Branden Berry hit a two-out, two-run homer to left field in the first inning to stake the Huskies an early 2-0 advantage. The Huskies extended their lead to three, 4-1, in the bottom of the second behind a leadoff single and a two-run homer from left fielder Jack Meggs.
Greer scored the first two runs for the Devils via a leadoff double in both the second and fourth innings, and a RBI groundout by right fielder Trever Allen and a RBI fielder’s choice by designated hitter RJ Ybarra, respectively. ASU’s four-run fourth inning was punctuated by Sewald’s three-run homer, which plated Allen and Ybarra, and put the Devils on top by one.
Woodmansee led off the fifth inning with a double, his second of the night, and scored three batters later on a two-out RBI single from first baseman Joey Bielek to push ASU’s advantage to a pair, 6-4.
The Huskies’ third home run of the game, a two-run shot by Bishop, knotted the game at six runs apiece in the bottom of the seventh inning.
A pair of one-out singles by Bielek and Allen, respectively, put runners at the corners in the top of the eighth for pinch-hitter Chris Beall, whose line drive was misplayed by the shortstop. The error allowed Bielek to score from third and put ASU back on top, 7-6.
UW right-hander Troy Rallings (3-1) did not allow a run in 1 2/3 innings and struck out a pair to earn the win. Starting right-hander Noah Bremer scattered seven hits and allowed six runs, including three earned, in a four-inning no-decision.
Notes
The Devils’ pitching staff has given up seven home runs in the past three games after they allowed just 12 in the previous 31 games of the year…Greer has a hit in 22 of the past 23 games he’s started for the Devils…ASU lost its second consecutive game for the first time this season.
Up Next
The Sun Devils continue their three-game series with Washington on April 18 at 7:30 p.m. PT at Husky Stadium in Seattle. The game will be televised on Pac-12 Networks with Jim Watson and Kevin Stocker on the call, and broadcast on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens.
Saturday’s Pitching Matchup
ASU: LHP Ryan Kellogg (6-1, 3.82 ERA)
UW: RHP Tyler Davis (5-3, 2.38 ERA)
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