PHOENIX – Tennessee Tech scored four runs in the ninth inning to complete a late rally and defeat No. 5 Sun Devil Baseball, 7-4, on Saturday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix.
Arizona State held a 4-3 lead heading into the ninth inning, but the Golden Eagles scored four runs, including just one earned, off right-handed reliever Ryan Burr (7-2) to complete the comeback win. A sacrifice fly tied the game after a walk, a single and a wild pitch, and a fielding error by shortstop Colby Woodmansee allowed the eventual game-winning run to score before a two-out, two-run triple capped the four-run frame.
ASU has drawn 86,859 fans this season, the school’s highest total since 2011, with eight regular-season home games still remaining on the schedule.
Starting left-hander Ryan Kellogg scattered seven hits and conceded three runs in 6 2/3 innings to record his 25th quality start of the season. He settled down after he allowed a two-run homer in the opening frame and put together five straight scoreless innings before he conceded a one-run double with two outs in the seventh and was replaced by right-hander Darin Gillies.
First baseman Joey Bielek tied his season high with three hits and designated hitter RJ Ybarra hit his fifth home run of the season, including his first since March 29. Second baseman Andrew Snow registered a hit for the 18th time in the past 19 games and Sewald reached base for the 21st consecutive game.
The Golden Eagles (20-20) used a two-run homer in the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead, but the Sun Devils (27-12) scored one in the fifth and added three in the sixth on two home runs to move ahead by a pair.
Woodmansee cut the Devils’ deficit in half, 1-2, with a two-out RBI double to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning. Center fielder Johnny Sewald reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before he came around on Woodmansee’s team-high 32nd RBI of the season.
Third baseman David Greer led off the sixth inning with a solo home run to tie the game at two runs apiece, and Ybarra added a two-run shot three batters later to push ASU’s advantage to a pair, 4-2.
TTU notched a two-out RBI double in the top of the seventh to pull within one, 4-3, and chase Kellogg from the game.
Gillies faced four batters, including one in the seventh and three in the eighth, and left-hander Andrew Shaps needed just one pitch to end the eighth inning before Burr took over.
ASU third baseman Jordan Aboites made a great play on a ground ball for the first out of the inning, but Burr walked the next batter he faced and conceded a single to put the go-ahead run at first. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and center fielder David Allen hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 4-4. After intentionally walking shortstop Dylan Bosheers, Woodmansee misplayed a grounder up the middle to allow the go-ahead run to score. Catcher Jordan Hopkins followed with a two-run triple to punctuate the Golden Eagles inning before ASU right-hander Eric Melbostad took over and issued a looking strikeout.
TTU right-hander Travis Moth (3-3) picked up the win after he allowed one run on one hit in 2 2/3 innings and right-hander Jeb Scroggins (4) tossed a perfect ninth to secure the save. Starting right-hander Evan Fraliex allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Notes
Sewald stole second base in the fifth inning to notch his 17 stolen base of the season, which tops his previous high of 16 in 2014 and is the most stolen bases by a Sun Devil in a single season since 2011…Sewald upped his career-steals total to 34…the Sun Devils have hit 22 home runs through 39 games. It took the Devils 50 games in 2014 to hit their 22nd home run (May 17 vs Utah)…Greer has a hit in 25 of the past 28 games.
Up Next
The Sun Devils close out their three-game series against Tennessee Tech on April 26 at 12:30 p.m. at Phoenix Muni. The game will be live streamed via thesundevils.com.
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