BEREKELY, Calif. – A two-out single in the ninth inning gave No. 13 California a walk-off win against No. 6 Sun Devil Baseball, 5-4, on Saturday night at Evans Diamond in Berkeley, Calif.
Cal left fielder Mitchell Kranson opened the bottom of the ninth with a double and the Sun Devils (29-14, 14-6) intentionally walked shortstop Preston Grand Pre to put two runners on with no outs. Arizona State executed a perfect wheel play on an attempted sacrifice bunt to get the lead runner out at third and brought on right-hander Ryan Burr. Burr induced a ground ball back to the mound for the second out of the inning, but conceded a base hit to center fielder Aaron Knapp on a 1-1 pitch to even the series at one game apiece.
The Devils erased two one-run deficits with three runs in the third inning and one in the seventh, respectively, to take a 4-4 tie into the eighth. They threatened to jump ahead of the Golden Bears (28-15, 14-9) in the eighth as they loaded the bases with two outs, but second baseman Andrew Snow struck out swinging to end the rally. Snow tallied a career-high three hits and center fielder Johnny Sewald went 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.
Right-hander Darin Gilles (2-3) was responsible for the winning run and took the loss, and starting left-hander Ryan Kellogg went 7 2/3 innings in a no-decision. Kellogg scattered four runs on eight hits and a walk, and struck out four before he was replaced with two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the eighth. He retired eight straight Bears at one point in the middle innings and recorded four scoreless innings.
Cal catcher Brett Cumberland hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to give the Bears their first lead of the series, 1-0, but the Devils responded in the ensuing frame.
Sewald and left fielder Jake Peevyhouse combined to drive in three runs in an inning for the second consecutive game as they pushed ASU to a 3-1 lead in the top of the third. Right fielder Trever Allen led off the third with a single and Snow followed with a base hit two batters later before Sewald plated the Devils’ first run of the game with a RBI double and Peevyhouse gave ASU its first lead with a two-run single.
The Golden Bears scored three runs, including two in the third inning and one in the sixth, to move back ahead of ASU, 4-3. Right fielder Devin Pearson played a part in all three runs as he tallied a RBI triple and scored the tying run in the next at-bat in the bottom of the third, and added a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth.
ASU loaded the bases on four singles in the bottom of the seventh and plated the tying run on a wild pitch on a swinging strikeout. Allen notched a base hit to open the inning, but was picked off, and designated hitter Dalton DiNatale, Snow and Sewald added singles to load the bases. Zach Cerbo, who pinch-hit for Peevyhouse, swung on a full-count, but the ball bounced to the backstop and pinch-runner Ryan Lillard scored from third to knot the game, 4-4.
Cal right-hander Schick (2-1) tossed a perfect ninth inning to record the win and starting right-hander Ryan Mason allowed four runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Notes
Sewald has reached base in a team-high 25 consecutive games…ASU moved to 6-4 when tied after eight innings and 14-6 in one-run games, including 8-3 in Pac-12 play.
Up Next
The Sun Devils close out their three-game series with Cal in Berkeley, Calif., on May 3. First pitch on Sunday is set for 1 p.m., and Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens will have the call for NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.
Pitching Matchup
ASU: LHP Brett Lilek (3-2, 3.66 ERA)
Cal: LHP Matt Ladrech (6-4, 2.16 ERA)
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