PHOENIX – Catcher Brian Serven drew a bases-loaded walk in the 12th inning to record his second walk-off RBI in as many nights and push Sun Devil Baseball to a series-clinching 4-3 victory against UC Davis on Saturday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils (12-3) have won seven straight games, including third consecutive extra-innings win, and secured four series victories.
Starting right-hander Seth Martinez notched a career-high 11 strikeouts and tied his career-long outing at eight innings as he conceded three runs on five hits and a walk in a no-decision. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and allowed just one base runner, via a hit by pitch, through the first five frames. This marked the second time in four starts this season Martinez has taken a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
Right-hander Jordan Aboites took over in the ninth after Martinez surrendered a leadoff single and Aboites allowed two singles in the ninth before he tossed a perfect 10th. Fellow right-hander Ryan Hingst (1-0) entered in the 11th and gave up just one hit and struck out two across two scoreless frames to earn his first win of the season.
First baseman David Greer went 3-for-5 with a RBI double to notch his team-high eighth multiple-hit game this season, and designated hitter Sebastian Zawada launched his fourth home of the season.
The Devils struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third courtesy of timely hitting and smart base running. Right fielder Gage Canning led off the inning and reached first on a dropped strike three, moved to a third on a single from third baseman Jeremy McCuin and came home on center fielder Andrew Shaps’ fielder’s choice. Shaps went first-to-third on a stolen base and a throwing error before Greer drove him in with a double down the left-field line.
UC Davis tallied two runs on three hits in the sixth inning, but Martinez stranded a pair in scoring position to keep the game tied, 2-2. Second baseman Brad Pluschkell broke up Martinez’s no-hit bid with a double and was plated in the following at-bat behind a double from left fielder Alex Aguiar, who later stole third and scored on a single from right fielder Tanner Bily.
Zawada put the Sun Devils back on top, 3-2, in the ensuing frame with a two-out solo home run to left field.
The Aggies (5-9) used three singles and a sacrifice fly to once again tie the game, 3-3, and put runners at the corners with one out, but Shaps played a role in all three outs to keep the go-ahead run off the board. He tracked a long fly ball in center field for the first out of the frame, and completed a double play to end the frame as he caught a fly ball and connected with catcher Brian Serve to throw the lead runner out at home.
Notes: The last time ASU played three consecutive extra-innings games was April 8-13, 1995 (at USC, L, 7-8 (11); at USC, L, 6-7 (11); at Cal, W, 12-11 (13))…Woodmansee extended his reached base streak to 15 games with a two-out single in the bottom of the 10th.
Up Next
The Devils close out their three-game home set against UC Davis on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PT at Phoenix Muni. The series finale will be live streamed via thesundevils.com.
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