PHOENIX – Sun Devil Baseball was unable to recover from six unearned runs in the sixth inning in an 11-7 loss to UNLV on Tuesday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Arizona State notched two runs in the first inning and added one in the third to take a 3-0 lead, but the Rebels (16-20) used nine unanswered runs, including a three-run homer in the fourth and six unearned runs in the sixth, for an advantage they never surrendered.
The Sun Devils (20-14) scored once in the sixth and put the tying run on deck in a three-run eighth inning, but they were unable to complete the comeback despite tying a season-high with 14 hits, including five for extra bases.
The offense picked up double-digit hits for the 14th game this season behind six multi-hit performances, including two hits and two RBI for both catcher Brian Serven and second baseman Andrew Snow.
Starting right-hander Jordan Aboites took a no-decision as he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in five innings. He retired the first six batters he faced and induced a pop fly to foul territory to leave the bases loaded in the third before he gave up the game-tying home run in the fourth.
Left-hander Garvin Alston, Jr., who struck out two in a scoreless seventh, and right-hander James Ryan, who allowed just one hit across two innings of work, highlighted the Devils’ bullpen. Right-hander Chris Isbell (0-1), who relieved Aboites in the sixth inning, took his first career loss as he was responsible for four of the six unearned runs in the frame on two hits.
It took just two batters for the Devils to get on the board as Snow led off the opening frame with a single and third baseman David Greer followed with a RBI triple. Serven followed consecutive strikeouts with a two-out single up the plate to bring Greer home and quickly stake ASU a two-run lead.
Shortstop Colby Woodmansee and Serven gave the Devils a 3-0 lead with a double and triple, respectively, in the bottom of the third inning. The Rebels responded in the top of the ensuing frame, however, with a three-run homer following a walk and a single to knot the game at three runs apiece.
UNLV took advantage of two fielding errors and a misplayed rundown by ASU to plate six unearned runs in the sixth inning. The Rebels led off with a single, but errors on first baseman Zach Cerbo and Snow in consecutive at-bats loaded the bases. Isbell issued a looking strikeout for the first out before a two-run double broke the 3-3 tie. Right-hander Grant Schneider took over on the mound and conceded a two-run triple to the first batter he faced. Left fielder Payton Squier was intentionally walked and stole second, which allowed the lead runner to score from third on the attempted rundown. The Rebels capped the frame with a RBI single to stretch its lead, 9-3.
Designated hitter Ryan Lillard drew a walk, stole second and came home a RBI single from pinch-hitter RJ Ybarra to cut ASU’s deficit to five, 9-4, in the bottom of the sixth.
Two walks and two singles by UNLV in the top of the eighth stretched their lead back to seven, 11-4, before ASU responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Consecutive run-scoring doubles, including a RBI off the center-field wall by pinch-hitter Sebastian Zawada and a two-run knock to left field by Snow, brought the Devils within four. Woodmansee was hit by a pitch two batters later to put the tying run on deck, but a ground ball back to the pitcher ended the rally.
Notes: Greer recorded his 13th multi-hit game, second most on the team…Canning recorded two hits for the fourth time in the past seven games.
Up Next
The Devils head to the Bay Area for a three-game Pac-12 set at Stanford. Friday night’s series opener starts 6 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday are slated for 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. All three games will be broadcast on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Tim Healey and Max Rossiter on the call.
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