PHOENIX – Sun Devil Baseball jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 9-5 series-opening win against New Mexico on Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils (24-15) scored six runs in the first two innings and starting right-hander Seth Martinez hindered the Lobos (30-14), who entered the non-conference series in first place in the Mountain West and among the nation’s top offensive teams.
Martinez notched his 10th quality start of the season as he allowed just two hits and no earned runs, and struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings. He issued a walk to the leadoff batter in the first inning before he retired seven straight on five strikeouts, and took a no-hitter into the fifth inning for the third time this season. He lowered his ERA to 1.59 and pushed his strikeout total to 67 in his fourth start this season that he did not allow an earned run.
Shortstop Colby Woodmansee drove in three runs for his team-high 11th multi-RBI game of the year, and first baseman David Greer recorded a pair of doubles to raise his season total to a team-best 14 to highlight an Arizona State offense that picked up 12 hits, including seven for extra bases.
It took the Devils three batters to plate their first run of the game as second baseman Andrew Snow began the opening frame with a walk, moved to third on a double from Greer and scored on a sacrifice fly by Woodmansee. They added a run on a balk in the next at-bat for a quick 2-0 lead.
Three consecutive run-scoring doubles capped a four-run second inning for the Devils and staked the home team an early 6-0 lead. Left fielder Daniel Williams led off with a triple, the first of his career, and came home on a RBI groundout from third baseman Jeremy McCuin. Right fielder Gage Canning added a base hit and took second on a wild pitch before Snow, Greer and Woodmansee tallied back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles.
A dropped fly ball in left field by Williams followed by a pair of outs that advanced the runner led to an unearned run and broke up Martinez’s shutout in the top of the fourth inning. The Lobos added another run in the fifth on a leadoff double, their first hit of the game, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly.
Canning made a diving catch in right-center field for the final out of the sixth inning and scored the Devils’ seventh run of the game in the bottom half of the frame via a triple and a throwing error by the Lobos on a ground ball from Snow. Woodmansee added to the Devils’ lead, 8-2, with a RBI single two batters later.
Pinch-hitter RJ Ybarra opened the seventh with a double to center field and Williams pushed ASU’s advantage to seven, 9-2, with a run-scoring base hit two batters later.
Left-hander Tucker Baca took over with two outs and a runner on first in the top of the seventh, and used just one pitch to end the inning. Right-handed seniors Jordan Aboites and Eric Melbostad closed out the final two innings despite New Mexico scoring three runs in the ninth on three hits, including a triple, a walk, a hit batter, and a throwing error.
Up Next
The Devils continue their three-game non-conference set with New Mexico on Saturday, April 30. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Tim Healey and Max Rossiter on the call, and streamed live via thesundevils.com.
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