TUCSON, Ariz. – Right-handers Jordan Aboites and Eder Erives held No. 20 Arizona scoreless into the eighth inning and Sun Devil Baseball ripped off 12 hits on the way to a 5-1 series-clinching road win on Sunday at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Ariz.
The Sun Devils (31-17, 13-11) picked up their fifth straight series win, including three consecutive Pac-12 series’, and moved to 8-2 in their past 10 games and 9-3 in their past 12 conference games. Arizona State sits two back in the conference standings with six Pac-12 games to play, including a road series at UCLA and a home set with USC.
ASU won the five-game Territorial Cup baseball series 3-2, and improved head coach Tracy Smith’s Territorial Cup record to 6-4, including wins in both Pac-12 series’. The Devils’ extended their advantage in the overall Territorial Cup Series, 11-5-6.5, with two sports are still undecided in the overall series. ASU already clinched its third consecutive Territorial Cup Series Trophy on May 1.
Aboites (5-1), in his first career start in a Pac-12 game, tossed five scoreless innings and ASU scored once in the sixth and four in the seventh to take a 5-0 lead with nine outs to play.
Erives (8) took over in the sixth and conceded just one hit across the final four innings to pick up his second save of the series and eighth of the season. He also tallied a RBI single in his first career at-bat in the seventh inning that sparked ASU’s late offensive outburst.
Aboites retired 10 straight at one point between the first and fourth frames, and allowed just three hits and two walks, and struck out a pair. He finished the day at second base where he added a single, a run scored, three putouts and two assists.
Right fielder Gage Canning went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple, and added a RBI and two runs scored. He drove the first pitch of the game down the right-field line for a leadoff triple, his second of the series, and extended his streak of reaching base safely to a team-high 26 games, tied for the longest streak at ASU since 2010.
Canning broke the scoreless tie in the sixth as he opened the inning with a double, moved to third on a single from first baseman David Greer, and came home a double-play groundout by shortstop Colby Woodmansee.
Erives replaced Aboites with one on and no outs in the sixth, and induced an inning-ending 6-4 double play after a groundout and a walk to keep UA off the board.
Four runs on five hits, including a pair by ASU’s pitchers, pushed the Devils’ lead to five in the seventh inning. Erives’ RBI single on the first pitch in his first career at-bat highlighted a frame that began with consecutive singles from Aboites and third baseman Andrew Snow, included a RBI double from Canning, his third hit of the game, and ended with a two-run single from center fielder Andrew Shaps.
Erives issued back-to-back walks at the start of the eighth, but a lunging stop on the right side of the infield by Aboites, a diving catch by Shaps in center field, and a long run by Snow on a pop fly in foul territory limited the Wildcats to just one run.
Up Next
The Devils hit the road for four games, including a Tuesday midweek non-conference with San Diego and a three-game Pac-12 series with UCLA in Los Angeles. Saturday and Sunday’s games will be televised by Pac-12 Networks and all three conference games will be broadcast on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Tim Healey and Max Rossiter on the call.
Join the conversation all season
Twitter: @ASU_Baseball | Facebook: Sun Devil Baseball | Instagram: ASU_Baseball
Fan Appreciation Celebration
Head Coach Tracy Smith and the Sun Devil Baseball program thank you for joining us this season at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Your support, from our victory against Xavier on Opening Night in February to our consecutive walk-off wins vs. Oregon a couple weeks ago, has been a key part of our success in 2016. Please join Coach Smith and rest of the team at Phoenix Muni after the regular season finale against USC on Sunday, May 29 for our Fan Appreciation Celebration including food, refreshments, a raffle and more in the left-field picnic area.
Flex Plans
This plan gives fans the ultimate flexibility with nine (9) vouchers redeemable for tickets to any home game. Fans can use all nine tickets at one game, or one ticket at nine different games; simply present your voucher to the ticket office whenever you decide to attend. Tickets are at a 46 percent discount and in the Infield Reserved Seating sections. Click here for a direct link to purchase.
Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets for the team’s non-conference slate are on sale now. Call 480-727-0000 or click here for a direct link to purchase.
Transitioning The Legacy Campaign
Season ticket holders also have an opportunity to make a capital campaign commitment towards the Phoenix Muni renovations. All gifts, no matter the size, are important and appreciated, and can be a one-time gift or a five-year pledge. Fans interested in naming opportunities at Phoenix Muni can contact the Sun Devil Club at 480-727-7700. All commitments are tax-deductible through the Sun Devil Club. Join our community and own a piece of our hometown team.