LOS ANGELES – Right fielder Gage Canning went 4-for-5 with three RBI and starting right-hander Seth Martinez put together an eight-inning outing to lead Sun Devil Baseball to a 12-4 win against UCLA on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Sun Devils (32-18, 14-11) notched their largest margin of victory against UCLA since 2010 and have won 10 of their past 13 Pac-12 Conference games. They currently sit 1.5 games back in the Pac-12 Conference standings with five to play, including two road games at UCLA and a three-game home set with USC.
The teams exchanged runs in the third and fourth innings, and the Sun Devils held a 4-3 advantage heading to the latter third of the game before they busted the evening open with a six-run top of the seventh.
Canning and center fielder Andrew Shaps combined to drive in six runs on six hits, including four doubles, and scored three runs to pace ASU’s offense, which tallied 14 hits. Catcher Brian Serven added three RBI on two hits, including a two-run homer, and shortstop Colby Woodmansee contributed with a pair of hits, a RBI and two runs scored.
Martinez (9-3) struck out eight, his career-high in a Pac-12 outing, and allowed three runs on six hits across eight innings to notch his conference-leading ninth win of the season. He has gone at least eight innings in five starts this year and 12 of his 14 starts have qualified as quality starts.
Martinez delivered a pair of swinging strikeouts with one out and the bases loaded in the first inning to escape an early jam, and left a runner on third in both the fourth and sixth innings to keep ASU’s one-run lead intact as he stranded a total of nine runners on base.
ASU manufactured a run in the top of the third as Snow led off with a double down the right-field line and came home on a pair of sacrifices, including a bunt from pinch-hitter Zach Cerbo and a fly ball from second baseman Jordan Aboites.
UCLA designated hitter Eric Filia tied it up in the bottom of the third with a two-out solo home run to right field.
Three consecutive extra-base hits in the fourth inning put ASU back on top, 4-1. Woodmansee’s 14th double of the season began the Devils’ three-run inning, Shaps followed with a RBI double, and Serven deposited the next pitch over the wall in left field to cap the frame.
The Bruins (24-27, 11-14) responded once again with a pair of runs on a walk and two doubles in the bottom of the fourth to cut ASU’s lead to one, 4-3.
ASU sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run seventh inning that stretched its lead to seven. A walk, an infield single and a hit batter loaded the bases for Canning, who cleared them with a three-run double. His third hit of the game prompted a pitching change by the Bruins and the Devils jumped on the reliever with consecutive singles, including a run-scoring base hit from Woodmansee and two-run double from Shaps.
Canning and Greer opened the ninth with a single and walk, respectively, and each advanced a base on a groundout from Woodmansee before a RBI single from left fielder Daniel Williams and a sacrifice fly by Serven plated them both.
Freshmen right-hander Chris Isbell and left-hander Connor Higgins combined to close out the ninth inning.
Notes: Canning opened the game with an infield single to extend his streak of reaching base safely to a team-high 28 games, the longest streak at ASU since 2010…in the past 25 games Canning has 34 hits, 20 runs scored, 15 RBI, five doubles, four triples and two home runs.
Up Next
The Devils take on UCLA for game two of their three-game set in Los Angeles on Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will be televised by Pac-12 Networks and 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.