Pac-12 Standings (through May 7 games)
Washington: 12-8, 26-16
Arizona: 13-10, 30-16 (0.5 GB)
Utah: 11-8, 16-24 (0.5 GB)
Arizona St.: 11-9, 28-15 (1 GB)
USC: 10-10, 21-23 (2 GB)
Oregon St.: 10-10, 29-14 (2 GB)
UCLA: 10-11, 22-22 (2.5 GB)
Stanford: 10-11, 23-19 (2.5 GB)
Oregon: 9-11, 21-19 (3 GB)
California: 11-13, 25-18 (3 GB)
Washington St.: 8-14, 15-25 (5 GB)
PHOENIX – Jordan Aboites delivered a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete another rally by the Sun Devils, and push them to a 9-8 series-clinching victory against Oregon on Saturday night in front of 3,317 fans at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Arizona State trailed the entire game and was down by as many as four runs in the sixth inning, but scored a pair in both the eighth and ninth, including Aboites’ walk-off base hit, to move within one game of first place in the Pac-12 standings.
The Sun Devils (28-15, 11-9) have put themselves in the win column in 11 of their past 14 games, including seven of their past eight Pac-12 Conference contests, and have won each of their past four weekend series.
Oregon held an 8-5 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, but ASU drew consecutive walks to open the frame and infielder David Greer pulled the Devils within one behind a two-run double, his second of the night and Pac-12 leading 19th of the season.
Center fielder Andrew Shaps worked a one-out walk in the ninth to put the tying run on base for the second straight inning, and Ryan Lillard drove a pinch-hit double to right-center field to move both runners into scoring position. Chris Beall, who entered the game one inning prior as pinch runner, hit a ground ball back to the mound in the next at-bat, but Oregon’s pitcher misplayed it to allow Shaps to score the tying run. Aboites followed with his game-winning single two pitches later to mark the Devils’ third straight walk-off win.
Greer tallied a career-high five RBI on three hits, including two doubles, to lead the way at the plate. Four other Devils notched multiple hits, including right fielder Gage Canning, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a RBI and a run scored to extend his streak of reaching base safely to a team-high 21 games.
Freshman right-hander Chris Isbell (1-1) picked up his first career win as he allowed just one run and three base runners, including two hits and a walk, across the final three innings. He put together a perfect ninth inning on 13 pitches to keep ASU’s deficit to one.
Starting left-hander Eli Lingos scattered five hits and was responsible for four runs in 3 1/3 innings. Right-hander James Ryan took over in the fourth and conceded two runs on two hits and two walks in two innings.
The Ducks (21-19, 9-11) struck first with a run in the opening frame on a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt, and put three of its first batters on base before Lingos issued an inning-ending double play.
A full-count walk with two outs extended the third inning and Oregon capitalized with a two-run double for a 3-0 lead. Lingos recorded a flyout and a groundout to begin the frame, but issued a walk with a full count. The next batter drew a four-pitch walk and right fielder Nick Catalano followed with a double down the left-field line.
ASU trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth after another two-out RBI double from UO, but plated three in the frame to pull within one. Aboites led off with a single and Canning was hit by a pitch to set the stage for Greer, who cleared the bases with his Pac-12 leading 18th double of the season. Designated hitter Sebastian Zawada followed two batters later with a run-scoring single to right field to pull the Devils within one, 4-3.
The Ducks matched ASU in the top of the following inning with a three-spot in the sixth and stretched their lead back to four. Catcher Tim Susnara led off with a solo home run and right-hander Ryan Hingst, in his first appearance since April 10, took over for Ryan with one out and a runner on first. UO followed with a single, a walk and a two-run double before the Devils threw out the trail runner at home and Hingst delivered a swinging strikeout to end the frame.
Canning and Greer each drove in a run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth as the Devils closed the gap two a pair, 7-5. Pinch-hitter RJ Ybarra singled and moved to second on a throwing error to chase Oregon starting left-hander David Peterson, and came home on a double from Canning. Greer drove the next pitch through the right side for his third RBI of the night.
UO used a walk, a stolen base and a run-scoring single in the eighth to move back ahead by three, 8-5.
Notes: ASU has double-digit hits in seven of its past 10 games…ASU moved to 11-1 in one-run games this season and 27-9 in one-run games under head coach Tracy Smith.
Up Next
The Devils close out their three-game set with Oregon on Sunday, May 8, at 12:30 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The game will be live streamed via thesundevils.com and broadcast on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Tim Healey and Max Rossiter on the call.
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