FORT WORTH, Texas – Three seniors took their final at-bats in Maroon and Gold in succession in the eighth inning, an embodiment of the selfless attitude and family atmosphere cultivated in the program under second-year head coach Tracy Smith.
The Sun Devils advanced to a regional final for the first time since 2013, their 36 wins were the most in the past three years, and they finished tied for third in the Pac-12.
A three-run second inning and a four-run eighth inning bookended the final game of the 2016 season for No. 2 seed Sun Devil Baseball, which to fell to No. 1 seed TCU, 8-1, on Sunday night in the Fort Worth Regional Final at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
Three Arizona State student-athletes earned Fort Worth All-Region honors, including unanimous catcher Brian Serven, right-handed pitcher and second baseman Jordan Aboites, who picked up all-region recognition as both a pitcher and utility player, and center fielder Andrew Shaps. Serven finished the weekend with six hits, including three doubles and a home run, five RBI and three runs scored in four games.
Starting right-hander Eder Erives (6-3) took the loss in his third career start, including his first in the postseason and first since April 9. He conceded seven hits and six walks, but allowed just four runs as he stranded eight base runners across his seven-inning outing.
A leadoff walk to open the second inning and a bloop double that landed just inches to the left of the right-field foul line set the stage for the Horned Frogs’ three-run frame. Erives induced a groundout to the next batter, but followed with a walk to load the bases and TCU capitalized. They plated the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field, and added a fly ball that found grass in shallow right field for a RBI and a slow chopper up the middle turned into a run-scoring single.
First baseman David Greer put the Devils on the board in the bottom of the third with a RBI single through the left side, his team-high 77th hit of the season. Third baseman Andrew Snow and second baseman Jordan Aboites knocked back-to-back singles to start the frame and Greer followed two batters later with his base hit.
The Horned Frogs extended their lead back to three, 4-1, in the seventh. Designated hitter Luken Baker doubled with one out and left fielder Josh Watson brought him home with a two-out hit to right field, but ASU right fielder Gage Canning quickly moved the ball back toward the infield and second baseman Jordan Aboites turned an impressive relay to get Watson out at third and end the inning.
A four-run eighth inning, capped by a two-run homer from second baseman Cam Warner, pushed TCU’s advantage to seven. Right-hander Seth Martinez, who started Friday’s regional opener, took over to start the eighth and the Horned Frogs used three singles and a home run to score three runs and chase Martinez. Left-hander Reagan Todd replaced him and conceded a pair of singles before a fielder’s choice groundout ended the frame.
Notes: Colby Woodmansee became the first shortstop in school history to lead the team in RBI in consecutive seasons...Greer led the team in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, extra-base hits, total bases and walks.
FORT WORTH REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, June 3, 2016
Game 1: No. 3 Gonzaga 5, No. 2 Arizona State 1
Game 2: No. 1 TCU 7, No. 4 Oral Roberts 0
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Game 3: No. 2 Arizona State 4, No. 4 Oral Roberts 1
Game 4: No. 1 TCU 4, No. 3 Gonzaga 3
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Game 5: No. 2 Arizona State 6, No. 3 Gonzaga 3
Game 6: No. 1 TCU 8, No. 2 Arizona State 1
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