PHOENIX – Sebastian Zawada drove a two-out RBI single into center field in the ninth inning to complete a late rally by Sun Devil Baseball in walk-off fashion in a 4-3 win and a two-game sweep of the double-header against Northwestern on Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Arizona State trailed 3-1 through six innings, but rallied for one run in the seventh and two runs in the ninth to cap the come-from-behind victory. Two ASU relievers combined for five innings of scoreless relief to keep the Sun Devils within striking distance.
ASU trailed, 3-2, heading into the bottom of the ninth and in need of a late rally. On the first pitch of the frame, Gage Canning laced a ball down the left-field line for a leadoff double to get the Devils in business. The next batter, Andrew Snow, would tie the game with an RBI-single, giving him a two-RBI night. Freshman first baseman Lyle Lin advanced the winning run into scoring position with a two-out single, his fourth hit of the day. On the next pitch, senior designated hitter Sebastian Zawada delivered under pressure with a single up the middle, scoring pinch-runner Garvin Alston to give ASU the walk-off victory.
Sophomore right-hander Fitz Stadler got the first call out of the bullpen, relieving starting right-hander Ryan Hingst, who allowed just one hit and no earned runs in his four innings of work. Stadler recorded 2.2 innings pitched, allowing just one hit while striking out a pair. Making his first appearance as a Sun Devil in relief of Stadler, junior right-hander Jake Godfrey earned the victory after limiting Northwestern to just two hits over the final 2.1 innings.
After being held scoreless through four innings, ASU finally erased the zero from the board as junior third baseman Andy Snow drove in sophomore outfielder Gage Canning with a sac fly. The Devils would tack on another run in the seventh, cutting the lead to just one, thanks to a two-out single from junior outfielder Ryan Lillard scoring Snow.
A RBI-groundout by Charlie Maxwell opened the scoring in the game, giving Northwestern 1-0 lead before recording their first base hit. The Wildcats struck for two runs in the top of the third to push their lead to 3-0. The Wildcats would manage just three hits over the final six innings against Sun Devil relief pitching. Godfrey would extinguish the most dangerous threat to extend the Wildcat lead when two runners reached base in the top of the eighth, inducing one of three double plays by the Sun Devil pitching staff.
In his first career start, freshman first baseman Taylor Lane logged two hits, joining fellow freshman Lyle Lin and junior Ryan Lillard in recording a multi-hit game.
Notes: ASU Baseball records its first walk-off victory and first one-run victory of the season… In 2016, the Sun Devils had four walk-off wins, including one courtesy of a Sebastian Zawada single against Eastern Michigan (Mar. 5)… ASU went 12-1 in one-run games in 2016…ASU notched seven wins last season when trailing after six innings…For the second consecutive game, ASU started at least three true freshmen (2B Carter Aldrete, C Lyle Lin, and RF Hunter Bishop), including two who started both games of the double-header (Lyle Lin & Carter Aldrete).
Up Next: The Devils will host the Wildcats in the final game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. With forecasted inclement weather throughout the entire day, the contest could possibly be moved to Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The game - no matter when it is played - will be live streamed through the Pac-12 Networks, available here: http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university
Expected Pitching Matchup
NU LHP Matt Gannon, Fr.
ASU LHP Spencer Van Scoyoc, Fr.
Arizona State trailed 3-1 through six innings, but rallied for one run in the seventh and two runs in the ninth to cap the come-from-behind victory. Two ASU relievers combined for five innings of scoreless relief to keep the Sun Devils within striking distance.
ASU trailed, 3-2, heading into the bottom of the ninth and in need of a late rally. On the first pitch of the frame, Gage Canning laced a ball down the left-field line for a leadoff double to get the Devils in business. The next batter, Andrew Snow, would tie the game with an RBI-single, giving him a two-RBI night. Freshman first baseman Lyle Lin advanced the winning run into scoring position with a two-out single, his fourth hit of the day. On the next pitch, senior designated hitter Sebastian Zawada delivered under pressure with a single up the middle, scoring pinch-runner Garvin Alston to give ASU the walk-off victory.
Sophomore right-hander Fitz Stadler got the first call out of the bullpen, relieving starting right-hander Ryan Hingst, who allowed just one hit and no earned runs in his four innings of work. Stadler recorded 2.2 innings pitched, allowing just one hit while striking out a pair. Making his first appearance as a Sun Devil in relief of Stadler, junior right-hander Jake Godfrey earned the victory after limiting Northwestern to just two hits over the final 2.1 innings.
After being held scoreless through four innings, ASU finally erased the zero from the board as junior third baseman Andy Snow drove in sophomore outfielder Gage Canning with a sac fly. The Devils would tack on another run in the seventh, cutting the lead to just one, thanks to a two-out single from junior outfielder Ryan Lillard scoring Snow.
A RBI-groundout by Charlie Maxwell opened the scoring in the game, giving Northwestern 1-0 lead before recording their first base hit. The Wildcats struck for two runs in the top of the third to push their lead to 3-0. The Wildcats would manage just three hits over the final six innings against Sun Devil relief pitching. Godfrey would extinguish the most dangerous threat to extend the Wildcat lead when two runners reached base in the top of the eighth, inducing one of three double plays by the Sun Devil pitching staff.
In his first career start, freshman first baseman Taylor Lane logged two hits, joining fellow freshman Lyle Lin and junior Ryan Lillard in recording a multi-hit game.
DEVILS WIN DEVILS WIN!!!
— Sun Devil Baseball (@ASU_Baseball) February 18, 2017
.@ZwadsTheDevil will see your tie game and raise you a WALKOFF SINGLE.
FINAL: 4-3 #Devilshttps://t.co/36rNQBStKL
Notes: ASU Baseball records its first walk-off victory and first one-run victory of the season… In 2016, the Sun Devils had four walk-off wins, including one courtesy of a Sebastian Zawada single against Eastern Michigan (Mar. 5)… ASU went 12-1 in one-run games in 2016…ASU notched seven wins last season when trailing after six innings…For the second consecutive game, ASU started at least three true freshmen (2B Carter Aldrete, C Lyle Lin, and RF Hunter Bishop), including two who started both games of the double-header (Lyle Lin & Carter Aldrete).
Up Next: The Devils will host the Wildcats in the final game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. With forecasted inclement weather throughout the entire day, the contest could possibly be moved to Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The game - no matter when it is played - will be live streamed through the Pac-12 Networks, available here: http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university
Expected Pitching Matchup
NU LHP Matt Gannon, Fr.
ASU LHP Spencer Van Scoyoc, Fr.