PHOENIX – Chaz Montoya provided 3.1 brilliant innings of relief while the Sun Devil Baseball offense chipped away to erase a 5-0 deficit, capping things off with a game-ending fielder's choice that scored the game-winning run to give ASU a walk-off win over Long Beach State, 7-6, Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 10 innings.
The first three batters in the bottom of the 10th reached base to load the bases for catcher Sam Ferri with no outs. With the infield in, Ferri smoked a groundball at the Dirtbags' second baseman, who made an errant throw home that let outfielder Ryan Lillard score from third and give the Devils their second walk-off victory of the season.
The Devils (7-7) scored a run in each of the final four innings to force the game into extra innings after giving up a five-spot in the first inning. With the Sun Devils down to their final out, outfielder Andrew Shaps delivered a clutch two-run home run on the first pitch he saw to tie the game at six – the perfect time for ASU's first home run with a runner on base this season.
Left-handed reliever Chaz Montoya got the call out of the bullpen in the seventh inning with ASU trailing 6-3. Montoya proceeded to settle in quickly, finding a groove and allowed just one baserunner (via walk) over 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball to earn his first career win as a Devil.
Starting left-hander Eli Lingos got off to an inauspicious start in the effort, succumbing to some tough luck on infield singles. After allowing five runs in the first inning, Lingos returned to his usual form. Lingos kept the Sun Devil offense within striking distance by not allowing an earned run over the final five innings of his outing, striking out four and walking just one.
Long Beach State (6-6) starting right-hander Darren McCaughan, the 2016 Big West Pitcher of the Year, managed to contain the Sun Devil offense through four shutout innings.
Trailing 5-0 in the fifth, the Devils would get on the board in a big way, as outfielder Hunter Bishop brought the Muni crowd to their feet with a deep blast well over the right field fence. ASU tacked on another run in the fifth thanks to outfielder Gage Canning scoring infielder Jeremy McCuin with a sac-fly to cut the Dirtbag lead to 5-2.
Long Beach State added another run to their lead in the top half of the sixth, an unearned run that would end Lingos' night. ASU was held scoreless in the in the bottom half of the sixth keeping the score at 6-2, the final time the Dirtbags pitching staff would prevent the Sun Devil offense from scoring in an inning.
Pinch-hitter Andrew Snow drove in Jeremy McCuin with an RBI-groundout in the seventh to chase McCaughan. McCaughan would not factor in the decision, going 6.1 innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out six.
The following inning, infielder Carter Aldrete drilled an opposite field double into right center to score Ryan Lillard from first to cut the deficit to two runs heading into the dramatic ninth inning.
Andrew Shaps stepped to the plate representing the tying run with the game on the line and the Devils down to their last out. Shaps launched a first pitch fastball from Long Beach State reliever Josh Advocate over the right-field fence, causing the bench along with the 2,766 Sun Devil faithful in attendance to erupt.
A shutdown inning from Chaz Montoya gave the ASU offense an opportunity for a walk-off. Freshman backstop Sam Ferri came up big, putting the ball in play and forcing the drawn-in infield into a mistake.
Up Next: The Devils and the Dirtbags return to the diamond on Saturday, March 10 at 3 p.m. for Game Two of the series, scheduled to be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks.
Notes: Left-hander Chaz Montoya did not allow a hit while setting career-highs with 3.1 innings pitched and five strikeouts…The fifth-inning blast was Hunter Bishop's first career home run… The three hits tonight from Gage Canning already gives him his third 3+ game of the season…Canning had just four 3+ hit games all of last year…Last season, the Sun Devils finished with a 6-1 record in extra-inning games… Picking up the 10-inning win gives the Sun Devils their first victory in extra frames this season…Andrew Shaps ninth-inning home run was the first Sun Devil home run to come with two-outs...Andrew Shaps extended his hit streak to six games and has now reached base in all nine of the games he has played this season…Shaps had two home runs in his career prior to 2017, and now has two in nine games this season….Jeremy McCuin extended his hitting streak to five games…Sam Ferri has reached base in every game he has recorded an at-bat in this year…Senior catcher Zach Cerbo had two hits tonight and also made his first career appearance at second base.
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2017 Season Tickets
Sun Devil Baseball season tickets are on sale now, and fans can purchase by calling 480-965-5812 or click here for more information and to purchase
5-Game Mini Plans
This plan allows fans to choose five (5) games in the 2017 season to create their own customized schedule. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Flex Plans
This plan gives fans the ultimate flexibility with eight (8) 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 20-33 percent discount and in the Infield Reserved Seating sections. Click here for more information and 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 more information and to purchase.
The first three batters in the bottom of the 10th reached base to load the bases for catcher Sam Ferri with no outs. With the infield in, Ferri smoked a groundball at the Dirtbags' second baseman, who made an errant throw home that let outfielder Ryan Lillard score from third and give the Devils their second walk-off victory of the season.
The Devils (7-7) scored a run in each of the final four innings to force the game into extra innings after giving up a five-spot in the first inning. With the Sun Devils down to their final out, outfielder Andrew Shaps delivered a clutch two-run home run on the first pitch he saw to tie the game at six – the perfect time for ASU's first home run with a runner on base this season.
Left-handed reliever Chaz Montoya got the call out of the bullpen in the seventh inning with ASU trailing 6-3. Montoya proceeded to settle in quickly, finding a groove and allowed just one baserunner (via walk) over 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball to earn his first career win as a Devil.
Starting left-hander Eli Lingos got off to an inauspicious start in the effort, succumbing to some tough luck on infield singles. After allowing five runs in the first inning, Lingos returned to his usual form. Lingos kept the Sun Devil offense within striking distance by not allowing an earned run over the final five innings of his outing, striking out four and walking just one.
Long Beach State (6-6) starting right-hander Darren McCaughan, the 2016 Big West Pitcher of the Year, managed to contain the Sun Devil offense through four shutout innings.
Trailing 5-0 in the fifth, the Devils would get on the board in a big way, as outfielder Hunter Bishop brought the Muni crowd to their feet with a deep blast well over the right field fence. ASU tacked on another run in the fifth thanks to outfielder Gage Canning scoring infielder Jeremy McCuin with a sac-fly to cut the Dirtbag lead to 5-2.
Long Beach State added another run to their lead in the top half of the sixth, an unearned run that would end Lingos' night. ASU was held scoreless in the in the bottom half of the sixth keeping the score at 6-2, the final time the Dirtbags pitching staff would prevent the Sun Devil offense from scoring in an inning.
Pinch-hitter Andrew Snow drove in Jeremy McCuin with an RBI-groundout in the seventh to chase McCaughan. McCaughan would not factor in the decision, going 6.1 innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out six.
The following inning, infielder Carter Aldrete drilled an opposite field double into right center to score Ryan Lillard from first to cut the deficit to two runs heading into the dramatic ninth inning.
Andrew Shaps stepped to the plate representing the tying run with the game on the line and the Devils down to their last out. Shaps launched a first pitch fastball from Long Beach State reliever Josh Advocate over the right-field fence, causing the bench along with the 2,766 Sun Devil faithful in attendance to erupt.
A shutdown inning from Chaz Montoya gave the ASU offense an opportunity for a walk-off. Freshman backstop Sam Ferri came up big, putting the ball in play and forcing the drawn-in infield into a mistake.
Up Next: The Devils and the Dirtbags return to the diamond on Saturday, March 10 at 3 p.m. for Game Two of the series, scheduled to be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks.
Notes: Left-hander Chaz Montoya did not allow a hit while setting career-highs with 3.1 innings pitched and five strikeouts…The fifth-inning blast was Hunter Bishop's first career home run… The three hits tonight from Gage Canning already gives him his third 3+ game of the season…Canning had just four 3+ hit games all of last year…Last season, the Sun Devils finished with a 6-1 record in extra-inning games… Picking up the 10-inning win gives the Sun Devils their first victory in extra frames this season…Andrew Shaps ninth-inning home run was the first Sun Devil home run to come with two-outs...Andrew Shaps extended his hit streak to six games and has now reached base in all nine of the games he has played this season…Shaps had two home runs in his career prior to 2017, and now has two in nine games this season….Jeremy McCuin extended his hitting streak to five games…Sam Ferri has reached base in every game he has recorded an at-bat in this year…Senior catcher Zach Cerbo had two hits tonight and also made his first career appearance at second base.
Join the conversation all season
Twitter: @ASU_Baseball | Facebook: Sun Devil Baseball | Instagram: ASU_Baseball
2017 Season Tickets
Sun Devil Baseball season tickets are on sale now, and fans can purchase by calling 480-965-5812 or click here for more information and to purchase
5-Game Mini Plans
This plan allows fans to choose five (5) games in the 2017 season to create their own customized schedule. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Flex Plans
This plan gives fans the ultimate flexibility with eight (8) 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 20-33 percent discount and in the Infield Reserved Seating sections. Click here for more information and 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 more information and to purchase.