Photo courtesy Sun Devil Athletics
Arizona State Continues Cardiac Ways In Win
EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 13 Arizona State Sun Devils (14-6) pull out another late-inning win with a 7-6 victory over the No. 24 Oregon Ducks (14-7) in 10 innings to open their series Friday night at PK Park. Sophomore David Greer (3B) led off the 10th getting hit by a pitch and would score the game-winning run on a misplayed fly ball off the bat of center fielder Johnny Sewald (Jr.).
The Sun Devils continue to be special late in the game with half their wins and losses coming in one-run games. This time Arizona State got some help from a fielding error by Ducks junior Scott Heineman which happened to be his first on the season.
Cardiac wins seem to be the hallmark of a Sun Devil squad that is pushing its way toward the Top 10 and sits atop the Pac 12 baseball standings at 3-1. Two of their three conference wins and their lone conference loss were of the one run variety, losing their Pac 12 opener 1-0 before rallying for late wins against Oregon State 4-3 in game two last weekend and Oregon last night..
Oregon put a four-spot up in the third inning after opening with a pair of walks and an RBI single to center by senior catcher Shaun Chase. Gritty Brandon Cuddy (Jr., 1B) would reach base on a sac bunt aided by an error by Sun Devil second baseman Andrew Snow (Fr.), which was also his first of the year, scoring Mitchell Tolman (Jr., 2B) for a 2-0 advantage.
Heineman then plated Chase with a bunt single before a double down the left field line by sophomore Austin Grebeck (LF) drove in Cuddy to put the Ducks on top 4-0.
Arizona State would respond with a big inning of their own, scoring five in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. Senior outfielders Jake Peevyhouse and Trevor Allen each struck RBI singles to left field, junior catcher RJ Ybarra scored on a balk, and Greer slapped a two-run single through the left side in the rally that captured the lead.
However, Cuddy would strike again with a solo homer in the seventh, his third on the year, and junior Phil Craig-St. Luis drew an RBI walk in the eighth to tie the game at 6.
After Arizona State took the lead in the 10th, junior righty Eric Melbostad tossed a perfect frame to get his first save as usual closer Ryan Burr (Jr., RHP) got the win (4-0) on two scoreless innings of work with five strikeouts.
No. 7 UCLA 14, Utah 2
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Junior shortstop Kevin Kramer paced the No. 7 UCLA Bruins (15-5) with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, scoring twice and driving in another, as the Bruins blasted the Utah Utes (7-13) by the score of 14-2. Bruins ace James Kaprielian (Jr., RHP) allowed an unearned run over 6.1 innings to improve to 5-1 on the year while striking out seven. Sophomore Brett Stephens (DH) and junior Ty Moore (LF) each added three hits while junior second baseman Trent Chatterton scored three and drove in three more in the offensive explosion.
Cal Poly 5, No. 10 USC 4
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Junior Mark Mathias’ two-run single to the gap keyed a five-run sixth for the Cal Poly Mustangs (7-11) that proved to be more than the No. 4 USC Trojans (17-5) could overcome as the Mustangs get the 5-4 upset to open their series at Baggett Stadium on Friday. Junior right-hander Casey Bloomquist got his first win of the season (1-2) allowing four runs, two earned over six innings for the Mustangs.
No. 21 California 3, Washington 2
SEATTLE, Wash. – Sophomore Lucas Erceg (3B) smacked his fourth homer of the season in the eighth inning to lift the No. 21 California Bears (16-5) to a 3-2 win over the Washington Huskies (13-8) at Husky Ballpark on Friday night. Senior relievers shut down the Huskyes over the final three frames as southpaw Chris Muse-Fisher improved to 2-1 tossing a scoreless seventh and eighth inning and righty Dylan Nelson grabbed his third save of the year with a scoreless ninth for the Bears.
Arizona 6, Stanford 5
STANFORD, Calif. – Sophomore Michael Hoard slapped a two-run triple down the right field line as the Arizona Wildcats (17-6) held off a late Stanford Cardinal (9-9) rally for a 6-5 win on Friday night at Sunken Diamond. Closer Bobby Dalbec sat down the final two Cardinal hitters to earn his third save of on the season.
Oregon State 5, Washington State 2
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Andrew Moore struck out 10 over 8.2 innings of work as the Oregon State Beavers (16-5) downed the Washington State Cougars (12-9) by a 5-2 final at Goss Stadium on Friday. Moore improved to 2-0 while allowing two earned runs on six hits and a walk while sensational freshman KJ Harrison hit his seventh dinger on the year which was the Beavers 22nd on the year, they hit only 21 all of last season.
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