April 1, 2012

EUGENE, Ore. - The 14th-ranked Arizona State baseball team rallied for two runs in the ninth inning and had a chance to take the lead with the bases loaded, but lost the final game of its three-game series with No. 23 Oregon, 4-3, at PK Park in Eugene, Ore.

Joey DeMichele hit a two-run single in the ninth to bring the Devils (16-12, 3-6) within one, scoring Drew Stankiewicz and Kasey Coffman, who each singled to reach base. Deven Marrero singled earlier in the inning and Abe Ruiz walked in the next at-bat to load the bases with two outs, but Nathaniel Causey struck out looking to end the Devils' rally.

Right-hander Darin Gillies (0-3) gave up one run on four hits in four innings in the loss and twice was able to get out of jams. Oregon put runners on second and third with one out in the second inning, but Gillies induced a groundout and a flyout to escape the frame. The Ducks threatened again in the fourth frame after a two-out triple, but Gillies was able to get the next batter to ground out to end the Ducks' chances.

The Ducks (18-8, 6-3) scored first with an RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning to take the early lead, 1-0.

Oregon tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run double following a walk to the leadoff hitter and a single by the shortstop.

Andrew Aplin continued his nine-game hitting streak with an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning. Coffman scored from second on the play after driving a double down the right-field line two batters earlier.

UO added a run in the eighth inning on an RBI single off right-handed reliever Joseph Lopez to extend its advantage, 4-1.

Oregon right-hander Brando Tessar (4-0) earned the win after allowing no runs on two hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Right-hander Alex Blackford gave up both runs in the fifth inning on two hits and a walk before being replaced by right-hander Robert Ravago with one out remaining in the frame. Ravago pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings with one strikeout.

The Sun Devils return to Tempe, Ariz., for a three-game series with Oregon State Thursday-Saturday. Game one on Thursday, which is being broadcast on a tape delay by Fox Sports Arizona, is set for a 6:30 p.m. start. The Cory Hahn Fund 50/50 raffle, with ASU's portion of the raffle going to Cory's fund, will continue on Friday's game, slated for a 6:30 p.m. start. First pitch for Saturday's contest will be at 12:30 p.m. All three games will be on KDUS The Fan Am 1060 with Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens on the call, while Friday and Saturday's games will also be streamed live on FoxSportsArizona.com.

Game Notes: The Sun Devils are now 2-6 this season against top-25 teams (1-2 vs. UCLA, 1-1 vs. CS Fullerton, 0-3 vs. Oregon)...the last time ASU was swept in a Pac-12 series was against Oregon State on April 8-10, 2011.