TEMPE, Ariz. -- Junior right-hander Darin Gillies put together the best outing of his three-year career and the Arizona State baseball team rallied from a two-run deficit in the ninth before dropping the series finale to Washington, 4-3, in 11 innings on Sunday afternoon in front of 2,566 fans at Packard Stadium.
Sophomore left fielder Chris Beall led off the ninth with his first career home run on a 1-1 count, and junior second baseman Drew Stankiewicz walked in the next at-bat, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by redshirt senior pinch hitter Tucker Esmay, advanced to third on a single by sophomore center fielder Johnny Sewald and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Jake Peevyhouse to knot the game at three runs apiece.
The Sun Devil pitching staff had retired 12 straight batters heading into the 11th inning, but Washington second baseman Andrew Ely hit a solo home run on the first pitch of the frame to give the Huskies (12-5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) the series win.
Gillies did not allow an earned run in six innings, which tied his career long, and he matched his season-high with six strikeouts in a no-decision. He conceded four hits and one walk as he permitted just two base runners and held the Huskies scoreless over the final four frames of his outing. This marked Gilliesâ second career start in which he did not allow an earned run dating back to a five-inning stint against USC on April 15, 2012.
The Sun Devils (9-8, 1-2) doubled the Huskies hit total, 10-5, behind a pair of hits from four different batters, including Stankiewicz, who made his first career start at second base in his first game back from injury since Feb. 27.
Sophomore right-hander Eric Melbostad tossed consecutive perfect innings in the seventh and eighth before sophomore right-hander Ryan Burr (1-2) took the mound for the final three innings. Burr set down six straight batters, but surrendered the eventual game-winning home run to Ely to take his second loss of the year.
The Huskies capitalized on a fielding error by the Devils in the first at-bat of the game and scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning on a double and single. ASU countered with four hits in the bottom of the frame, including a two-out RBI single by sophomore catcher RJ Ybarra, to cut its deficit to one, 2-1.
Washington catcher Austin Rei took a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a fielding error by the Devils and scored on a wild pitch to put the Huskies ahead by a pair.
The Devils put the tying run on first base in the bottom of the eighth inning after a leadoff walk by redshirt junior right fielder Trever Allen and a two-out single by sophomore third baseman Dalton DiNatale, but sophomore designated hitter David Graybill struck out looking to end the frame.
Huskies right-hander Trevor Dunlap (1-1) earned the win despite giving up two runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. Starting right-hander Jeff Brigham went five innings and allowed one run on six hits and struck out three in a no-decision.
