TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State scored three runs in the eighth to break open a tie game en route to a 6-3 win over Arizona on Saturday night in front of a season-high 4,304 fans at Packard Stadium.
The Sun Devils (34-16-1, 15-11 Pac-12) used a bases-loaded walk from designated hitter Nate Causey and a two-run single by right fielder Trever Allen to put three runs on the board in the eighth inning and tie the Territorial Cup season series at two games apiece.
Starting left-hander Ryan Kellogg did not allow an earned in 6 2/3 innings but earned a no-decision after a throwing error in the top of the seventh gave Arizona (30-21, 11-15 Pac-12) a run. He threw six shutout frames before the unearned run in the seventh, and he left having allowed six hits to go along with one walk and three strikeouts.
Right-hander Ryan Burr (4-2) earned the win after striking out the side in the ninth and throwing 1 1/3 prefect innings. He took the mound with two outs in the eighth and induced a groundout to strand a runner at second before his three consecutive strikeouts sealed the win.
Allen led the Devils offensively with three hits and three RBI, shortstop Drew Stankiewicz added a pair of hits and center fielder Kasey Coffman scored two runs.
Third baseman Michael Benjamin gave the Devils an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third with a two-out RBI single that plated Coffman, who had taken a two-out walk and then gotten himself into scoring position by stealing second.
Kellogg had retired seven in a row before giving up a leadoff single to start the seventh. Arizona recorded two more singles, the latter of which looked to be good enough to bring in the tying run, but Trent Gilbert slipped on the base paths and left fielder Jake Peevyhouse threw him out at home to preserve the ASU lead. However, a throwing error on Benjamin on a grounder off the bat of catcher Riley Moore in the ensuing at-bat allowed the Wildcats to even the score at 1-1.
Kellogg was removed after issuing a two-out walk in the seventh that loaded the bases, and the Sun Devils summoned left-hander Brett Lilek from the bullpen. Lilek came through, striking out left fielder Cody Ramer looking to end the frame and keep the score tied.
ASU went ahead in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on four consecutive singles to take a 3-1 lead. Causey singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Allen put ASU on top with an RBI single. Stankiewicz followed with a base hit, and first baseman Dalton DiNatale provided the second run of the inning with an RBI single to left field.
Wildcats starter James Farris was removed at that point, having allowed three runs on six hits to go along with seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. He was relieved by left-hander Augey Bill.
Lilek hit the first batter of the eighth inning, and a Johnny Field single to right-center that was booted by Allen allowed Joseph Maggi to score from first, cutting the UA deficit to 3-2. An RBI single by third baseman Brandon Dixon two batters later drove in Field to tie the score at 3-3.
Coffman started the ASU rally in the bottom of the eighth with a single, and second baseman James McDonald followed with a base hit two batters later before a walk to catcher Max Rossiter loaded the bases with one out. Arizona right-hander Matthew Troupe then walked Causey to give ASU a 4-3 lead, and Allen followed with a two-run single to left to score both McDonald and Rossiter.
Bill (4-1), who was replaced by troupe during the inning, took his first
loss of the season after being charged with one run on one hit, that being Coffman's leadoff single.
ASU finished 6 for 9 with runners in scoring position, with Allen going 2 for 2 in those opportunities. Arizona, meanwhile, went 2 for 8 in scoring opportunities and did not record a two-out RBI, stranding five runners on the evening.
The Sun Devils and Wildcats finish their three-game series on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
