ASU's comeback falls short as Oregon sweeps

Published Apr. 1, 2012 6:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

The 14th-ranked Arizona State baseball team rallied for two runs in the ninth inning and had the bases loaded but couldn't finish off its comeback, dropping the final game of its three-game series with No. 23 Oregon 4-3.

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 had each singled to reach base. Deven Marrero had singled earlier in the inning and Abe Ruiz walked in the ensuing at-bat to load the bases with two outs, but Nathaniel Causey struck out looking to end the rally and the game.

ASU right-hander Darin Gillies (0-3) gave up one run on four hits in four innings and took the loss. 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.

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

The Ducks tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run double.

ASU's 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, cutting the Devils' deficit to 3-1.

Oregon added a run in the eighth inning on an RBI single off ASU reliever Joseph Lopez to extend its advantage to 4-1.

Ducks right-hander Brando Tessar (4-0) earned the win, allowing no runs and just two hits in 6 1/3 innings.

ASU 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. Ravago pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings with one strikeout.

The Sun Devils are now 2-6 this season against top-25 teams. They hadn't been swept in a Pac-12 series since April 8-10, 2011, in a three-game set against Oregon State.