PHOENIX, Ariz.—Jordan Aboites' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth gave No. 9 Arizona State a 5-4 victory over CSU Bakersfield in the first game of the Phoenix Muni Classic Thursday night.

"Despite losing in the bottom of the ninth, this was our best effort of the entire season, giving the level of competition," said CSUB head coach Bill Kernen.

Trevor Allen opened the the ninth with a double for the Sun Devils. Pinch-hitter Joey Bielek was intentionally walked.  Brian Serven was schedule to bat, but he was lifted in favor of David Greer.  CSUB reliever Alec Daily (So., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) was called for a balk which advanced the runners. Greer was intentionally walked to load the bases setting the stage for Aboites' game winning hit.

The Sun Devils (5-3) loaded the bases in the bottom of the first and took the lead when Christopher Beall's single plated two runs. With one out in the top of the second, Arizona native Ryan Grotjohn (So., Cave Creek, Brophy College Prep) triple. One batter later, he scored on a Chance Gusbeth (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) double.

ASU struck again in the third when RJ Ybarra recorded a sacrifice fly that scored Jake Peevyhouse. Ybarra's ball could have done more damage, but Gusbeth, the CSUB right fielder, made a spectacular over the head catch that got the out.  Dalton DiNatale homered down the right field line in the top of the fourth to increase the ASU advantage.

Arizona State starter Seth Martinez struck out nine as he allowed four hits in seven innings.  He retired the final seven 'Runners he faced and did not walk a batter before giving way to Eder Erives to begin the eighth. CSUB (3-5) took advantage as Max Carter (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) reached on an error to open the frame. Garrett Pierce (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) walked to push pinch-runner Drew Seelman (Fr., Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) to second. Jordie Hein (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) was hit by an Erives' pitch to load the bases.

Aboites, who started the game at second base, came on in relief. David Metzgar (So., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) smacked a two-RBI single to bring the Roadrunners to within one. Aboites went up 0-2 in the count on Mylz Jones (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS), but after a ball went into the dirt, Aboites was pulled in favor of closer Ryan Burr.

Burr got Jones to fly out to center, but Hein tagged and advanced to third. Joey Sanchez (So., Pico Rivera, Calif., El Rancho HS), CSUB's leading hitter beginning the night, pinch-hit for Soloman Williams (Sr., Long Beach, Calif., Golden West College).  Metzgar stole second to put the go-ahead run into scoring position. Sanchez grounded out to second, but Hein scored on the play to tie the score Metzgar moved to third. Burr struck out Grotjohn to end the inning.

CSUB starter Hayden Carter (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Vista HS) scattered eight hits in seven innings before being relieved by Daily in the bottom of the eighth. Daily got the first two outs before walking Burr who was batting for the first time in his career. Daily struck out Beall to conclude the eighth.

Pinch-hitter Christian Deaton (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Frontier HS) earned a two-out single in the top of the ninth, but Burr struck out a second pitch-hitter, Nick Vehlewald (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Garces HS) for the final out.

Colby Woodmansee was the only Sun Devil player with multiple hits (2-4). The four ASU pitchers combined for a six-hitter.

"We came back after the being down early and Carter took control of the game to give us a chance to tie it in the eighth," Kernen said. "I was very proud of the team effort."

CSUB continues play at the Phoenix Muni Classic on Friday with a pair of games. Game one against Gonzaga is set for 10 a.m. (MST) with a rematch against ASU set for 2 p.m. (MST). The Roadrunners return home Mar. 6 to begin a three-game series against Wagner College. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~