No. 24 baseball falls to No. 4 UCLA, 12-10 in extra innings

Freshman Dalton DiNatale sent the game to extra innings with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, but the 24th-ranked Arizona State University baseball team fell to No. 4 UCLA, 12-10, in 10 innings in the series finale, March 30 at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

The Sun Devils (15-8-1, 4-5) tied a season high with 19 hits, including six extra-base knocks, as eight different players recorded multiple hits in the game. Second basemanJames McDonald led the way with three RBI, and right fielder Kasey Coffman went three-for-six with two runs scored.

ASU took the lead in the fourth and fifth innings, but could not hold on as they allowed two runs in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the 10th.

Shortstop Drew Stankiewicz singled with one out in the ninth inning to bring the tying run to the plate, and following a flyout by designated hitter Nate Causey, DiNatale hit a two-run homer with two outs to push the game into the 10th inning.

DiNatale's home run broke up a streak of 19 consecutive scoreless innings by UCLA right-handed reliever David Berg (3-0), who earned the win after allowing two runs on five hits over the final four innings.

The Bruins (18-6, 6-3) began the 10th with a single and a hit batter by right-hander Eric Melbostad, and used a two-run single off right-hander Ryan Burr to take the final lead, 12-10. Melbostad (0-1) took his first career loss after surrendering two runs on a hit in 2/3 innings.

UCLA jumped out to a two-run lead in the first inning after starting left-hander Adam McCreery walked two, hit a batter and allowed a single against the first four batters he faced, but the Devils responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the game, 2-2.

UCLA third baseman Kevin Kramer appeared to make the final out in the second inning, but a balk by right-handerMark Lambson brought him back to the plate and he hit three-run homer on the next pitch to cap off a four-run inning and push the Bruins to a 6-2 advantage.

The Devils strung together seven straight hits to start the third inning and again tied the game, 6-6.

Third baseman Michael Benjamin gave ASU its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth after he tripled and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by catcher Max Rossiter.

The teams traded runs in the fifth inning before the Bruins took a three-run advantage into the ninth inning.

McCreery gave up two runs on a hit and a pair of walks as the Devils used eight different pitchers over the course of the game. Right-hander Billy Young did not allow an earned run and struck out three in three innings.

UCLA starting left-hander Grant Watson conceded six runs on nine hits in 2 1/1 innings.

Up Next:
The Sun Devils travel to Kansas to take on Wichita State for a pair of midweek non-conference tilts on April 2 and 3 before returning to Tempe to host No. 11 Oregon for a three-game series April 5-7 at Packard Stadium. First pitch on Friday and Saturday is at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday's game will begin at 12:30 p.m. All three conference games can be heard on The Fan AM 1060 or through the All-Access player on thesundevils.com, while the games on April 5 and 7 will be live streamed through Pac-12.com/live/thesundevils.

Game Notes:
Head coach Tim Esmay moved to 40-30 against ranked teams ...ASU improved to 114-67 all-time against the Bruins, including 7-5 under coach Esmay...ASU's 10 runs and 19 hits are the most in a conference game this season...ASU's 10 walks tied a season high.