ASU Baseball: Sun Devils battle and top Ducks on Jordan Aboites' single in the 9th

There is just no quit in the Arizona State Sun Devils. Following Friday night's come from behind victory in 12 innings, the Sun Devils found themselves trailing by four runs on two separate occasions Saturday night against the Oregon Ducks.

Each time ASU would pull closer, the Ducks would answer with the exception of the ninth and final inning, when the Sun Devils scored twice to take the game and the series against the Ducks in front of 3,317 fans at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Here is what you need to know from Saturday's thriller.

WP: Chris Isbell (3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)

LP: Brac Warren (0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)

Scoring

1st

UO - A.J. Balta RBI single scoring Austin Grebeck (1-0, UO)

3rd

UO - Nick Catalano 2-RBI double scoring Balta and Jake Bennett (3-0, UO)

4th

UO - Kyle Kasser RBI double scoring Tim Susnara (4-0, UO)

5th

ASU - David Greer 2-RBI double scoring Gage Canning and Jordan Aboites (4-2, UO)

ASU - Sebastian Zawada RBI single scoring Greer (4-3, UO)

6th

UO - Susnara solo home run (5-3, UO)

UO - Bennett 2-RBI double scoring Grebeck and Kasser (7-3, UO)

ASU - Canning RBI double scoring RJ Ybarra (7-4, UO)

ASU - Greer RBI single scoring Canning (7-5, UO)

8th

UO - Kasser RBI single scoring Grecek (8-5, UO)

ASU - Greer 2-RBI double scoring Chris Beall and Aboites (8-7, UO)

9th

ASU - Beall RBI ground out scoring Andrew Shaps (8-8)

ASU - Aboites game-winning single scoring Ryan Lillard (9-8, ASU)

Player of the Game - David Greer

The junior infielder powered the Sun Devil offense Saturday night to the tune of three hits and five runs batted in. Greer hit two-RBI doubles in the fifth and eighth innings to keep Arizona State in the contest when it looked as if the Ducks were going to pull away.

If that wasn't enough, Greer moved across the diamond from first base to third base in the fourth inning when Jeremy McCuin was pitch-hit for.

Other Standouts

ASU - Gage Canning: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, BB

ASU - Jordan Aboites: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB (Game-Winning Hit)

ASU - Sebastian Zawada: 2-5 RBI

UO - Austin Grebeck: 1-3, 3 R, 2 BB

UO - Kyle Kasser: 3-4, R, 2 RBI

UO - Jake Bennett: 2-3, R, 2 RBI

Key Moment

The Sun Devils had battled all night. They fell behind 4-0 before scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth to claw within one. After the Ducks put up three in the top of the sixth, ASU responded with two in the bottom half to pull within 7-5. David Greer's double in the eighth brought them within one with three outs to play.

After Brian Serven struck out to begin the ninth, Andrew Shaps, who was 0-4 coming into the at-bat, worked a one-out walk. Ryan Lillard, pitch-hitting for Daniel Williams, lined a double to right centerfield allowing Shaps to reach third and placing the winning run at second.

With the infield in and one-out, Chris Beall tapped a ball back to the pitcher that was bobbled by Oregon reliever Brac Warren allowing Shaps to score.

Two pitches later, with two outs and a runner on third, Aboites shot a ground ball into left field to give ASU the victory.

"I got two sliders, first pitch I was a little too excited and I didn't see it out of his hand very well," Aboites said. "I took a step back and told myself to relax. I looked so bad on the first slider I figured he was going to throw me another one. I knew I had to stay back a little longer and luckily got enough of it to punch it through."

Storylines

Chris Isbell's Performance

With Eder Erives throwing four innings Friday night and having already used James Ryan for two innings earlier in the game, Tracy Smith needed some innings.

Right hander Chris Isbell entered the game in the seventh inning with the Ducks leading 7-5. The freshman kept ASU in the ball game and saved the bullpen for Sunday as he tossed three innings, allowing just one run on two hits.

"I think it was really critical," said Smith of Isbell's outing. "We were in a position where we didn't want to go to Eder if we didn't have to. He held us in there and gave us a chance. I thought that was one of the biggest things tonight. He did is job."

Gage Canning

With Andrew Shaps still nursing an injury, the Sun Devils have found (for now) a new leadoff hitter. Freshman Gage Canning went 2-3 and scored two runs Saturday night, reaching base in four of his five at-bats.

"I think Gage is more your prototypical leadoff (guy), physically and tools wise," Smith said. "When we get Andy back I don't know what we will do with that. I think his (Canning) speed and athleticism is starting to show up. He's now a threat offensively to where he hits a ball to the right of the shortstop he has a chance to beat it out."

Canning has reached base safely in 21 consecutive games this season.

What's Next

The Sun Devils will look for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon as Zach Dixon takes the mound for ASU. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.