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Sebastian Zawada walk-off pushes ASU baseball over Eastern Michigan

Sun Devils make it through two extra innings to pull off the win against the Eagles.

Sebastian Zawada celebrates in the dugout after hitting the walk-off for ASU baseball on Saturday, March 6, 2016 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. ASU won 5-4.

Sebastian Zawada celebrates in the dugout after hitting the walk-off for ASU baseball on Saturday, March 6, 2016 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. ASU won 5-4.


ASU baseball brought back the walk-off style win Saturday night after junior designated hitter Sebastian Zawada singled to drive in the winning run against Eastern Michigan, closing the 11-inning game 5-4.

The walk-off win was messy, but it was a win nonetheless and something head coach Tracy Smith said the team needed.

“It’s a good win because we had a little bit of everything in there,” Skip said. “You don’t start well … kind of a struggle all night, and to do that and to still find a way to win, in spite of almost giving it away, crazy as it sounds, I like that.”

There was also a little spark from Eastern Michigan in the top half of the 11th. The Eagles went ahead 4-3, setting ASU up for the dramatic finish.

Junior shortstop Colby Woodmansee stepped to the plate after junior first baseman David Greer singled. He doubled to drive Greer in.

“I saw he was throwing sliders to Serven and Zawada before when there were guys on base, so I thought he was going to come at me with the slider,” Woodmansee said. “I actually moved up in the box probably six inches thinking the slider was coming, but he threw the fastball up and away and I just went with it.”

Woodmansee’s double was his first hit of the night, but Smith said it's something that wasn’t unexpected from the shortstop in that situation.

“That was, to me, the key to the baseball game,” Smith said. “He’s a great player, and great players have a knack of doing that stuff.”

A single from junior catcher Brian Serven moved Woodmansee over to third as Zawada came to the plate. He singled right past third to bring Woodmansee home for the win.

“I adjusted from the last at bat and knew I was gonna get a slider, and I got the first pitch and took advantage of it,” Zawada said.

The way the win came tonight is not a concern for Smith, as he’s said all along that wins won’t necessarily come easy for the Sun Devils.

Freshman Reagan Todd had a shaky start for ASU, giving up nine hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched.

Freshman James Ryan, sophomore Tucker Baca and senior Eric Melbostad relieved him before junior Eder Erives entered in the eighth.

Erives had the opportunity to earn his third save out in four appearances, but he lost control in the top of the ninth. With runners on first and second, he hit two batters. The latter, which allowed a run to score, tied the game at three.

Erives hit four batters total during the night. As a whole, ASU hit seven. Despite the wild pitching, Erives stayed in the mound in extra innings. He got into another tough situation after a walk, single and a hit batter loaded the bases for the Eagles in the 11th inning.

It gave them the opportunity to knock in the go-ahead.

“It’s gotta get better on the mound,” Smith said. “We dodged a lot of bullets tonight.”

The Sun Devils will be back at Phoenix Municipal at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday with sophomore Eli Lingos expected to start in the series finale against the Eagles.


Reach the reporter at haley.stesiak@asu.edu or follow @haley_stesiak on Twitter.

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