(Phoenix, AZ) Sun Devil Baseball once again overcame a multiple-run deficit, clawing back from three down to defeat rival No. 10/11 Arizona, 10-6, on Tuesday evening in front of 3,903 in attendance at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Just two days after wiping out a seven-run deficit to defeat Cal on Sunday, the Sun Devils (14-16) were again unfazed by an early hole as the team ripped off seven unanswered runs in the second half of the game to take the non-conference midweek tilt from the Wildcats (21-8).
Kai Murphy’s second homer in the last three games – a three-run shot to put ASU ahead in the fifth inning – was the big knock on the night as Murphy remained hot with his third multi-hit game in his last four games.
Jacob Tobias added two hits and two RBIs and Cam Magee continued to bounce back from his slow start to the season with his first career home run and a two-hit day while playing exceptionally on defense in his spot start at third in place of the suspended Ethan Long.
Eight Sun Devils recorded a hit as the offense threw up three crooked innings to overcome a slew of matchstick frames from the Wildcats in the early going.
Will Levine was pivotal in stemming the offensive tide of the Wildcats, throwing up the first zeros of the game after Arizona scored two in the first and single runs in the second through fifth innings. Levine went 2.2 innings with no runs allowed to earn the win.
Blake Pivaroff earned his first career save as he retired the final six batters of the game on just 12 pitches. Pivaroff and Levine combined for 4.2 scoreless innings of relief and faced the minimum over the final 13 batters of the game – including retiring the final 10 in succession.
TURNING POINT
The turning point in this one came by way of the Wildcats. Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth, ASU looked like it would post another scoreless frame on a harmless ground ball by Ryan Campos to second with two outs. But the Arizona second baseman booted it, keeping the inning alive and putting runners on the corners. Nate Baez took advantage with an RBI single to bring ASU back within two and start the rally caused by that two-out error.
THE BIG MOMENT
After a meeting at the mound following the Baez RBI, Kai Murphy did not allow George Arias Jr. a moment of respite as he sat on the very first pitch after the mound visit and launched it for a three-run shot to right field for his second homer in the last three games and ASU’s first lead of the game at 7-6.
THE FINAL STRAW
After the four-run fifth inning, the Sun Devils revived the bats for another inning to keep the foot on the gas in the sixth. Magee’s single started the inning, only to be put out at second on Lampe’s fielder’s choice. Trading speed for speed, Lampe moved to second after McLain was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced to second and third on Davis’ deep flyout to left field. Those 90 feet proved to be pivotal. With the Wildcats playing a wicked shift on the right side for Jacob Tobias, he knocked a single right into that gap to plate McLain and Lampe, making the game 9-6.
The Sun Devil bullpen handled business from there as Levine and Pivaroff retired the final nine batters of the contest in the seventh, eighth and ninth to seal the deal.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Lauren Gonzalez and Anna De La Cruz
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