Luke Keaschall remained hot, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs and a homer. Nu’u Contrades logged three hits – including two doubles – and Ryan Campos notched yet another three-hit game to boost his average over .400 for the season.
After giving up four unearned runs in the first inning, Ross Dunn settled in nicely to go 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts and just a single walk with no earned runs allowed.
ASU rallied behind that after going down 4-1 to take a 9-4 lead after seven innings, fueled by a 13-hit day with six doubles.
Things got a little hairy in the late innings with Utah rallying for three runs over the final two innings to bring the tying run to the plate several times but Brock Peery and Jesse Wainscott did just enough to keep the Sun Devils on top down the stretch.
TURNING POINT
The wheels easily could have come off for Ross Dunn after a first inning grand slam and four unearned Utah runs that gave the Utes an early 4-1 lead. But Dunn settled in very efficiently, working his way through the next 4.1 innings without allowing a score and only giving up one hit. His seven strikeouts kept Utah off guard and allowed ASU the chance to rally offensively.
BIG MOMENT
ASU exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-4 lead. Luke Keaschall had the big knock in the frame with a one-out, two-RBI single that put ASU on top for good. Wyatt Crenshaw, Jacob Tobias and Willie Cano also added RBIs in the frame.
FINAL STRAW
Keaschall launched a massive two-out home in the sixth and Contrades notched his second double of the game to plate another run in the seventh to give ASU a 9-4 lead. But Utah did not go quietly into the night, loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the eighth and plating a run on a bases loaded HBP to bring the tying run to the plate. Brock Peery was able to escape the frame with minimal damage, however, getting a pivotal strikeout followed by a fielder’s choice and flyout to keep ASU on top by three. Utah rallied once more with a leadoff double in the ninth that would score to get back within two runs before Jesse Wainscott shut the door for his second save of the year.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
In a carbon copy of Sunday’s victory of UC Davis, Luke Hill notched a one-out double and Ryan Campos followed by poke a ball through the left side for an RBI single to give ASU an early 1-0 lead, though ASU did strand a pair in the frame.
Things came apart in the bottom half of the frame after two quick outs. ASU dropped an infield popout to give Utah its first baserunner of the game. Tobias just missed a ball laced down the first base line and then a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Utah made ASU pay with a grand slam and an early 4-1 lead.
Second Inning
ASU loaded the bases in the second behind a Jackson double, Contrades single and Hill walk but Utah starter Cam Day made a nice pitch to freeze Ryan Campos and strand the bases loaded. Dunn settled in after the tough opening frame with a 1-2-3 inning to keep it a three-run game
Third Inning
Keaschall led off with a double and two constructive outs brought him home on a Willie Cano RBI ground out to cut the lead to 4-2. Ross struck out the side to keep ASU within a pair.
Fourth Inning
The Sun Devils bat around with a five-spot in the fourth. Isaiah Jackson wore a pitch and Nu’u Contrades doubled to put a pair in scoring position with no outs. Jackson came home on a delayed take on a Crenshaw groundout to get ASU within a run. Hill walked and Campos got an infield single to load the bases and Keaschall put ASU back on top with a two-RBI single. Tobias singled and Cano brought another home on a fielder’s choice to put ASU up 7-4.
Dunn hit two batters in the bottom half and both ended up in scoring position after a double steal but got a huge strikeout to leave them there and keep ASU on top by three.
Fifth Inning
The Devils went down in order for the first time in the game after Utah made a pitching change. Dunn faced his biggest test of the game with a leadoff single and walk and had runners on the corner after a flyout. A stolen base had runners on second and third with one out but Dunn got a strikeout and a groundout to strand them.
Sixth Inning
Luke Keaschall continued to stay hot with a two-out monster solo shot to make it an 8-4 game. Dunn got the first out of the inning with his seventh strikeout of the game. A throwing error would eventually make its way to third base but Nolan Lebamoff stranded him there to keep the lead at four.
Seventh Inning
ASU got itself another two-out RBI as Nu’u Contrades recorded his second double of the game to drive home Willi Cano and make it 9-4. Blake Pivaroff entered and retired the side in order including a sweet backwards K to cap the frame.
Eighth Inning
Campos notched his second infield single of the day and Jacob Tobias reached on a two-out error but ASU stranded the pair. The Utes made it interesting, loading the bases with no outs and scoring a run on an RBI hit-by-pitch. A strikeout got a huge first out ofn the inning and ASU almost got out of it with a double play but the throw was just a smidge too late, allowing another run to score. Peery did get a flyout to limit the damage to just two runs, keeping ASU on top, 9-6.
Ninth Inning
Will Rogers led off with a double – ASU’s sixth of the day – but the Devils were unable to do anything with it, stranding him at third. Utah notched a leadoff double and scored on a sac fly two batters later to make it 9-7. But Wainscott settled in to get a harmless pop fly to end the rally and earn his second save of the year.
ON DECK
ASU will look to take the series from Utah tomorrow at 3 p.m. AZT (4 p.m. local) at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City. The game will be available via the Utah Live Stream and available over local airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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