Arizona State (18-8, 6-1) is alone atop the Pac-12 at 6-1 and has won 12 of its last 13 games.
A pitchers duel broke out in the Bay Area through the four frames, with Ross Dunnpitching excellently for the Sun Devils. He finished with 5.1 innings of one run baseball, allowed just three hits and punched out eight men to just two walks.
In the fifth, Contrades and Campos pushed in runs with back-to-back base hits, giving ASU a 2-0 lead. The Sun Devils extended it to four after Willie Cano recorded a sacrifice fly and Kien Vu singled in Luke Hill in the sixth inning.
Cal (10-11, 2-8) had a chance to slash its deficit in the bottom of the sixth with runners on and one out, but only got one across. The Sun Devil bullpen did not allow a hit in the effort.
TURNING POINT
Arizona State finally broke through against the Golden Bears in the fifth, receiving three straight singles from Wyatt Crenshaw, Nu’u Contrades and Ryan Campos to score two runs. After setting Cal down in order in the bottom half, WIllie Cano and Kien Vu each drove in runs in the sixth for a 4-0 Sun Devil lead.
BIG MOMENT
In the bottom half of the sixth, Cal put runners on first and second with one out after a fielding miscue on a ball to shallow center field. WIllie Bloomquist made the call to the bullpen for Jesse Wainscott, who only allowed one inherited runner to cross on a sacrifice fly. ASU had a 4-1 edge through six innings.
FINAL STRAW
The seventh, eighth and ninth frames were all navigated by the spectacular Sun Devil bullpen, who did not allow a hit. Cal only had one runner in scoring position after the sixth inning and were unable to get closer than the final three-run difference.
INNING-BY-INNING
First Inning
Singles on the ground by Nu’u Contrades and Luke Keaschall went by the wayside as ASU could not push one across. After a leadoff single in the bottom half, the Sun Devil defense turned a 6-3 double play, eliminating the baserunner and ending the frame on a popup to the catcher.
Second Inning
Willie Cano bounced a two-out single to the shortstop, but nothing came of it. In the bottom half, Dunn worked around a leadoff walk and one-out stolen base with two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice, sending the game to the third inning.
Third Inning
Contrades earned his second knock of the contest and Ryan Campos also pushed a single to left field, but ASU could not capitalize with a runner in scoring position for the second time on the evening. Dunn worked around a leadoff runner by sandwiching a groundout in between two swinging strikeouts.
Fourth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order in the fourth. The Golden Bears were seated on three strikeouts with a two-out base hit.
Fifth Inning
The Maroon and Gold broke through in the fifth, doing significant damage with one out. Wyatt Crenshaw singled, followed by a knock by Contrades that scored the first run of the contest on an error by the centerfielder. Campos immediately slapped a knock to right field, giving ASU a 2-0 advantage. Cal got out of the frame with a strikeout-throwout double-play. The Golden Bears then went down in order.
Sixth Inning
Jacob Tobias singled to start the frame, followed by a walk to Luke Hill. ASU forced a pitching change with one in the sixth. With Cano at the plate, both runners were able to advance on an E2. Cano plated Tobias on a sacrifice fly and Kien Vu slapped a single that scored Hill, making it 4-0 Sun Devils into the bottom of the sixth.
Dunn forced a leadoff flyout, but then allowed two consecutive hits that put runners on first and second with one out. The Sun Devils turned to the bullpen, calling on Jesse Wainscott. A wild pitch was followed by a sacrifice fly, plating the first run of the game for Cal, 4-1. Wainscott got another flyout, ending the frame.
Seventh Inning
Campos and Luke Keaschall singled, while Luke Hill walked, but Isaiah Jackson popped to the shortstop to end the frame, sending the contest to the stretch. Nolan Lebamoff entered for ASU in the bottom half, working around a one-out walk to escape unharmed.
Eighth Inning
Cano singled in the top half, but nothing came of it for the Sun Devils. Blake Pivaroff set Cal down in order.
Ninth Inning
Tobias smacked his first double of the season, but ASU could not get any more insurance. Owen Stevenson allowed two to reach, but did allow a hit or run as Sun Devil Baseball sealed the victory.
ON DECK
Arizona State will go for the series win at Cal Saturday, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. MST. Ben Ross will have the call for the Pac-12 Network while all three games will be broadcast live over local airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM with Tim Healey and Jeff Munn providing the highlights.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Schwam
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