Demera was also the hero of the game on the offensive side, launching a two-out, two-strike, go-ahead grand slam in the fifth inning – his first homer as a Sun Devil.
The Sun Devils earned double-digit runs on a night with only six hits, taking 12 walks from the Cal pitching staff – seven of those runs coming on the Demera grand slam and a three-RBI double from Ryan Campos in the seventh that provided what amounted to the pivotal insurance it would need to overcoming a rough 3-for-16 effort with runners in scoring position.
Harris Williams added a 412-foot solo home run in the third and Nick McLain had a double and one RBI of his own.
With the usual Friday night starter Thomas Burns out, sophomore pitcher Ben Jacobsstepped in for his second start of the season. After allowing the first three batters to reach base and one to score, he kept his cool en route to a 4.0 inning night, letting up five hits, three runs, three walks, and striking out six on 84 pitches. Cole Carlon and Wyatt Halvorsoneach took 2.0 innings of relief, both adding a strikeout. Coming in with runners on second and third in the ninth inning, Ryan Schiefer threw a strikeout and got some help from the defense to keep the Cal rally from tying the game.
TURNING POINT
After Jacobs escaped a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the top of the first, Harris Williams attempted a bunt and reached first and second on a throwing error by the pitcher. He advanced to third on a groundout, and was brought home by McLain’s double to left field. The quick response from the Sun Devils left the game tied at one apiece after the opening inning. Williams would then tack on a solo homer in the third to give ASU its first lead of the game.
BIG MOMENT
After giving up three runs over the fourth and fifth innings, the Sun Devils trailed 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. This frame began with three consecutive walks to load the bases for Arizona State. A pitching change left a tall task for the Cal arm, who took the mound and delivered two strikeouts. On a 1-2 count, and nearing the reality of squandering a bases-loaded, no-out scenario, Demera launched a jack over the left center field wall to bring four runs in and put the Sun Devils back on top, 6-4.
FINAL STRAW
With a narrow 6-5 lead, Mendoza took a walk to begin the bottom of the seventh inning, and madness ensued after Jackson bunted towards third. The throw to first sailed past the base and allowed Mendoza to round second towards third. The second baseman lost his footing while attempting to corral the wild throw and added another error to let Mendoza score. Another walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. Campos sliced a perfect shot down the left field line that brought three runs in before he was thrown out at third. The insurance runs left Arizona State with a seemingly comfortable 10-5 lead heading into the final six outs of defense. In the top of the ninth, although Cal mounted a four-run inning to make things interesting, junior reliever Schiefer was able to escape the frame with the Sun Devils on top.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Cal’s first three batters reached base, as a single and a walk put a runner in position for the next single to left field. Trailing early in his second start of the season, sophomore pitcher Ben Jacobs delivered a strikeout before allowing a walk to load the bases. A high fly ball to right field was easily corralled by Nick McLain, and the next Cal batter made solid connection to send a ball just short of the center field wall, ending up in Isaiah Jackson’sglove to strand three runners. With the Sun Devils up to bat, Williams got to second after a throwing error to first on his bunt allowed him to reach base. A groundout put him on third, and McLain’s ground-rule double to left field tied the game at one apiece. Compton was able to get on base bia walk with McLain on third, but the runners were left there after another groundout.
Second Inning
Even with a strong single up the middle from Cal, Jacobs only faced three batters in this frame. With one out, Campos threw a strike to second to pickoff the runner attempting to steal, and Jacobs quickly followed with his second strikeout of the inning. ASU went down in order.
Third Inning
Jacobs began the frame with a strikeout again, before a deep hit to right center landed a Golden Bear on second. The next ball seemed fated to end up over the right field wall, but McLain was able to get under it and the runner advanced to third. With the pressure of giving up another run, Jacobs delivered his fifth strikeout of the night. Harris Williams led off the Sun Devils with a 412-foot jack over the right center field wall to take their first lead of the game, 2-1. McLain and Tobias were both walked, but later stranded on first and second.
Fourth Inning
Jacobs struck out the first batter again, recording his sixth of the night. A pop out followed, but then a walk prefaced a two-run homer to left center for a Cal 3-2 lead. A fly out ended the frame. Demera struck a single up the middle and Williams was walked, but both were stranded.
Fifth Inning
Cole Carlon took the mound in the fifth and got the first out via fly to left field. A double and a hit by pitch then advanced to second and third on a balk. Cal earned a run on a fly out to center field, but Carlon earned his first strikeout to stop the damage there. Now trailing 4-2, McLain and Tobias were both walked for the second time, and were put in scoring position by a wild pitch. Compton then took a four-pitch walk and Cal replaced their pitcher. With the bases loaded and no outs, the new pitcher recorded two straight strikeouts. Now at risk of blowing a golden opportunity, Demera stepped up to the plate and launched a grand slam just over the left center field wall. The Sun Devils left the inning up 6-4.
Sixth Inning
After a pop out, Cal put runners on first and second with a walk and a bunt. Attempting to steal third, the Cal runner was thrown out by Campos and a groundout closed the frame. Two walks began the inning for another new Cal pitcher, but Arizona State couldn’t capitalize after a fly out, strikeout, and groundout.
Seventh Inning
Cal earned two singles early and a fly out allowed the runner on third to score. Another fly out stranded one. Mendoza took a walk to began the bottom of the frame, and madness ensued after Jackson bunted towards third. The throw to first sailed past the base and allowed Mendoza to round second towards third. The second baseman lost his footing while attempting to corral the wild throw and added another error to let Mendoza score. Another walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out, and Campos sliced a perfect shot down the left field line that brought three runs in before he was thrown out at third. ASU now led 10-5. Yet another hit by pitch and a walk put McLain and Tobias on, but both were stranded.
Eighth Inning
A quick fly out and foul out left one out to go. A walk and a wild pitch made the crowd uneasy, but Halvorson delivered a strikeout to strand the runner on second. The ASU batters were retired in order.
Ninth Inning
After a walk and a double left two runners in scoring position, Schiefer came to the mound. Cal was able to knock a three-run homer to right field off an 0-2 count, and later picked up another run with two outs, leaving runners on second and third again. Demera called game by corralling a ground ball towards third and firing a laser to first.
ON DECK
ASU will look to sweep the series against Cal on Saturday with the first pitch at 1:00 p.m. AZT. The game will be available through the ASU Live Stream.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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