(Arlington, TX) Sun Devil Baseball rode the back of Nick McLain and its bullpen en route to a come-from-behind 6-3 victory over UT Arlington on Tuesday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
McLain recorded ASU’s first four RBIs of the game on his two, two-RBI doubles – one to tie the game at 2-2 in the fifth and the other to five ASU its first lead of the game in the seventh.
The Sun Devil bullpen was largely lights out once it took over in the third inning, tossing six straight scoreless, hitless innings after UTA posted a pair of matchsticks in the first and second innings to claim an early 2-0 lead.
ASU’s pitchers recorded eight strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed while the defense shook off three early errors to get two big double plays in the late innings.
TURNING POINT
After struggling offensively to start the game and stranding baserunners at first in each of the first four frames, ASU loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth with walks from Kevin Karstetter, Jax Ryan and Harris Williams. McLain made them pay for the free bases with a two-RBI double over the center fielder’s outstretched glove to even the game at 2-2.
BIG MOMENT
McLain again took advantage of a Mavs miscue after a one-out bunt single from Ryan followed by and error as UTA attempted to turn what would have been an inning-ending double play on the next batter. The initial fielder’s choice sailed wide of the shortstop covering second, however, putting runners on the corners with one out for McLain. The sophomore made UTA pay again with his second two-RBI double of the game to give ASU its first lead at 4-2. Several wild pitches, another error and an RBI single from Mendoza would make it 6-2 and ASU never looked back.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils had an awfully sluggish start in all facets of the game as UTA posted two runs on four hits and three ASU errors in the first two innings while ASU went hitless. It was the Sun Devil bullpen that stymied the tide of the group of Matt Tieding, Sean Fitzpatrick, Hunter Omlid and Ryan Schiefer combined to toss 6.0 innings of scoreless, hitless relief to keep the game within striking distance and allow for the ASU comeback.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
McLain drew a one-out HBP but a Campos double play led to UTA facing the minimum in the inning. A leadoff walk and stolen base from UTA would score on a double past the outstretched glove of Karstetter at third. An errant throw on a pickoff attempt ended up in the outfield but ASU was able to get the first out of the frame with a dart from McLain in right to throw the runner out at home. A single and an error would put two on with one out but Giblin was able to escape the frame with a pair of swinging strikeouts to limit the damage and keep the score at 1-0.
Second Inning
Tobias reached on a leadoff error but the remaining Sun Devils would go down in order in another scoreless frame. UTA would record a leadoff single that took second on an obstruction error on a back pick at first base and then third a flyout to deep center. The run would score on a floater over the Karstetter at third again for an unearned run and a 2-0 lead.
Third Inning
Brandon Compton got the first hit of the day on a leadoff single, but ASU would go down in order again to strand the runner. Matt Tieding gave up a one-out full count walk but got a groundout and flyout to strand the runner in scoring position.
Fourth Inning
Campos drew a leadoff walk but that would again go for naught as ASU was unable to move a runner into scoring position for the fourth straight inning. Isaiah Jackson made a sweet diving catch on the leadoff batter in the bottom half of the frame and Tieding posted the first 1-2-3 inning of the afternoon.
Fifth Inning
ASU loaded the bases with one out behind walks from Karstetter, Ryan and Williams. Nick McLain had the biggest swing of the day with a two-RBI double over the center fielders head to even things up at 2-2. Fitzpatrick stranded a two-out walk to keep things even at two and strand the fifth baserunner of the game.
Sixth Inning
ASU got a leadoff baserunner for the fifth straight inning on Tobias single that ended his 3+ game hitless skid but, again, ASU couldn’t do anything with the threat. Hunter Omlid retired the Mavs side in order.
Seventh Inning
The Sun Devils took advantage of some sloppy defensive play from UTA to claim their first lead of the game. Ryan reached on a bunt single and ASU put runners on the corners on a failed attempt at getting the lead runner on a fielder’s choice. McLain made them pay with his second two-RBI double of the contest, giving the Sun Devils a 4-2 lead. McLain would come around to score on a pair of wild pitches sandwiched around a Tobias walk to make it 5-2 and Ethan Mendoza singled through the right side to bring Tobias home and give ASU a 6-2 lead. Omlid recorded another 1-2-3 frame to keep the momentum on ASU’s side.
Eighth Inning:
The Sun Devils went down in order. Ryan Schiefer gave up a one-out walk but escaped any damage by issuing a double play to get out of the frame.
Ninth Inning
The top of the Sun Devil order went down in order. Cole Carlon gave up a one-out double and RBI single as UTA cut the lead to 6-3 but his team-leading third double play induced of the season would end the game and send ASU home victorious.
ON DECK
ASU returns home to kick off Pac-12 play with three games against Oregon beginning on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. AZT. The games this weekend will be available via the ASU Live Stream and over the airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM (pending results from the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament).
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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