Willie Bloomquist shook up the lineup for the midweek tilt against the ‘Lopes as 20 different players saw the field in some capacity. But it was Harris Williams that provided the late heroics despite not getting his normal spot in left field, recording the game-winning two-RBI double in the ninth after entering the contest as a pinch hitter just two innings prior.
ASU (15-14) battled back from an 8-6 deficit after a seventh inning GCU grand slam, winning its four game this season when trailing or tied after eight innings.
Nick McLain continued his recent tear with a 3-for-5 effort with an RBI and two runs scored. Kien Vu had two RBIs and kickstarted the ninth-inning rally with his one-out single as part of his two hit day. Josiah Cromwick added two RBIs as well in a spot start at DH while Brandon Compton drew two walks in relieving him in that role – scoring the game-winning run as a result of drawing a walk in the ninth.
It was Williams, though, who had the big knock after coming off the bench in the seventh inning. The super senior notched a bases-loaded double on a 1-1 count to opposite right center that dropped between two outfielders for the game-winning RBIs.
The Sun Devils got just enough from their pitching staff, with Adaham Behrens ending a six-game streak of allowing a run in the first inning of games while Ryan Schiefer and Ben Jacobs tossed 2.1 scoreless innings on the back end of the game to give ASU within striking distance after a seventh-inning go-ahead grand slam from the Lopes.
TURNING POINT
After falling into an early 2-0 hole, ASU rode a five-run third inning to take a 6-2 lead which it would hold through the fifth. But GCU rallied back with two in the sixth and a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh to retake an 8-6 lead. Needing a stop, Ryan Schiefer staunched the bleeding with 1.1 innings of relief after coming in after the grand slam. Ben Jacobswould tack on a scoreless ninth to keep ASU within striking distance and not let the GCU momentum carry through. ASU got a run back in the bottom half of the seventh on a gift from the Lopes’ and the Phoenix Municipal infield as what looked to be a routine fielder’s choice that would have ended the inning turned into a run after the second baseman slipped covering the bag, allowing the ball to go over his head and ASU to get a two-out run on the play to get back within 8-7
BIG MOMENT
GCU’s Dustin Crenshaw looked like he might have put the dagger in ASU’s night in the ninth after recording the go-ahead grand slam in the seventh, as he roped another ball to deep right center and off the top of the wall. The ball bounced back onto the field where Kien Vugunned one to his relay man, Steven Ondina, who hosed Crenshaw at third on a nice snag from Mario Demera. The play was reviewed for a possible home run that would have made it a two-run game, but the call on the field stood and ASU avoided a runner on third with less than two outs with the head’s up defense as a result – a moment that would prove pivotal in the final frame.
FINAL STRAW
Kien Vu continued his hot streak, getting a one-out single to kickstart the rally in the ninth. Brandon Compton and Mario Demera each drew one-out walks to load the bases against GCU closer Nathan Ward, who entered the game with a 2.00 ERA and a team-best four saves. With Harris Williams at the plate after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh, Ward looked like he might have balked in the tying run but was ruled to have stepped off legally. Whether that was true or not, Williams left nothing to chance, poking one into opposite left center field that dropped just out of reach of the diving center fielder for the game-winning two-RBI double.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Behrens worked around a leadoff seeing-eye single to retire the next three batters in order, including a nice catch on the run at the warning track by Campos in left field. Campos then led off the bottom of the frame with a single followed by a Mendoza walk. However, a pair of a strikeouts and a nice sliding play by the GCU shortstop stranded the pair.
Second Inning
GCU got on the board first with a one-out double followed by a single to the hole in left to take a 1-0 lead but Behrens stranded the second runner with a pair of strikeouts. Demera got a one-out Texas League single but was caught stealing and a strikeout ending the frame with GCU facing the minimum.
Third Inning
A one-out HBPand ground rule double put a pair in scoring position for GCU with a walk loading the bases. A sac fly plated a run and Willie Bloomquist went to the pen for the first time. Halvorson struck out the GCU home run leader to limit the damage and keep ASu within a pair. Ondina drew a leadoff walk to turn the order around, taking second on a Campos groundout and third on a one-out wild pitch. Mendoza drove him home with an RBI single to get ASU on the board. A McLain single and Lance walk would chase the GCU starter with the bases loaded and one out. The change mattered not as Vu gave ASU its first lead of the game with a two-RBI single through the right side and Cromwick followed that with a two-RBI double just inside the third base bag to make it 5-2, Devils.
Fourth Inning
Halvorson posted ASUs first 1-2-3 frame of the game, getting a needed stop after score to keep ASU in control. Ondina and Campos drew leadoff walks (with Ondina also stealing second).Mendoza laced a 107 MPH ball directly at the shortstop who made a nice leaping snag for the first out and to save at least a run. McLain notched his second hit with an RBI single through the left side to make it 6-2. Lance smoked another ball to left at 110 MPH off the bat but also unfortunately right at the left fielder while a strikeout stranded two in scoring position.
Fifth Inning
GCU notched a one-out single to bring Fitzpatrick into the game, who quickly got a pair of outs to keep ASU on top by four. Josiah Cromwick and Trey Newman each gave balls a ride to the warning track for loud outs as ASU went down in order.
Sixth Inning
Freshman Jaden Alba made his second appearance of the year, recording his first career strikeout before giving up three-straight two-out hits to let GCU get back within two before he stranded runners on the corners to keep it there. The Sun Devils went down in order for the second-straight frame, maintaining the lead at 6-4.
Seventh Inning
A grand slam put GCU back on top, 8-6, and put ASU back on the offensive. McLain led off with his third hit of the game but a strikeout and flyout quickly put ASU’s back against the wall. ASU was bailed out by the second baseman slipping to cover a fielder’s choice at second for what should have been the final out, allowing McLain to score and get the Devils back within a run. A Williams pinch hit walk loaded the bases and brough another GCU pitcher in but a groundout stranded the bases loaded with ASU down 8-7.
Eighth Inning
Demera made a sweet one-handed charging play from third on a number to get the first out. Campos led off the bottom with a very loud out to the warning track in center as ASU would go down in order.
Ninth Inning
GCU launched a one-out ball to deep right center that hit the top of the ball and bounced back in, leading to an 8-6-5 put out at third after a lengthy review led to it not being called a homer. A single from Vu and walks from Compton and Demera loaded the bases with one out. Williams, who entered into the game just two innings earlier, played the hero with a ball to opposite left center that dropped just out of the reach of a diving centerfielder to plate two runs and hand ASU the walk-off win.
ON DECK
ASU will look to extend its winning streak to six games with a pivotal Pac-12 series against the league -favorite and fifth-ranked Oregon State Beavers this week. It will be the third road trip in four weeks for the Sun Devils, with the series getting underway at 5:30 p.m. AZT on Sunday. The games will all be available via the Pac-12 Insider. There is expected inclement weather in the Corvallis scheduled all weekend.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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