The Sun Devils kicked the go-ahead field goal in the bottom of the eighth on a three-run shot from Ethan Mendoza to break an 18-18 tie and Ryan Schiefer was able to get the final out against UW’s scorching hot AJ Guerrero, who represented the tying run at the plate to seal the victory and series win.
A sunny afternoon in Phoenix with the flags over the batter’s eye whipping to the north in winds upwards and over 20 miles per hour set the scene for an offensive frenzy. With 44 hits and seven home runs between the two teams, no lead was safe until the final out.
Every Sun Devil starter contributed to the team’s 23 hits, with Nick McLain going 5-for-5 in his at-bats, Mendoza was 4-for-4 and Brandon Compton, Ryan Campos, and Mario Demeraeach added three knocks. Compton homered twice, with a grand slam in the first and a solo shot in the fourth. McLain had his own two-run homer and Mendoza capped it off with his third homer of the week – and of his career – in the eighth.
Desperately needing a stop from the bullpen in the later innings, Sean Fitzpatrick struck out the side in the seventh and allowed three hits and runs over 2.0 innings – his only blemish coming on three-run shot in the top of the eighth to Guerrero on the first pitch after the Muni faithful thought he had struck out the electric junior. In 1.2 innings of relief, Ryan Schiefer earned the win by only allowing one hit and striking out one, capped by an exceptional catch by Isaiah Jackson to rob extra bases on the final out.
TURNING POINT
UW started off the bat-friendly day with a wind-aided two-run homer in the top of the first. With two outs, a walk filled the bases and the Huskies brought two more runs in with a single to right field. Not to be outdone, ASU was ready to take advantage of the weather in the bottom half of the inning. Campos and Vu led off with singles and McClain was hit by a pitch. After Tobias was walked to bring in the first run, Compton stepped up and hit his third grand slam of the year to give the Sun Devils a 5-4 lead after one – a wild first inning that was a glimpse of what to expect over the rest of the game.
BIG MOMENT
The Sun Devils got some breathing room in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six runs – all with two outs – to take a 13-7 advantage. However, the Huskies answered right back with seven two-out runs of their own in the top of the fifth to reclaim a 14-13 advantage. ASU was unfazed, punching right back with a two-out run courtesy of Mario Demera in the bottom half of the frame to even the game and show the Sun Devils wouldn’t go quietly into the afternoon.
FINAL STRAW
ASU tacked on a couple more runs in the sixth and seventh to stake a 17-15 lead but the Huskies looked to AJ Guerrero yet again in the eighth as the junior notched his second homer of the game on his fifth hit – a two-out, three-run shot after looking to have taken strike three to end the inning in the eyes of the over 2,000 fans at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. His sixth, seventh and eighth RBIs of the game gave Washington a 18-17 advantage, putting pressure on the Sun Devils as they were left to their final six outs. McLain got on base with a one-out double to right field and crossed the plate for the tying run as Jacob Tobias earned his first hit of the game, beating the infield shift with an RBI single through the left side with the short stop shaded to the right of the second-base bag. A double from Compton on his remarkable day put two runners in scoring position with one out and Washington went to its bullpen. Mendoza welcomed the new pitcher to the game on the very first pitch he saw, going big fly over the left center field wall to give the Sun Devils three go-ahead runs. Needing three outs to close it out – a huge task against a Washing offtense that scored in six of the first eight inning, Schiefer forced a fly out and a ground out to start the inning. The Huskies threatened, putting two on via a single and a walk to bring the dangerous Guerrero to the plate, representing the tying run. The Husky put a good swing on one, lacing a ball to the left center gap but Isaiah Jackson – who entered as a defensive replacement in the previous inning – was able to sprint under the line drive to center and close the game with his extended glove.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
The Huskies jumped out to a quick lead after a wind-aided two-run homer and a series of walks and singles had the bases loaded multiple times and brought in four runs. Omlid was able to strike two out swinging to get out of the frame. Stepping up to the plate, Campos singled up the middle on the second pitch and the hitting spree for the Sun Devils began. Vu singled to center field and McLain was hit by his second pitch before Tobias drew a full count walk to bring Campos in. Compton then launched his second grand slam in as many Sundays to steal the Huskies’ short-lived margin. After a Mendoza single, three groundouts ended the exciting inning.
Second Inning
After an athletic play from Tobias at first to field the first out, Omlid struck out the next two batters to end a quick frame. Campos led with another single, but was caught attempting to steal second. Vu was walked and reached third on a McLain single, but a strikeout and pop fly left them both stranded.
Third Inning
After a two-out solo home run to tie it the game at five, Ondina was able to get the last out as the batter thought his line drive to shortstop was caught and stopped running while Ondina found the ball on the ground and then made the throw to first in time. Mendoza and Williams reached via a walk and single and a Demera deep shot to the right center wall escaped the outfielder’s glove and he was able to safely trot to second as Williams raced to third and Mendoza scored. Demera was tagged out on a fielder’s choice to shortstop from Ondina and Williams made it home to regain a 7-5 lead.
Fourth Inning
After two fly outs, the Huskies stayed alive with a single to shortstop. A triple bounced off the right center field wall and another single tied the game at seven. One more fly out closed the frame. McLain singled to open the Sun Devil’s frame, but he was caught leading off and picked off at second after a strikeout. Now with two outs, Compton made plenty of contact to send a 467-foot solo shot clear out of right center and again give the Sun Devils the lead, 8-7. Three straight walks left the bases loaded and a strong grounder from Ondina got by the third baseman to bring Mendoza in. Campos was then hit by a pitch to spur a pitching change for the Huskies. Vu and McLain welcomed the new arm with two singles before a groundout ended the two-out magic at 13-7.
Fifth Inning
After ASU’s six run inning, Washington opened with two singles before a double-play left just one out to go. That out didn’t come easy, as a single, walk, and another single scored two and forced a pitching change. Washington continued to hit, with a single, double, and triple bringing in four more runs and tying the game. A walk and one more single gave them the lead at 14-13 before the frame closed on a foul out. After Mendoza doubled, Demera hit a two-out single to right field to tie the game back up.
Sixth Inning
With three straight singles, the Huskies retook the lead by one. Fitzpatrick took the mound and two fly outs brought the Sun Devils back to the plate. After Campos singled up the middle, McLain knocked one over the right field wall to make it 16-15.
Seventh Inning
Fitzpatrick changed the pitching narrative with three straight swinging strikeouts to retire the side. Two singled from Mendoza and Harris Williams put Mendoza in position to score off a fly out, making it 17-15.
Eighth Inning
After a walk and a single put two runners on, a controversial ball call preceded a three-run homer to put the Huskies back on top, 18-17. Fitzpatrick came in to pitch and forced a groundout and recorded a strikeout to close the frame. McLain hit a double to right field and was batted home by Tobias’ single to tie the game. A double from Compton left runners on second and third, and took charge of the opportunity and launched a three-run homer to left center field for the winning runs.
Ninth Inning
With runners on first and second and two outs, Jackson dashed for a fly ball to center field and was just able to get his glove under it, securing the series win for the Sun Devils.
ON DECK
The Sun Devils host in-state rival Arizona for a midweek on Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. After winning the series in Tucson earlier this season, Arizona State will look to defend their home field at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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