Six Homers Rally Baseball from Seven-Run Deficit to Victory at GCUN

Inning by inning

First inning

After Landon Hairston struck out to start the game, PJ Moutzouridis and Austen Roellig each walked. A groundout from Dean Toigo moved both runners into scoring position, but Matt Polkstruck out to end the inning.

Easton Barrett took the mound for the Sun Devils, retiring the first batter via groundout before walking the next hitter. A double off the wall in center field put both runners into scoring position, A flyout to right center allowed the Lopes to make it a 1-0 ballgame, but a groundout back to Barrett limited the damage and ended the frame.

Second inning

Dominic Smaldino led off the inning with a single to left center, and Dominic Longo worked a walk. A groundout moved both runners up 90 feet, and a walk from Beckett Zavorek loaded the bases. Hairston lined out, and Moutzouridis grounded into a fielder’s choice, leaving all three runners stranded.

A leadoff double opened the frame for GCU, and a walk capped off by a wild pitch put runners on the corners. A sac fly allowed a run to score, and a single to right scored another run, giving Grand Canyon a 3-0 lead. A single put runners on the corners, and a walk loaded the bases. A wild pitch brought in another run, prompting a pitching change. Jaden Alba was called on to limit the damage, but immediately gave up a home run, to extend the Lopes lead to 7-0. Back-to-back singles continued the nightmare for the Sun Devils, but a flyout and a groundout finally ended the inning.

Third inning

Toigo got the Sun Devils on the board with a solo home run, and after Polk walked, Smaldino crushed a two-run shot to make it a 7-3 game. Longo took a walk then stole second. A flyout to center allowed Longo to advance to third, but a groundout ended the frame.

Jaden Alba tossed a 1-2-3 inning, punctuated by a strikeout.

Fourth inning

Hairston flew out to lead off. Moutzouridis reached on an error, then Roellig fouled out to the third base side. Toigo singled up the middle to move Moutzouridis over to third, and Polk wore one off his back to load the bases. Smaldino popped out to end the inning.

Alba retired the first two hitters on a strikeout and a groundout before giving up a double to right center. A stolen base moved the runner over to third, but a groundout to second left the runner stranded.

Fifth inning

After Longo flew out to start the frame, Coen Niclai launched a solo home run to left to cut GCU’s lead to three. Beckett Zavorek singled through the left side, but Hairston grounded into a double play to end the frame, with Arizona State trailing 7-4.

Alba put up another three-up, three-down inning for the Sun Devils.

Sixth inning

The Sun Devils couldn’t get anything going in the sixth, going down in order.

Colby Guy was the next man out of the bullpen for the Sun Devils, giving up a leadoff shot to right, extending the Lopes’ lead to 8-4. A single to left center and a stolen base put a runner on second with no outs, but Guy was able to retire the next hitter on a strikeout. A groundout moved the runner to third, but Guy issued a three-pitch strikeout to close out the frame.

Seventh inning

Polk led off the frame with a double off the center field wall, and Smaldino singled him over to third. Garrett Michel, pinch hitting for Longo, worked a four-pitch walk, prompting a GCU pitching change. Niclai then launched a grand slam to deep right field to tie the game at eight. Zavorek took a four-pitch walk, and Hairston gave the Sun Devils the lead on a two-run shot to right center. Moutzouridis flew out to right and Finn Leach, who came into the game for Roellig, struck out, before Toigo walked. The Lopes made a pitching change, and Polk reached on a hit by pitch. Smaldino struck out to end the frame.

After a strikeout opened the inning, Sean Fitzpatrick came in from the bullpen, striking out the first batter he faced. A single put a runner on base, but Fitzpatrick issued a strikeout for the third out.

Eighth inning

Arizona State’s hitter went down in order in the eighth on three strikeouts.

After getting a flyout to open the frame, the Sun Devils brought in Alex Overbay from the bullpen. Overbay retired the next two hitters on two pitches, as two flyouts closed out the frame.

Ninth inning

Hairston led off with a walk, and Moutzouridis crushed a two-run shot to extend Arizona State’s lead to 12-8. Finn Leach grounded out, Toigo flew out to center, and Polk grounded out to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.

Overbay remained on the mound for the ninth, retiring the side on a flyout, popout, and groundout to secure the Sun Devil Victory.

Up next

The Sun Devils turn to another midweek game, hosting UNLV on Wednesday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. AZT and the game will be streamed live via ESPN+ and also available over the local airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM. Arizona State will then remain at home, welcoming the Utah Utes for a three-game Big 12 series at Muni beginning on Friday.