(Orlando, FL) No. 19 Sun Devil Baseball secured its fifth rubber match victory of the season, taking the series over UCF with a 6-3 win on Sunday evening.
After dropping the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, Arizona State (33-15, 16-8 Big 12) looked to move back into second place in the conference and accomplished it with huge plays in all facets of the game down the stretch in Orlando.
After failing to do so in the opening game of the day, the Sun Devils plated three go-ahead runs in the ninth inning to secure the series.
Nu’u Contrades got the Sun Devils on the board first, cranking a two-run home run in the first inning to give ASU an early lead. Contrades logged the only multi-hit day of the game for ASU. The offense went quiet after Contrades’ early longball, going just 1-for-18 from the second to seventh innings while UCF clawed back into things.
However, the pitching staff did its part to keep the potent UCF offense from taking control of the game. Starting pitcher Colin Linder delivered four innings of one-run ball and Sean Fitzpatrickwas able to get the Devils out of a massive jam in the seventh to set the table for Derek Schaefer to close things out.
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Inning by inning
First inning
Hairston worked a leadoff walk and Contrades rewarded him by smashing one into the wind into deep left center for a two-run shot for the early lead. Toigo walked and took second on a one-out wild pitch. Polk gave another one a ride to the warning track in left field but this one got caught in the wind and ASU was unable to add to its lead. UCF got a one-out full count single that stole second on a strikeout and was left stranded there by Linder with his second strikeout.
Second inning
Briggs worked a one-out walk and Moutzouridis had a nice at-bat, smoking a full count pitch on the eighth pitch that unfortunately went directly to second baseman for an easy double play and the minimum at the plate for ASU. UCF drew a two-out walk and stolen base but Linder again stranded the runner in scoring position.
Third inning
The top of the Sun Devil order went down in order. UCF got a pair of one-out singles from the first two batters in its lineup and then runners on the corners after a fielder’s choice, scoring a run on a wild pitch. A two-out walk on four pitches kept the pressure on with runners on first and second but a flyout ended the threat and kept ASU on top, 2-1.
Fourth inning
ASU got a couple of free passes with a one-out walk from Smaldino followed by a HBP on Polk despite being down 1-2 in the count and moved into scoring position on a groundout. UCF went to the bullpen and a Briggs strikeout ended the ASU threat.
Fifth inning
Hairston reached on a full count HBP with one out and Contrades followed with a single and the two runners moved into scoring position on an error. A pair of first pitch flyouts from Toigo and Roellig immediately ended the threat again. Colby Guy entered out of the bullpen to face the top of UCF’s lineup and recorded ASU’s first 1-2-3 inning of the game in the process on just 13 pitches.
Sixth inning
Niclai put a two-out charge in one to opposite right field but the ball was run down at the warning track with a nice extended grab at the wall to rob extra bases and end the inning. Guy worked two quick outs but a two-out walk and an opposite field double down the left field line plated the run for first and tied the game at 2-2. An infield single put the go-ahead run 90 feet away but Guy got a swinging strikeout to keep things even.
Seventh inning
Moutzouridis and Contrades and reached on a pair of HBPs to put two on with two outs but ASU again failed to do any damage. UCF loaded the bases without putting the ball into play behind a walk and two HBPs to bring Fitzpatrick into the game with one out. The reliever was able limit the damage to just a sac fly but the Knights took the lead regardless, 3-2.
Eighth inning
Roellig laced a line drive single through the opposite right side to get the tying run on the bases and Polk added a one-out single to move him into scoring position. Garrett Michel chopped a comebacker to the pitcher, who attempted to get the force at second but an aggressive slide by Polk broke up the play and the ball rolled into the outfield, allowing Roellig to score and tie the game. With runners on the corners one out, the Devils imploded. Briggs popped up to the pitcher on a squeeze bunt attempt and despite being gifted a perfect double steal opportunity, ASU got caught in a run down for the final out at home as the game remained tied.
Fitzpatrick got the first out of the frame and the Devils turned to closer Derek Schaefer, who gave up a hit on the first pitch he threw but got a flyout and battled back from a 3-0 count against the dangerous Andrew Williamson to get the final out with a backwards punchout to send things to the ninth.
Ninth inning
With one out, Hairston singled, then stole second and moved over to third on a throwing error. Contrades was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, then Toigo doubled to right to bring in the go-ahead run. A sacrifice fly from Roellig made it 5-3, and an RBI-single from Smaldino extended the lead to three. Schaefer returned to the mound for the bottom of the frame, retiring the first batter via a groundout before allowing a single past a diving Moutzouridis. However, Schaefer was able to get a groundball-double play to seal the victory and series win for Arizona State.
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Quotables
Outfielder Landon Hairston
On getting the series win over UCF
“I think we battled tonight. Obviously, some things didn’t go our way the first half of the game, we were barreling balls everywhere and just couldn’t find a whole, but we just kept knocking, kept going, and sure enough, it turned in our favor at the end of the game.”
On the strength of the lineup behind him
“They’re (Contrades and Toigo) hitters, pure as can be. Nu’u has been huge this past month, and Dean is steady as can be, so having those two guys hit behind me, I know that if I don’t do my job at one point, I know they’re going to pick me up. And they know I got their back as well, so that’s what this team is made of, and I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more of it.”
On the pitching staff during the doubleheader
“Some unexpected things happened on both sides ends, they were a little banged up, too, so we battled, the pitching staff battled at the plate, and that’s what this team is. We keep battling, we keep grinding, and we know if somebody doesn’t have it that day, someone behind him is going to pick him up.”
On keeping the momentum through the rest of the season
“I think just attacking every day like it’s the same day. It’s easy to look into the future, easy to look into regional playoffs and all those things, but we’re just taking it one series at a time, and we got Oklahoma State next, so I’m looking forward to that.”
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Up next
The Sun Devils return home for their final home conference series of the season next weekend. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. AZT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Brooklyn Cohen
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