No. 23 Sun Devil Baseball secured another series win after clutch hitting helped the team overcome the big hole and pull off the victory.
(Provo, UT) No. 23 Sun Devil Baseball secured another rubber match victory, rallying from seven down to defeat BYU, 12-8, and take the series in Provo.
Arizona State (28-13, 11-7 Big 12) posted the sixth seven-run comeback of the Willie Bloomquist era and second this season. The team shook off an early 7-0 disadvantage through three innings behind pivotal clutch hitting with outs, batting 8-for-14 (.571) and scoring 11 of its 12 runs after the second out had been recorded.
With the win, ASU moved to 8-1 in weekend series this season and 4-1 in rubber matches this year – two of which have come on the road.
Austen Roellig was 3-for-5 with two pivotal insurance RBIs in the ninth inning after BYU elected to walk Landon Hairston to face him. Nu’u Contrades had three RBIs and Beckett Zavorek and PJ Moutzouridis combined to go 5-for-9 with five runs scored, three RBIs, and four doubles out of the 8-9 hole in the Sun Devil order.
The bullpen trio of Colin Linder, Sean Fitzpatrick, and Derek Schaefer combined for five shutout innings, with Schaefer posting a six-out save – his sixth of the season. Sun Devil pitchers stranded 12 BYU baserunners and allowed just a 1-for-10 effort with two outs.
In the third inning, the offense started showing signs of life, loading the bases before a fielder’s choice groundout ended the frame. However, the Sun Devils were able to break through in the fourth, scoring six runs on seven hits, with all but one hit coming with two outs. BYU added a run in the fourth, but another run in the fifth had Arizona State down by one. From there, the pitching staff put up zeroes and allowed the offense to take the lead.
In the seventh, a pinch-hit leadoff triple from Ky McGary, and a sac fly from Matt Polk tied the game at eight, and more two-out hitting drove in two more runs to make it a 10-8 ballgame. Arizona State was able to add on two more insurance runs in the ninth inning to put the game out of reach.
Inning by inning
First inning
Roellig had a one-out single but was thrown out stealing second with two outs and ASU was only able to bring the minimum to the plate in the frame. BYU homered on the very first pitch it saw in the game and added another with one out. The Cougars made Klecker pay for a two-out walk, stealing second and scoring on an RBI single to drop ASU into a 3-0 hole.
Second inning
Michel reached on an infield single after Contrades flew out to the warning track down the right field line and Polk walked to put two on with one out but a double play quickly ended the threat. Klecker got a quick out and then worked ahead against BYU’s nine-hole batter who was hitting under Mendoza line but Parker Goff ripped a double down the left field line and the inning unraveled from there, resulting in a big three run shot to Ezra McNaughton – who was 0-for-9 for the weekend entering his at-bat – as the Sun Devils fell into a 6-0 hole.
Third inning
Moutzouridis was hit by a pitch with one out and took second on a wild pitch with two outs and Roellig was also hit to put two runners on. BYU went to its bullpen, but the new pitcher immediately walked Toigo to load the bases with a pair of outs but the Sun Devils left them there, unable to break into BYU’s lead. The Cougars extended said lead to 7-0 with a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the frame, though Overbay was able to strand a pair in scoring position to avoid further damage.
Fourth inning
The Sun Devils finally broke through after a Polk single and Zavorek two-out walk as Moutzouridis recorded his first hit of the weekend on an RBI double. Hairston followed by beating the shift with a two-RBI single to bring ASU back within four. Roellig singled and Toigo legged out an infield single against the shift to load the bases again. Contrades wasn’t going to be denied two innings in a row as he gapped one to right center for a bases-clearing double that brought ASU back within 7-6. BYU had a response though with a leadoff double and walk, plating a run on a sac fly and getting the other to third on a two-out error. A hit batter and stolen base had two more in scoring position but Overbay got another big strikeout to strand them there and keep ASU within 8-6.
Fifth inning
Polk recorded his seventh hit of the weekend and stole second with one out and Zavorek plated him with a double to the right center gap but the Sun Devils couldn’t bring in the game-tying run, remaining in an 8-7 hole. Colin Linder came in and got two quick strikeouts before walking the BYU leadoff batter. Unfazed, he got the dangerous McNaughton to fly out to right for the first zero of the game on the board for the Sun Devil pitchers.
Sixth inning
The Sun Devils were unable to capitalize on said zero, going down in order for the first time in the contest. BYU led off with a single and a walk put a pair on with no outs. ASU drew up a great defensive play on a sac bunt attempt, with a charging Garrett Michel from first able to throw over to third in time for the force of the lead runner. Linder got a strikeout for the second out before handing the rock off to Fitzpatrick out of the pen. Fitzpatrick got out to an 0-2 lead in the count but Cooper Jones battled back to walk and load the bases. The team captain was unfazed, freezing the BYU eight-hole batter with a backwards K to strand them there.
Seventh inning
ASU went with Ky McGary to pinch hit and leadoff the seventh and the youngster responded with a triple down the right field line. Polk followed with a sac fly to center to bring ASU all the way back from its 7-0 deficit, tying the game at 8-8. Zavorek notched a two-out infield single, keeping the inning alive and Moutzouridis delivered by ripping a 1-2 pitch down the left field line for an RBI double and ASU’s first lead of the game. A two-out error by the BYU second baseman allowed Moutzouridis to score after a Hairston walk as ASU took a 10-8 lead into the stretch. Fitzpatrick gave ASU a much needed stop after score with an efficient seven-pitch inning, capped by a nice defensive play by Moutzouridis at shortstop.
Eighth inning
Contrades worked a four-pitch walk to lead off the frame but a flyout and a tough-luck double play quickly ended the ASU half of the frame. Schaefer entered to close things out and got the dangerous Ryder Robinson to fly out to lead off but BYU brought the tying out to the plate after a one-out single after Polk slipped attempting to field the ball in left. Schaefer rallied, though, with back-to-back strikeouts and held on to the two-run lead.
Ninth inning
Zavorek notched a one-out double and took third on a Moutzouridis flyout. BYU chose to intentionally walk Hairston, who stole second to put two in scoring position with two outs. Roellig made them pay for the decision with a two-RBI single to make it a 12-8 game. Schaefer got a leadoff strikeout but hit the second batter he faced and threw two bad balls to the next batter. A quick infield meeting settled Schaefer back down and he got another strikeout for the second out. But another hit batter made things hairy, with the tying run waiting on deck. Schaefer was able to hold on and get a flyout to right to end the game and secure the series victory for the Sun Devils.
Up next
The Sun Devils will return home for a midweek game against New Mexico State on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. AZT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
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