(Photo: Dominic Cotroneo/WCSN)
Arizona State (20-7, 8-2) had to fight hard for it, but they came away with a 5-3 victory in 12 innings over the University of Utah, thanks to a go-ahead home run from Andrew Snow.
Snow overcame a tough game to produce at the perfect time. The home run was the first in his collegiate career.
The Sun Devils have been masters at winning close games all season and today was no exception. They improved to 3-0 in extra inning games. Most of the wins haven’t been pretty, but ASU continues to manage victory after victory.
Seth Martinez was forced to pitch a day earlier than normal, and didn’t turn in his best nor his worst outing. The right-hander went 4 and 2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs. One of the earned runs he allowed came on a miscommunication in center field between Johnny Sewald and Colby Woodmansee.
Darin Gillies came through when the Sun Devils needed him most out of the bullpen, pitching in 2 and 2/3 innings and retiring all eight batters that he faced.
Closer Ryan Burr had an outing that was reminiscent of the one he had on Opening Day, but he wasn’t as successful this time.
A clutch suicide squeeze from the Utes in the ninth inning off of Burr sent the game into extra innings. The flame throwing right-hander was able to keep the game alive in the tenth when he recorded back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded.
The Utes decided to pitch Nolan Stouder in place of Brett Helton, their regular Friday starter who has been struggling, and Stouder filled in nicely. He held an intimidating Sun Devils offense to just three hits and one earned run over seven innings.
Utah also received a valiant effort from closer Brock Duke, who received an extended workload by pitching four innings in relief. He ended up surrendering the home run to Snow at the tail end of his outing.
ASU’s only offense prior to the long ball was on an RBI single from Brian Serven. Snow also added an RBI groundout in the second inning.
The Sun Devils blew an opportunity in the tenth when Andrew Shaps was unable to drive home Sewald from third.
With the lead intact, Eli Lingos finished off the Utes to give ASU the inside track in notching its fourth straight Pac-12 series win.
Ryan Kellogg will try to stay undefeated on the season when he takes the hill for ASU on Friday.
