ASU holds off Cal comeback for 10-9 win, clinch series

(Photo Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

PHOENIX — On Friday night’s game against Cal, the bottom of the fifth inning was the turning point for Arizona State baseball. ASU was staring at a four-to-two deficit that was largely attributed to collectively hitting 3-16 (.188) entering the frame.

Cal freshman right-handed pitcher Trey Newmann entered the frame with four walks on the night. He nearly doubled that total in just one frame by walking ASU’s right fielder Nick McLain, first baseman Jacob Tobias, and designated hitter Brandon Compton. The bases were loaded for ASU when second baseman Ethan Mendoza stepped up to the plate.

This was when Cal made a pitching substitution. This decision was understandable seeing as the team only had a two-run lead and Newmann had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of two strikeouts to seven walks. Cal turned to the more experienced right-handed pitcher, senior Tyler Stasiowski, to get the team out of the jam. After striking out both Mendoza and center fielder Isaiah Jackson, it was beginning to look like this would be another missed opportunity for the struggling Sun Devil offense.

Then, in just one swing, the entire trajectory of the game changed drastically. Mario Demera, who has spent most of his career at second base but has filled in at third due to multiple injuries at the hot corner, hit the ball right out of Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The crowd erupted as a two-run deficit became a two-run lead, one ASU (13-14, 5-6 Pac-12) would never give up in a 10-9 win over Cal (15-9, 5-6 Pac-12)

“It looked like we were going to squander a big opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs,” head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “And he puts a charge into one which was huge.”

For Demera, the home run was not just a pivotal moment in the game, but a sign of progress. Entering the weekend series, the senior transfer from the University of San Francisco was hitting just three-for-25 in 10 games and seven starts. That home run put his series total at four-for-seven, and he left the game with a series total of four-for-eight.

“I felt like I was putting good swings on balls throughout the year leading up to now,” Demera said. “I was just able to get a couple (hits) tonight to help the team win.”

Later on in the seventh inning, the Sun Devils found themselves in a similar situation. Partially due to three walks, ASU had the bases loaded with just one out. This time, the Sun Devils were up seven-to-five. Cal then made another pitching substitution, this time from senior right-handed pitcher Connor Sullivan to sophomore right-handed pitcher Austin Turkington. Ryan Campos stepped up to the plate and hit a bases-clearing double, giving ASU a commanding five-run lead with 10 runs to Cal’s five.

These two hits that gave the Sun Devils a combined eight runs overshadowed a batting performance that left a lot to be desired. When gifted twelve walks by Cal on Friday night, ASU only had six hits to match it. Furthermore, ASU had 16 at bats when runners were in scoring position and only came up with three hits the whole night.

“Other than (the hits by Demera and Campos), we didn’t really hit very well,” Bloomquist said. “Those were the two big hits, obviously, but other than that we were pretty dismal with guys in scoring position.”

Headed into the ninth inning, the game appeared to be all but over. Cal was staring at a five-run deficit with just one inning to rally from behind. And for a while, it was very possible that Cal was going to actually pull off a miracle.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon was the team’s pitcher at the top of the ninth. He got off to a rather rough start to the frame when he walked Cal freshman second baseman Jarren Advincula. This was followed by junior center fielder Caleb Lomavita hitting a double to left field. With two runners in scoring position and no outs, ASU called upon junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Schiefer to close the game.

This season, Schiefer has proven to be a reliable pitcher for the Sun Devils. However, the GCU and Central Arizona College transfer experienced some uncharacteristic struggles. Cal junior center fielder Rodney Green Jr hit a home run that brought the game back within two runs.

Schiefer initially responded well, by retiring Cal junior first baseman Peyton Schulze and freshman designated hitter Matthew Thomas. However, he gave up back-to-back singles and Cal junior right fielder Seth Gwynn hit a double. Cal scored another run and had two runners in scoring position with two outs.

“Green put a charge into one there on (Schiefer) and we just missed an 0-2 spot,” Bloomquist said. “We gotta be better 0-2 there, and he knows that.”

Then, after changing the trajectory of the game earlier, Mario Demera sealed it. Cal freshman shortstop PJ Moutzouridis grounded out to Demera, and ASU narrowly came away with a one-run victory that shouldn’t have been decided in the ninth.

“We’re not going to have an easy coast to the finish line around here,” Bloomquist said. “We know that we can’t let off the gas.”