(Photo: Sammy Nute/WCSN)
PHOENIX — Arizona State baseball has a good problem on its hands of having too many hitters to play in the starting lineup, but the team needed everybody to get the most thrilling win of the season against crosstown rival Grand Canyon.
The Sun Devils are in a tough position of wanting to get more players at-bats, but also needing to win games to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumé. ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist rolled out a unique starting lineup that included seven righty bats with GCU sophomore left-handed pitcher Grant Richardson on the mound, which resulted in some major lefty bats like redshirt sophomore Harris Williams not starting, but everyone needs to be ready at all times.
That was certainly the case against GCU as Williams stepped in the box for the ninth inning. The San Francisco transfer has been ASU’s leadoff hitter while starting 27 of the team’s 29 games, but Tuesday was his first pinch-hit appearance.
With the bases loaded in his first official at-bat of the night after a walk in the seventh inning, the former Don hit the ball high into left-center field. Off the bat, it seemed like GCU redshirt senior center fielder Eddy Pelc had a chance to make a play, but the ball dropoed just past his outstretched glove and the Sun Devils walked it off.
ASU (15-14, 6-6 Pac-12) won the battle of Maricopa County in frenetic fashion with a 9-8 victory over GCU (15-12, 9-3 Wac). There’s an old adage that says,“it’s not how you start, but it’s how you finish.” Williams did not get to start, but certainly was able to finish the way he always dreamed of.
“It was awesome. It was a ton of fun,” Williams said. “Our coaches said in there (that) there’s really not another experience like it. The rush you get when you come from behind and you win it in the bottom of the ninth. It’s what every little kid dreams of when they’re playing Little League with their dad or playing wiffle ball. It’s the walk-off ninth inning. There’s nothing really like it.”
There were several factors that resulted in Williams getting the opportunity of a lifetime.
The walk-off makes everyone forget about the controversial no-balk call on GCU senior closer Nathan Ward earlier in Williams’ at-bat. If the balk was called, the game would have tied, but the redshirt senior would never have the chance for his special moment if that were the case. Maybe someone else would have the chance, but the game could have also reached extra innings and anything is possible from that point on.
The other moment that changed the course of the game occurred in the top of the ninth inning when GCU senior second baseman Dustin Crenshaw hit a double off the right-center field wall and attempted to advance to third base for the triple, but was gunned down on a 8-6-5 relay for the second out. This was also a controversial call as it looked like it could have been called a home run after potentially hitting the College World Series appearances sign in center field, but the call stood after a lengthy review from the umpires.
Despite potentially missing out on another home run and getting the insurance run, Crenshaw had a phenomenal performance as he logged four hits from the seventh spot in the lineup, including the go-ahead grand slam at the time in the seventh inning. The Sun Devils led for the majority of the game, so this seemed like a crushing blow, but the fact that it wasn’t proves how resilient this team is.
“I think the great thing is, obviously we don’t like getting behind, but the great thing is we know that we can come back on anybody,” Bloomquist said. “If we get down, there’s no quit and we’re going to keep coming back. Tonight, the example, obviously getting the lead and then giving it up and then having to bounce back again. That’s a sign of a good team to win late and be able to come back after you’ve given up a lead and respond to it. Hopefully, the mindset and mentality seems to start taking shape and these guys are just playing hard, so that’s all we can ask for.”
ASU had that lead because of the crooked inning it put together in the third when it scored five runs in the frame. The Sun Devils had a big inning, but the impressive part is that they did not have any home runs in the frame. In fact, ASU did not have any homers in the entire game, which demonstrates how the lineup can still be effective with putting nine runs on the board without hitting it out of the park.
The Sun Devils utilized small ball throughout the game to generate a rally in the third inning to take the big lead and in the ninth inning to take the win. It’s no surprise that sophomore center fielder Kien Vu was a catalyst for the way the offense played against GCU.
Vu only started four of the first 24 games of the season despite the opportunity with sophomore right fielder Nick McLain missing the first couple weeks with an injury. However, he started three of the last five games and has made it difficult for Bloomquist to take him out of the lineup with six hits during that span.
The San Diego native may have been the odd man out early on in the season, but he still started as a lefty bat against GCU — despite it being a righty-heavy lineup — and made the decision worthwhile. Vu had two singles with the first one taking the lead in the third inning and the second one starting the ninth inning rally.
Vu waited his turn early in the season and he is now reaping the reward of being a key contributor to this offense. Now it’s time for the rest of the players to get the same opportunity and the game against GCU was a great opportunity to showcase that.
“I think all of us are just waiting our turn and as soon as we get into the game, our main objective is to produce, so it feels good,” Vu said. “I think for all the guys that are — I guess — second in their position or just waiting their turn, I know I am and I think I can speak for all of them that they are hungry and they’re going to jump on that opportunity. (Senior designated hitter) Josiah (Cromwick) had a great game. He hit a clutch double. And then (senior catcher) Trey (Newman) had barrels, like that’s all you can ask for. Just getting our opportunities and making the most out of it and having fun.”
ASU will need all hands on deck when they play No. 5 Oregon State in Corvallis this weekend. The Sun Devils will quite literally have almost all hands on deck as Bloomquist said that every pitcher that pitched on Tuesday — except freshman right-handed pitcher Adam Behrens — should be available for Friday as all seven relievers who were used threw 25 pitches or less in the game.
However, the one arm that will not be available is freshman right-handed pitcher Thomas Burns because of an “irritated bicep tendon” according to Bloomquist. This is obviously a difficult loss as Burns is the ace of the staff as the Friday starter, but Vu is still confident his team can get the job done in what appears to be their most difficult series this season to date.
“I know we can definitely do a good job out there (at OSU),” Vu said. “We have the lineup to do it and we have the bullpen to do it. I don’t think it’ll take much. I think we can go into the weekend and if we play our best baseball, we’ll come home feeling good about our time in Corvallis.”
