Clutch Hitting Propels Sun Devils to Victory Against Cal

(Photo: Marina Williams/WCSN)

PHOENIX — There were two sides to Arizona State baseball’s offense on Saturday. Those sides were how they performed when there were none or one outs, and how they performed when there were two outs. While the team’s overall batting average was a middling .265, the contrast between the bats in these situations was sizable.

When there was one out at most, ASU collectively hit 3-for-19. The hitting when there were two outs was a far superior effort, hitting a collective 6-for-15 in that specific situation. The .400 batting average with two outs was more than twice the .168 batting average with one out at most.

“You just keep passing the torch and keep putting together good at bats and not give up,” head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “Don’t give in on at bats, every (at bat) matters.”

The difference between how both teams batted with two outs ultimately proved to be crucial, as Cal hit a mere 4-for-14 (.286) by comparison in that situation. Having a substantial margin in this situation was a deciding factor of the game, as the Sun Devils (14-14, 6-6 Pac-12) secured a 9-6 victory over Cal (15-10, 6-6 Pac-12) and their first series sweep of the season.

How this influenced the game’s outcome was evident in the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Sun Devils were tied at two with two outs. ASU had scored two runs off consecutive home runs to begin the inning, but that was followed by two straight outs. Up to bat was third baseman Mario Demera.

Demera hit a weak ground ball to Cal senior righty Tom Mayer, and the umpires called him out at first base. However, ASU challenged the ruling on the field so the umpires would review a potential throwing error by the pitcher. The challenge paid off, and Demera remained at first.

“Fourth inning there, we had two outs, nobody on,” Bloomquist said. “Demera hits a nubber where they call him out and we got a challenge right, how about it? You never know when a big inning is going to start.”

Next up to the plate was shortstop Steven Ondina, who hit a double. The Sun Devils were now in scoring position when left fielder Harris Williams came up to bat. Williams was then hit by Mayer.

Mayer arguably came in too early and was in longer than he should have been. Tyler May was pitching for the Golden Bears to begin the game, and he had allowed just two baserunners — one hit and one walk — through two innings. Nevertheless, May was pulled, and Mayer came up to the mound. Mayer was undoubtedly at fault for the bases being loaded, seeing as he had the throwing error and he hit Williams.

This was when catcher Ryan Campos stepped up to the plate. Campos, who hit a bases-clearing double on Friday, made it two consecutive days with a bases-clearing double. Williams, Ondina, and Demera all cashed in, and ASU had a three-run lead. This was immediately followed by right fielder Nick McLain hitting an RBI single, and the lead was extended to four runs.

“That all started with a nubber with two outs and nobody on,” Bloomquist said. “Ultimately, (the six-run inning) ended up being the difference of the game.”

The bottom of the fourth wasn’t the only occasion in which the Sun Devils scored with two outs. It happened twice in the fifth when Demera hit an RBI double and Ondina hit an RBI single. Without these scores, Cal would’ve tied the game up in the sixth inning when the bats had four runs in the frame.

Following scoreless frames in the bottom of the sixth inning from ASU and by Cal in the seventh, Kien Vu was up to bat after Cal’s relief pitcher Oliver Boone retired the five batters ahead of him in the lineup. Up to that point, Boone was providing Cal some much needed stability.

That was until Kien Vu hit a home run to right field. ASU’s lead was back to three runs, with the Sun Devils having nine and Cal having six. Both team’s runs remained the same until the game ended, and ASU’s seven runs with two outs was advantageous toward ASU.

“You never know when (a big inning) is going to start,” Bloomquist said. “You got to take every at bat with an intention of doing something good and getting something handled with that at bat.”