(Photo: Nickolas Montei/WCSN)
PHOENIX — In the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game against Grand Canyon, ASU was tied for the first time in the contest since the third inning. Then the Sun Devil offense proceeded to produce one of its biggest explosions of the season, scoring ten runs and taking the game before GCU had a chance to answer.
Arizona State baseball (35-18, 18-9 BIG 12) won by the run rule in its fifth consecutive home game in games that the run was eligible to be used, beating Grand Canyon (30-22, 13-8 WAC) 17-7. The Sun Devils beat their crosstown rival after losing in early April, and 12 of their hits were for extra bases.
“It’s kind of fitting (we) had a four run lead, and then stubbed our toe there in the seventh, and then this team responds like they always do,” ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “This team has been resilient all year long.”
All ASU batters reached base safely, with all but one reaching in the seventh. In the seventh ASU faced three GCU pitchers, with two failing to get an out. ASU had six hits, four walks and a hit batter in the seventh, with the last seven batters reaching safely.
Junior center fielder Isaiah Jackson slugged two home runs on the night including a grand slam in the seventh. He expanded his team-lead in home runs, clubbing his 15th on the year with nine coming in his last ten games with two grand slams in that time.
“I’m not swinging at pitchers’ pitches anymore,” Jackson said. “I’m not missing pitches that I should do damage with.”
Jackson scored three times on the night and drove in five as he was hit by a pitch, had two hits and walked. He is having a career year with career-bests in average, on base, slugging, runs, RBIs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs and walks. The Arizona native has a team-leading 62 RBIs.
Jackson changed his mentality in the beginning of the season as he had some swing changes in the offseason. He has bought into Bloomquist’s and ASU hitting coach Jason Ellison’s coaching.
“The day that he got back from summer ball, he came into my office and said, ‘Whatever you tell me to do, I’m doing this year, I’m not listening to anybody else,’” Bloomquist said.
Redshirt junior second baseman Kyle Walker had three hits including the walk-off double in the seventh. He drove in two, scored thrice and stole two bases on the night. His 21 stolen bases is higher than his Grambling State career total.
Another player who has a team-leading 21 stolen bases is junior right fielder Kien Vu. He stole a base, adding to his career high, as well as having three hits on the night and was hit once. Vu rides a 17 game on base streak, the current longest on the team.
“It’s a tough play, you can ask some of the catchers,” Vu said. “So running with confidence and just running like you’re gonna be safe every time is a huge thing I’ve noticed.”
Redshirt sophomore designated hitter Brandon Compton has had a long ball in three consecutive games. He also drew two walks on the night. Compton is having a sophomore slump but the bat has started to come alive lately and could prove crucial late in the season.
Like Compton, sophomore third baseman Jax Ryan is a bat ASU will have to rely on down the stretch as he is the replacement for junior Nu’u Contrades who is out for the year with a hand injury. Ryan had an impactful night as he scored three all three times he reached base, including the game winning run. He had two hits, was hit by a pitch and drove in one.
Senior shortstop Matt King had another productive night from the dish, raking his seventh homer on the season, making it his career high in homers and extra base hits. He drove in two and scored once as he found two hits at the plate.
Freshman left fielder Landon Hairston launched his fourth homer of the season. He had three RBIs as he reached three times and scored once.
Pitching was a struggle in the game as ASU’s most reliable arms junior righty Lucas Kelly and sophomore lefty Cole Carlon had off nights. Kelly went one and a third allowing three runs on three baserunners. His ERA rises to 3.42.
Carlon went the final two thirds as he, like Kelly, allowed three baserunners but only allowed a run. The southpaw allowed both of his inherited runners from Kelly to score. Carlon’s ERA increases to 2.58.
Josh Butler had a solid night pitching two innings that were hampered by a defensive error that allowed a pair of runs to score. Butler allowed four baserunners and his ERA fell to 4.60 with no earned runs given up in the game.
Freshman lefty Max Arlich had a commendable outing as he pitched three innings, his career high, making him the second straight ASU starter to do so. The lone hit that Arlich surrendered was a home run that was the only run he gave up. His ERA rises to 1.64 as the lefty is having a good season.
Arizona State announced a program record of season-long attendance with 119,956 fans attending games throughout the teams first year in Big 12 play. The Sun Devils home record was 26-9, the best in Bloomqust’s tenure.
Senior first baseman Jacob Tobias was choked up in the postgame press conference as it was his last home game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in his four-year tenure with the team. Tobias is the first senior that Bloomquist has coached for a full four years.
“(He) has represented this program the way it’s supposed to be represented,” Bloomquist said. “I honestly thought he was a clubhouse worker the first time I met him, I’m like ‘This kid’s coming to ASU?’ and then I saw him hit for the first time.”
Tobias reached base three times and scored twice making it a memorable final game for him. He has been the only ASU player to start every game and have a consistent lineup position throughout the year. Tobias has grown close to the program as he considers it home to him with people he loves.
“It’s been awesome the last four years here, it’s tough realizing it’s over,” Tobias said. “I consider (Bloomquist) a part of my family now.”
