PHOENIX – No. 24/23 Sun Devil Baseball engineered a miraculous eighth-inning comeback, receiving five RBI in the frame from Luke Hill and plating nine total to overcome a seven-run deficit en route to a 13-10 triumph over Grand Canyon University in front of 4,311 fans at Brazell Field - the fifth-largest crowd in GCU history.
Arizona State's (24-9, 10-2 Pac-12) freshmen were responsible for 10 RBI in the dramatic win over the Lopes (18-14, 9-6 WAC), paced by Hill's five in the eighth. Nick McLain made his collegiate debut and went 3-for-6 with four RBIs - including a two-run insurance missile in the ninth.
The Sun Devils went down 7-0 without sniffing a run through four innings. ASU picked up two in the fifth on base hits from Isaiah Jackson, Wyatt Crenshaw and McLain and had the bases loaded in the sixth, but left them stranded and GCU capitalized with two in the seventh to extend the lead back to seven at 9-2.
ASU then sent 14 batters to the plate in its nine-run eighth and the Lopes needed three pitchers to record the three outs. All nine runs came with two strikes and the final two came with two outs as well, including Jacob Tobias's two-RBI single to tie the game followed by Hill's two-RBI single to take the first lead of the game.
McLain provided the insurance two-run blast in the ninth on a pitch below the knees and completely off the inside part of the plate. ASU also got multi-hit days from Jackson, Tobias and Luke Keaschall. Blake Pivaroff had a massive 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eight to keep the momentum in ASU's favor.
THE TURNING POINT
Luke Hill breathed life into the Sun Devils with a three-run home run to cut the ASU deficit down to 9-5 in the eighth. He was helped by Luke Keaschall singling to lead off and Jacob Tobias doubling him over to third. That started the massive frame with ASU getting back within a pair thanks to a McLain RBI single and a Keaschall bases loaded RBI walk.
THE BIG MOMENT
The Sun Devils suddenly found themselves a couple of base hits away from claiming the lead with two outs. Jacob Tobias lanced a laser with the bases loaded that went just foul to avoid the go-ahead grand slam but immediately settled in and poked a single through the opposite left side that plated two runs and tied the game. Luke Hill, for the second time in the frame, had a massive AB before launching a bloop single over the second basemen's head to plate another pair and give ASU its first lead of the game.
THE FINAL STRAW
In his first collegiate game, Nick McLain roped a two-run homer in the ninth to give the Sun Devils two additional insurance runs. Blake Pivaroff tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth with a pair of punchouts and Owen Stevenson secured the last three outs in the ninth, stranding a pair on the corners with the tying run at the plate.
NOTABLES
First Inning
Nick McLain saw five pitches in his first collegiate at-bat, lacing a lineout to the shortstop. The Sun Devils went down in order.
Matt Tieding allowed three consecutive hits to start the frame, including one GCU run, but ASU was helped by McLain's first career assist that recorded the first out, a 9-5 dart. It saved a run, as the next at-bat resulted in a flyout to center.
Luke Keaschall ripped a leadoff double, but the side was retired in order afterwards.
The Lopes smacked a three-run homer to go ahead 4-0 and ASU went to the bullpen. Timmy Manning needed just five pitches to get the next two outs, sending the game to the third.
Third Inning
Isaiah Jackson laced another two-bagger down the right field line, but the next three men were sat down.
GCU scored two more on a two-run double, touching up Manning in his first full inning of work and extending the lead to 6-0.
Fourth Inning
Another leadoff knock, this time from Ryan Campos, was not cashed in for the Sun Devils. The Lopes tacked on one more after a single, two stolen bases and a sacrifice fly, making it 7-0.
Fifth Inning
The Sun Devil bats stepped off the bus in the fifth. Wyatt Crenshaw singled and made a gutsy advance to second on a flyball, then was doubled in by Isaiah Jackson. McLain picked an opportune time for his first collegiate hit, cashing in his first RBI in the process with a single that made it 7-2 Sun Devils.
After Manning recorded the first out in the home half, ASU called on Nolan Lebamoff for a flyout and the final out was cut down at home plate for the final out of the frame.
Sixth Inning
Keaschall was hit by a pitch to open the sixth and swiped second, still with nobody out. Tobias walked, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. ASU eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but pushed none across to end the frame.
Josh Hansell pitched a hitless seventh and Arizona State went to the seventh trailing 7-2.
Seventh Inning
ASU went down in order in the top half. Christian Bodlovich entered in the bottom half and gave up two outs before being relieved for Brock Peery. Peery allowed two of Bodlovich's runs to score and it was 9-2 Lopes heading into the eighth.
Eighth Inning
ASU got its first four runners of the inning on with a single, two doubles, and a three-run home run by Luke Hill to cut the deficit to 9-5. With Crenshaw on third and one down, McLain slapped an opposite field single, making it 9-6 Lopes, the closest ASU had been since the three-run GCU homer in the second. Then, with two outs and the bases full, Keaschall walked in a run. On a 1-2 count, Jacob Tobias played hero, slapping a base hit that plated two, knotting the game at nine and giving ASU seven runs in the inning.
Ninth Inning
After a one-out single from Rogers, Nate McLain sent a towering home run over the right field fence to extend the Sun Devil lead to 13-9.
ON DECK:
ASU heads to Seattle to take on Washington in a three-game series that begins on Fri. April 14th at 6:05 p.m. MST. The game can be seen on Washington Live Stream-2 and heard on KDUS 1060 AM.
Arizona State's (24-9, 10-2 Pac-12) freshmen were responsible for 10 RBI in the dramatic win over the Lopes (18-14, 9-6 WAC), paced by Hill's five in the eighth. Nick McLain made his collegiate debut and went 3-for-6 with four RBIs - including a two-run insurance missile in the ninth.
The Sun Devils went down 7-0 without sniffing a run through four innings. ASU picked up two in the fifth on base hits from Isaiah Jackson, Wyatt Crenshaw and McLain and had the bases loaded in the sixth, but left them stranded and GCU capitalized with two in the seventh to extend the lead back to seven at 9-2.
ASU then sent 14 batters to the plate in its nine-run eighth and the Lopes needed three pitchers to record the three outs. All nine runs came with two strikes and the final two came with two outs as well, including Jacob Tobias's two-RBI single to tie the game followed by Hill's two-RBI single to take the first lead of the game.
McLain provided the insurance two-run blast in the ninth on a pitch below the knees and completely off the inside part of the plate. ASU also got multi-hit days from Jackson, Tobias and Luke Keaschall. Blake Pivaroff had a massive 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eight to keep the momentum in ASU's favor.
THE TURNING POINT
Luke Hill breathed life into the Sun Devils with a three-run home run to cut the ASU deficit down to 9-5 in the eighth. He was helped by Luke Keaschall singling to lead off and Jacob Tobias doubling him over to third. That started the massive frame with ASU getting back within a pair thanks to a McLain RBI single and a Keaschall bases loaded RBI walk.
THE BIG MOMENT
The Sun Devils suddenly found themselves a couple of base hits away from claiming the lead with two outs. Jacob Tobias lanced a laser with the bases loaded that went just foul to avoid the go-ahead grand slam but immediately settled in and poked a single through the opposite left side that plated two runs and tied the game. Luke Hill, for the second time in the frame, had a massive AB before launching a bloop single over the second basemen's head to plate another pair and give ASU its first lead of the game.
THE FINAL STRAW
In his first collegiate game, Nick McLain roped a two-run homer in the ninth to give the Sun Devils two additional insurance runs. Blake Pivaroff tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth with a pair of punchouts and Owen Stevenson secured the last three outs in the ninth, stranding a pair on the corners with the tying run at the plate.
NOTABLES
- ASU trailed by as many as seven, the third time in the Willie Bloomquist era that Arizona State has come back from seven runs and won a game. The last time it happened in a single game, period, before Bloomquist was March 3, 2000.
- Arizona State freshmen combined for 10 RBI; five of which came from Luke Hill in the eighth inning alone. Nick McLain had four of his own.
- In fact, nine of ASU's 16 hits came from the freshmen including four of ASU's seven extra base knocks. Isaiah Jackson pitched in with two doubles.
- Sun Devil Baseball is the only Pac-12 team with nine or more men with at least three home runs this season after Luke Hill blasted his third in the eighth,.
- Campos, who had the highest OBP in the Pac-12 before today, (.527), has reached base in a Pac-12 leading 31 straight games and in 68-of-75 (90.6%) of games with the Sun Devils overall.
- Arizona State is now 5-0 in-state this season, with a series sweep over the Arizona Wildcats and two wins in single-game midweeks against GCU.
- ASU plated nine runs in the eighth to take an 11-9 lead., tied for its most runs in an inning this season (nine at Cal, 4/2/23).
- In fact, all nine of the runs came on two strikes and every run in the game came with either two strikes or two outs.
- The Sun Devils improved to 7-0 in single game midweeks this season. This is notable as the team was 4-6 in such games last season.
- Arizona State also improved to 13-2 in games separated by three runs or less.
- Lebamoff has continued his dominance out of the bullpen, not allowing an earned run in any of his last 15 appearances after allowing three in the first two.
- Luke Keaschall's sixth inning stolen base gave him the highest SB% in the Pac-12 at 92.3% (min. 5 SB).
- Additionally, Keaschall has the second-most stolen bases (13) in a single season for a Sun Devil dating back to 2016. Only Joe Lampe had more (17).
- He is also making waves at the plate. Keaschall joins Hill in leading ASU with a six-game hitting streak after they both got big knocks against the Lopes. He added his Pac-12 leading 13th double of the season in the contest as well.
- Isaiah Jackson is batting .454 in his last five games. He has brought his season average up from .218 to .245 in that span.
- Luke Hill banged a career-high five RBI, all of them coming in the eighth inning on a homer and 2-RBI base hit.
- Hill's go-ahead RBI in his second at-bat of the eighth was the fourth game-winning hit of his Sun Devil career.
- Additionally, his five RBI night tied him for the most in a game by a single Sun Devil this season (Luke Keaschall, 03/24 vs. Arizona and Nu'u Contrades, 03/25 vs. Arizona).
- Grand Canyon's 18 hits are the most in a loss since a 20 hit, 9-8 loss at UC Riverside on Mar. 14, 2018.
- Sun Devil Baseball was previously 1-7 this season when trailing after seven innings this season.
- ASU has trailed at some point in 12 its last 14 victories and 14 of the squad's victories overall.
- The win moves ASU to 13-2 when hitting two or more home runs this season.
- Sun Devil Baseball improves to 16-2 this season when recording double-digit hits in a game.
- Jacob Tobias' two RBI was his team-leading 11th multiple RBI game of the season.
First Inning
Nick McLain saw five pitches in his first collegiate at-bat, lacing a lineout to the shortstop. The Sun Devils went down in order.
Matt Tieding allowed three consecutive hits to start the frame, including one GCU run, but ASU was helped by McLain's first career assist that recorded the first out, a 9-5 dart. It saved a run, as the next at-bat resulted in a flyout to center.
Second InningOh my ??
— Sun Devil Baseball (@ASU_Baseball) April 12, 2023
Just an absolute HOSE from @nickmclain_ in his first collegiate defensive play.
GCU plates one in the first but McLain saves a run with this one.
1-0, other guys, after one. pic.twitter.com/viVdUWvqr4
Luke Keaschall ripped a leadoff double, but the side was retired in order afterwards.
The Lopes smacked a three-run homer to go ahead 4-0 and ASU went to the bullpen. Timmy Manning needed just five pitches to get the next two outs, sending the game to the third.
Third Inning
Isaiah Jackson laced another two-bagger down the right field line, but the next three men were sat down.
GCU scored two more on a two-run double, touching up Manning in his first full inning of work and extending the lead to 6-0.
Fourth Inning
Another leadoff knock, this time from Ryan Campos, was not cashed in for the Sun Devils. The Lopes tacked on one more after a single, two stolen bases and a sacrifice fly, making it 7-0.
Fifth Inning
The Sun Devil bats stepped off the bus in the fifth. Wyatt Crenshaw singled and made a gutsy advance to second on a flyball, then was doubled in by Isaiah Jackson. McLain picked an opportune time for his first collegiate hit, cashing in his first RBI in the process with a single that made it 7-2 Sun Devils.
After Manning recorded the first out in the home half, ASU called on Nolan Lebamoff for a flyout and the final out was cut down at home plate for the final out of the frame.
Sixth Inning
Keaschall was hit by a pitch to open the sixth and swiped second, still with nobody out. Tobias walked, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. ASU eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but pushed none across to end the frame.
Josh Hansell pitched a hitless seventh and Arizona State went to the seventh trailing 7-2.
Seventh Inning
ASU went down in order in the top half. Christian Bodlovich entered in the bottom half and gave up two outs before being relieved for Brock Peery. Peery allowed two of Bodlovich's runs to score and it was 9-2 Lopes heading into the eighth.
Eighth Inning
ASU got its first four runners of the inning on with a single, two doubles, and a three-run home run by Luke Hill to cut the deficit to 9-5. With Crenshaw on third and one down, McLain slapped an opposite field single, making it 9-6 Lopes, the closest ASU had been since the three-run GCU homer in the second. Then, with two outs and the bases full, Keaschall walked in a run. On a 1-2 count, Jacob Tobias played hero, slapping a base hit that plated two, knotting the game at nine and giving ASU seven runs in the inning.
In an 11-pitch, nine-strike eighth, Blake Pivaroff continued the good vibes, setting down the Lopes in order.THIS HAS JUST HAPPENED.
— Sun Devil Baseball (@ASU_Baseball) April 12, 2023
THE DEVILS ARE ON TOP.
LUKE HILL HAS FIVE RBIs...THIS INNING. pic.twitter.com/En8pzcAyuo
Ninth Inning
After a one-out single from Rogers, Nate McLain sent a towering home run over the right field fence to extend the Sun Devil lead to 13-9.
The Lopes fought back with a one-out triple and scored on a passed ball. The following batter grounded out and Stevenson retired the final batter with runners on the corners to end the game.GO ON DOWN AND GET IT, NICK ??
— Sun Devil Baseball (@ASU_Baseball) April 12, 2023
Sheer power here from @nickmclain_ for his first career bomb and third hit in his collegiate debut.
13-9, Devils. Stevenson in to close. pic.twitter.com/at9iRNqFLV
ON DECK:
ASU heads to Seattle to take on Washington in a three-game series that begins on Fri. April 14th at 6:05 p.m. MST. The game can be seen on Washington Live Stream-2 and heard on KDUS 1060 AM.