Polk Hero: Baseball defeats Utah in walk-off fashion

Turning point
The Sun Devils, for the fourth time in the last five days, found themselves in a sizable hole as the Utes jumped out to a 4-0 advantage through the first three innings. There was a serious case of deja vu from Tuesday’s comeback at GCU in the fourth inning, however, as Coen Niclai recorded his second game-tying grand slam of the week to make it a 4-4 game, followed shortly after by a three-run shot from Landon Hairston that jump started an ASU offense that had just five hits over its first 12 innings of action of the series. The Sun Devils recorded six hits, alone, in the fourth inning and the offense would continue to do its part over the remainder of the game.

Big moment
After the Sun Devil bullpen squandered a seven-run lead in the top of the ninth inning and watched, Utah claim a 13-12 lead and threaten to take the series in mind-numbing fashion, it might have been very easy for a lineup that had watched its pitchers throw 232 pitches over the previous four hours to wilt under the collapse. Nine-hole batter PJ Moutzouridis ensured this wouldn’t be the case, recording ASU’s fifth homer of the contest to lead off the bottom of the ninth to immediately tie the game and allow the team a sigh of relief.

Final straw
The Utes were not going to allow Landon Hairston to get his third homer of the game, pitching around him after Moutzouridis’ game-tying homer to put the winning run on the bases. Hairston took second on a wild pitch and Austen Roellig was intentionally walked to put two runners on. Dean Toigo worked a fabulous AB to draw a base-loading walk of his own on seven pitches to juice things up with no outs. A strikeout did put a potential inning-ending double play back on the table but Matt Polk found enough daylight past the outstretched glove of the Utah third baseman to earn his lone hit of the game to earn the victory for the Sun Devils.

The big number
8 - Saturday marked the eighth time this season the Sun Devils recorded the game-winning run in the sixth inning or later - a feat it accomplished 12 times over the course of the entire 2025 season. It was the sixth time in ASU’s last 11 victories achieving the feat. Over the past three seasons and change, Arizona State has won 24 games in which it has trailed by at least three runs at some point in the game. Tonight’s victory marked Arizona State’s 10th walk-off victory over its last two-plus seasons. Entering tonight, when ASU had a potential go-ahead or game-tying plate appearance (7th inn. or later), the team’s .418 average (28-for-67) in the nine games the scenario has occurred was second in the country and that average only went up behind Moutzouridis and Polk’s hits in the ninth tonight.

Inning by inning
First inning
Taylor Penn started the game off for the Sun Devils, giving up a leadoff homerun. After a walk, Penn was able to get a double play to erase the runner. Another walk gave the Utes a two-out baserunner, and the runner moved to second on a stolen base. Penn was able to get a strikeout to end the frame, with Arizona State trailing 1-0. 

Despite Austen Roellig reaching on a walk, the Sun Devils were unable to produce anything in the first inning.

Second inning
Penn got back to work for the Sun Devils where he gave up a single. The runner stole second before advancing to third on another single by Utah. The Utes made it 2-0 after the runner at second was caught stealing and the runner on third advanced. No further damage was done as the frame ended on a flyout.

Dominic Smaldino reached on a single before advancing to second on a groundout, however the Sun Devils were unable to score any runs as the inning ended on a flyout to right field.

Third inning
Back on the mound, Penn struck out the first batter before allowing a walk. A groundout moved the runner to second, and a wild pitch allowed the runner to go to third. Utah picked up another run on a single, and a double made it 4-0, Utah. The Sun Devils went to the bullpen, bringing in Alex Overbay, who was able to get a pop out to end the inning.

The Sun Devils went down in order to quietly end the inning.

Fourth inning
Despite giving up a two-out single, Overbay worked a scoreless inning, as he tacked on the final out as he caught the runner stealing.

A single by Nu’u Contrades, Matt Polk reaching on a fielding error, and a single by Smaldino loaded the bases for the Sun Devils. Coen Niclai promptly tied the game with one swing, launching a grand slam. Following this, Sam Myers knocked a single in the infield before advancing to third on a single by PJ Moutzouridis. Landon Hairston then gave the Sun Devils the lead with a three-run blast to deep right center, making it a 7-4 lead. Roellig then reached on a walk, but a double play subsequently ended the inning.

Fifth inning
Overbay returned to the mound and retired the side, striking out two. 

Smaldino reached on a two-out double, but was left stranded as a groundout ended the frame. 

Sixth inning
After back-to-back singles opened the inning, both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. One run scored on a sac fly to narrow ASU’s lead to two. A groundout got the second out, and a hit by pitch put runners on the corners. Sean Fitzpatrick came in for relief, and recorded the final out of the inning as a double steal attempt resulted in an out at home. 

Myers opened the frame with a single, but a fly out and double play ended the inning for the Sun Devils.

Seventh inning
Overbay remained in the game for Arizona State, pitching a scoreless inning.

Roellig got the inning started for the Sun Devils, reaching on a fielding error. Utah then made a call to the bullpen after giving up a single to Dean Toigo. Another single from Smaldino loaded the bases for ASU, but no runs scored after a fly out by Niclai left all three runners stranded.

Eighth inning
Finn Edwards entered the game and gave up two walks and a single to load the bases before Derek Schaefer relieved him. Schaefer was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout.

Arizona State continued to get on base with a single from Myers. Following an out on Moutzouridis for batter’s interference, Hairston smacked another homerun to give ASU a 9-5 lead. Both Roellig and Toigo reached base when Contrades knocked in another homerun to extend the lead even further. A new pitcher was brought in for the Utes who immediately issued a walk to Polk, but he was thrown out rounding second on a single from Smaldino. An additional walk was issued to Niclai. Both runners advanced before the inning concluded on a fly out.

Ninth inning
As he returned for the ninth, Schaefer gave up a leadoff homerun. Schaefer loaded the bases with two walks and a single with one out. Three additional runs were scored on consecutive singles, reducing ASU’s lead to 12-9. Colby Guy entered the game for Arizona State, getting a groundout allowing for another run to score. After giving up two straight walks, Eli Buxton came in to replace Guy. Buxton gave up a single, allowing two runs to score, giving Utah a 13-12 lead before the frame ended on a strikeout.

Moutzouridis led off with a solo homerun to tie the game. In the next at bat, a walk was issued to Hairston who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Roellig was intentionally walked. Toigo was issued a walk to load the bases, which led to a new pitcher being brought in for Utah. A strikeout by Beckett Zavorek marked the first out of the inning. Arizona State walked off the game 14-13 on a single by Polk.