Inning by inning
First inning
Contrades reached on an infield single and Toigo battled back from a quick 0-2 count to draw an HBP to put two on with one-out. Roellig put a charge in one but the UCF center fielder made a great running extended play at the warning track to save runs and rob extra bases and a strikeout ended the ASU threat. After two warning track balls, UCF didn’t miss on the next two with back-to-back solo shots giving UCF an early 2-0 lead. The inning stayed alive on a two-out error before Carlon picked up his first strikeout to limit the damage.
Second inning
Michel wasted zero time providing a response, lifting the second pitch of the frame to the batter’s eye in center. Polk followed with a double and took third on a Briggs flyout. Moutzouridis ripped another double past the third baseman to score Polk and Contrades followed with a double of his own with two outs to put the Sun Devils on top, 3-2. Carlon worked around a tough-hop one-out single, capping the frame off with a strikeout.
Third inning
Smaldino reached on a one-out single and took second on a wild pitch and Michel walked to put two on. Polk gave one a ride just shy of the warning track in left center but it was caught harmlessly. Briggs worked a two out walk to load the bases and Mouzourdis drew a full count walk to push a run across. Hairston was struck by a pitch to bring another home, chasing the UCF starter. Contrades welcomed a new starter with an RBI single as ASU opened up a 6-2 lead. Carlon worked his first 1-2-3 frame of the game to keep it a four-run advantage.
Fourth inning
UCF made three impressive defensive plays to spoil ASU’s attempt to add more runs, limiting the damage to just a Michel two-out single through the opposite right side. UCF led off the fourth with a double down the right field line and brought the run home on a one-out single. Carlon wasn’t out of it with a pair on and two outs and the dangerous Andrew Williamson at the plate but got the star player to strike out to keep ASU on top, 6-3.
Fifth inning
Briggs reached on a one-out single and took second on a Moutzouridis ground out. UCF brought another pitcher in, who promptly walked Hairston to put two on with one out. Contrades continued his heater with his fourth hit of the game, bringing in his third RBI and getting the run back for the Sun Devils to make it 7-3. ASU was unable to capitalize on the runners on second and third with one out, however as it remained a four-run game. Carlon again ran into some trouble with two outs, walking one and hitting another and falling behind 3-1 to the UCF pinch hitter before battling back for a huge inning ending strikeout to keep it a 7-3 game.
Sixth inning
Smaldino led off the sixth with his second hit of the game. Back-to-back strikeouts preceded a Briggs two-out walk and the two runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch but Moutzouridis got caught looking on an offspeed pitch to end the threat. Taylor Penn entered in relief for Carlon and worked an efficient 1-2-3 inning that was keyed by a sweet diving snag from Hairston in the left center gap to rob extra bases as it remained 7-3.
Seventh inning
Toigo drew a two-out walk and stole second but a timing violation was called on Roellig at the plate, resulting in an inning-ending strikeout. Penn got a leadoff strikeout against Williamson - just the second time this season he had struck out three times - but a one-out line drive wall scraper to center brought UCF back within three runs. Penn bounced back nicely with a pair of groundouts, including one he fielded himself to keep it a three-run game.
Eighth inning
Smaldino’s third hit of the game was a rocket off the top of the opposite right center wall for a double. Polk reached on an infield chopper off the pitcher’s glove to put runners on the corners and Briggs followed with a nice squeeze bunt to plate the run and extend the lead back to four runs at 8-4. Moutzouridis followed on the very next pitch by lacing one the opposite way through the shift, plating Polk and giving ASU its largest lead of the game at 9-4. After giving up a one-out single, Penn won an 11-pitch battle with a strikeout for the second out but then walked the next two batters to load the bases and turn things over to the top of the order. Fitzpatrick entered
Ninth inning
Toigo reached on a leadoff single and ASU eventually put a pair on with a Michel two-out walk after a couple of fielder’s choices but ASU couldn’t add to its lead. ASU wasn’t taking any chances with its five-run lead and went to closer Derek Schaefer, who worked an efficient ninth to cap things off despite allowing what proved to be a harmless two-out single.
