The Arizona State Sun Devils found themselves in yet another slugfest with the Santa Clara Broncos, dropping the series finale, 14-13, on Sunday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The defending WCC champion Broncos and Sun Devils both swung hot bats throughout the series, combining for 71 total runs during the three-game set. Arizona State trailed four different times on Sunday, but clawed back into the game with stellar defensive plays and good use of the long ball.
Sophomore center fielder Isaiah Jackson made an incredible leaping grab at the center field wall in the fifth inning to keep the game tied. Redshirt senior San Francisco transfer right fielder Harris Williams, who also made a leaping grab in right field, understood how difficult that play can be in a hitter’s ballpark like Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
“He just has a phenomenal feel of the field itself,” Williams said of Jackson. “At times I was getting lost at where I was in the park, and he just knows exactly where he is at all times. That’s what sets him up to be able to make those game-changing plays. I don’t think the wall is even necessarily in his mind … It’s like a sixth sense about him. He just knows when he has to jump, how high he has to jump and where the glove placement needs to be, and the timing.”
Jackson also recorded his tenth RBI of the weekend, the most by an ASU player in a season-opening series since Matt Spencer had 13 RBI against Southern Utah in 2007.
The pendulum of momentum swung back and forth between the dugouts all day long.
Sun Devils junior catcher Ryan Campos left the yard twice on Sunday for the first time in his Sun Devil career. Campos totaled five RBI on the day, another career-best, with his biggest swing being on an 0-2 pitch from Broncos freshman pitcher Max Bayles that became a three-run home run in the seventh inning, tying the game again.
However, Santa Clara always had a response. Broncos senior left fielder JonJon Berring, who also had two home runs in the contest, dealt the final blow in the ninth inning. Bering sliced a towering fly ball the opposite way off of Arizona State’s Hunter Omlid that carried over the wall for a two-run score, which was ultimately the difference.
For the second straight day, the Sun Devils’ young pitching staff surrendered double-digits to an experienced Santa Clara lineup.
As the Devils prepare to face similarly talented lineups shortly, manager Willie Bloomquist expressed optimism for the staff moving forward, while noting there is plenty to clean up throughout the season.
“I’d rather them [the pitching staff] get hit around the yard than walk the yard,” Bloomquist said. “So long as they keep attacking the zone, we can work with that. We’ll get it figured out. I don’t believe up and down our pitching staff that we get lit up that way. I think there’s things that we’re doing, tipping pitches a little bit that I got wind of, especially today.”
The team felt that Santa Clara was productive in crucial moments.
“We made some mistakes and they took advantage of it every time,” Campos said. “Sometimes that’s just how it goes. There’s no shying away from it. I definitely take more positives than negatives from this weekend.”
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was Arizona State’s freshman second baseman Ethan Mendoza in his first career start in the maroon and gold. Mendoza finished his debut with a perfect batting average, five base hits, one of which nearly cleared the left field wall and three RBI.
After watching the first two games of the series from the bench, Mendoza was grateful for his first opportunity.
“It’s amazing,” Mendoza said. “I just came today trying to help the team win, and five hits, that’s awesome. Amazing for me personally, but the team didn’t come on top so hopefully next time we can get the win.”
Mendoza’s coach was especially complimentary of his new freshman second baseman.
“That’s pretty impressive for a freshman to come in and not be intimidated and put together a day,” Bloomquist said. “We needed one more pushup out of him on that line drive to left field to get that over the fence, but all-in-all, great day for him. … It’s reassuring that we have freshmen that are stepping right in and contributing, like they’re third or fourth-year guys.”
As Bloomquist’s squad attempts to turn the page for a quick turnaround, the Sun Devils are quickly developing an identity of living and dying via the long ball. Arizona State hit three or more home runs in each contest during the series, ten total, while allowing seven home runs to the Santa Clara lineup over the weekend.
The Sun Devils will look to bounce back on Tuesday night when they host the 2-1 Kansas State Wildcats.
Leave a Reply