Arizona State junior pitcher Ben Jacobs delivered six scoreless innings in Friday night’s 11-1 win over Gonzaga, a game played amid intermittent rain. The Sun Devils’ ace held perfection until two outs left in the top of the fifth inning. Bulldog freshman catcher Rece Schuerman grounded a 3-2 pitch between ASU’s first and second basemen for his team’s first hit of the night.
Jacobs aimed to throw Arizona State’s first perfect game since Eddie Bane accomplished the feat in 1973. The UCLA transfer threw 91 pitches, posting his first scoreless outing and win of the season.
“I felt good,” Jacobs said. “Just a normal day at the ballpark and my defense did an incredible job tonight, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without them. So always grateful for the guys behind me, and I always trust them behind me, and good things will happen.”
Jacobs ended the top of the first frame with back-to-back swinging punch outs. Then, Sun Devil junior outfielder Isaiah Jackson made a diving catch to his left to end the second inning.
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The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder sent five Gonzaga hitters down on strikes after three frames.
“Get us back in and get us to hit,” Jacobs said of his mindset on the mound. “I always say when we have the bats in our hands, good things happen. And the quicker we’re off the field, the easier it is to win games. So that’s all I really think about.”
ASU junior infielder Nu’u Contrades made a cross-body throw to first base off a weak ground ball. The throw beat redshirt outfielder Gage Mestas to the bag, keeping Jacobs’ hopes of perfection alive through five innings.
“He attacked the zone pretty well, was just able to keep them off balance and did a great job doing that,” head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “I still think it’s tough to be critical over that outing. I think there’s better command in there for him, I think down the road as well. But for all in all, he threw the ball outstanding.”
After coming within one strike of a perfect game through six innings, Jacobs forced the next Bulldog to ground out to end his memorable night. The Huntington Beach, California native struck out six batters and allowed one hit.
Arizona State relievers sophomore right hander Josh Butler, senior right hander Will Kroger and freshman right hander Jake Neely pitched one inning following Jacobs’ exit. While Kroger allowed ASU’s only earned run, the Sun Devils’ pitching staff has allowed just one run over its last 18 innings on the mound.
“Just picking each other up and going into the game with that mentality, taking the selfish thoughts out of it,” Jacobs said of the pitching staff’s approach. “I knew Josh (Butler) was going to come in and pick me up, and Will (Kroger) is going to come pick Josh up … So if we just keep that train going and keep that mentality, we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Jacobs’ 26 punchouts are the second most in the Big 12 Conference this season. The maroon and gold will look to continue their recent success on the mound throughout the remainder of the three-game series against Gonzaga.
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