(*11*)The Wildcats knocked off No. 20 ASU 5-3 in 11 innings at Phoenix Municipal Stadium for their fourth win in the last 5 video games. Three of these have come on the highway, together with a pair of victories over the weekend at Big 12 preseason favourite TCU.
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(*11*)“We’re learning how to win in tough situations,” UA coach Chip Hale stated. “We’ve had games all year where we’ve had these same opportunities and we’ve let it slip through our fingers.”
(*11*)Arizona (14-22) scored twice in the highest of the 11th, with Andrew Cain driving in Tony Lira for the game-winning run on a double earlier than later scoring on a throwing error. Garrett Hicks then retired Division I residence run chief Landon Hairston with the tying runs on in the underside of the inning to safe the Wildcats’ second win in 5 tries this season towards ASU (26-12).
(*11*)“We’re a young team that’s figuring out ways to win,” stated Cain, who was 3 for 5 with a house run and two RBI. “Just finding ways to win, whether it’s in the 9th coming back, or had a lead the whole game today and had to figure out how to do it again in the 11th.”
(*11*)Arizona jumped out to a 3-0 lead by enjoying ASU’s model of ball in its hitter-friendly park. Cain opened the highest of the twond with a 447-foot solo homer to proper middle, his 6th homer (out of 16 for his profession) towards the Sun Devils. Two batters later Beau Sylvester parked one over the UA bullpen in left, then Nate Novitske homered in the threerd.
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(*11*)Left-hander Patrick Morris had his first begin for Arizona, permitting one run and three hits, earlier than Corey Kling adopted with three scoreless frames. The 7th obtained furry, as Maclain Roberts hit a batter and gave up a single earlier than unleashing a wild pitch to place the tying runs in scoring place, however Benton Hickman got here on with 1 out and obtained a strikeout and a groundout round an intentional stroll to Hairston.
(*11*)ASU tied it in the 8th on a 2-run homer by Nu’u Contrades off Collin McKinney. Hicks got here on in the 9th and went the remainder of the way in which, permitting two hits and a stroll with three strikeouts together with certainly one of Hairston with a runner on and 1 out in the 9th.
(*11*)Arizona obtained two on in the tenth however couldn’t rating, then in the 11th Lira led off with double over third baseman Dominic Longo and got here residence on Cain’s double on the primary pitch he noticed.
(*11*)“I expected them to try to get me to strike out; my plan was to get him over to third, but hitting a double in the gap was even better,” Cain stated.
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(*11*)Cain was on 3rd with 1 out when ASU tried a pickoff throw that obtained previous Longo, permitting Cain to attain an insurance coverage run.
(*11*)In the underside of the 11th, Hicks struck out the primary batter earlier than giving up back-to-back singles. He then induced back-to-back fly outs, getting Hairston to fly out on the primary pitch.
(*11*)Hale stated he thought-about deliberately strolling Hairston, who has 23 residence runs and 65 RBI, to load the bases. Hicks is glad that didn’t occur.
(*11*)(*5*) stated Hicks, who picked up two saves at TCU and has thrown 11.1 consecutive scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts. “I’m glad he let me face him.”
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(*11*)Arizona returns to Big 12 motion with a house sequence starting Friday towards Kansas State. The Wildcats are 5-10 in league play, one recreation exterior the highest 12 that make the Big 12 Tournament subsequent month in Surprise.
(*11*)“I still think there’s a lot of meat on the bone,” Hale stated. “This is where it starts, it starts with some momentum, and knowing you can win these close games. We’ve won a couple of them, now we got to do it on Friday.”
