Ironwood Ridge alum Andrew Cain had a game-high three hits, including the go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 11th inning, while former Pima College pitcher Garrett Hicks delivered three scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn the win, lifting Arizona to a clutch 5-3 road victory over No. 23 Arizona State.
The Wildcats (14-22, 5-10) never trailed, as they defeated the Sun Devils (26-12, 9-6) for the second time this season.
Arizona recorded nine hits, while ASU finished with seven.
Cain turned in one of his best performances of the season, going 3 for 5 with a home run, a double, two RBI, and two runs. Nate Novitske went 2 for 5 with a home run, while Tony Lira also had a multi-hit performance, going 2 for 5 with a run. Beau Silvester went 1 for 4 and had his first home run of the season.
Arizona’s pitching staff was outstanding, highlighted by strong outings from Corey Kling, Benton Hickman and Hicks. Kling tossed three scoreless innings of no-hit ball, while striking out three. Hickman entered in a critical situation in the sixth inning with two runners on base and got two crucial outs to get the Wildcats out of the jam. Hicks threw the final three innings and allowed just two hits, while striking out three.
Arizona struck first, as Cain came through with a 447-foot solo homer to right field in the top of the second inning to open the scoring in the game. Two batters later, Sylvester delivered a homer of his own, sending a 413-foot shot to left field, extending Arizona’s lead to 2-0.
In the top of the third, Novitske crushed Arizona’s third homer of the game, a solo shot to right field to push the lead up to 3-0.
ASU got one run back in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly.
Kling entered the game in the fourth frame, taking over for starter Patrick Morris who had a solid outing. Kling pitched the next three innings and did not allow a hit in what was his longest outing of the season.
The Sun Devils threatened in the bottom of the seventh, placing runners on second and third base with one out. Hickman entered in the difficult situation and delivered, striking out a batter before forcing a groundout to end the frame with no damage done.
Arizona State managed to tie the game in the eighth inning on a two-run homer.
Both squads went scoreless in the ninth and 10th frames, as the two teams entered the 11th inning deadlocked at three runs apiece.
Lira led off in the 11th by doubling down the left field line, setting the stage for Cain, who jumped on the first pitch he saw and laced a double to right-center field to score Lira and give Arizona a lead it would not relinquish. After advancing to third on a passed ball in the next at-bat, Cain later scored on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt, extending Arizona’s lead to 5-3.
Two ASU runners reached base in the bottom of the 11th, but Hicks induced back-to-back flyouts to shut the door and secure the victory for Arizona.
The Wildcats return home following a four-game road swing in which they were 3-1 against TCU and Arizona State to host Kansas State this Friday at 6 p.m.
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