PHOENIX — Arizona State senior right-handed pitcher Kole Klecker is no stranger to the big moment. 

As a true freshman in 2023 with TCU, the right-hander posted a 2.14 ERA across four postseason games, including seven shutout innings against Indiana State to clinch a College World Series birth. 

Although TCU lost in the semifinals to Florida, Klecker allowed three runs across 10 innings at the game’s highest stage.  

Coming off a unanimous freshman All-American season, Klecker’s future seemed bright. Yet injuries and inconsistencies plagued the two seasons following the Horned Frogs’ magical postseason run, ultimately leading him to enter the transfer portal. 

With one final season of eligibility, Klecker returned home to Arizona and joined a Sun Devils team in dire need of experienced pitching. 

Though inconsistent throughout his return to the Valley, the Chandler native continues to show flashes of the pitcher who led the Horned Frogs to an Omaha run. 

So when No. 20 ASU needed length out of its rotation following two short starts, head coach Willie Bloomquist said he knew Klecker was ready for the moment.  

“(I) love having a veteran guy on Sunday that knows what he's doing and is able to keep his composure and keep his cool and not let the moments get too big,” Bloomquist said.  

Klecker threw seven innings of two-run, four-hit baseball before exiting to a standing ovation around the Sun Devils’ first base dugout at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

“When Muni is behind us,” Klecker said, “it's tough to beat us.” 

In the rubber match of a high-emotion series against Utah (17-15, 6-9 Big 12), Klecker put the Sun Devils (26-11, 9-6 Big 12) on his back. The right-hander worked ahead in counts and pitched to contact, all while providing the mound presence necessary for ASU to secure a series win with a 5-2 victory on Sunday. 

Despite pitching seven innings for the second time this season, Klecker said his stuff didn’t feel great early on. The right-hander critiqued himself, saying he left too many hittable pitches over the plate, which the Utes took advantage of. 

Following an error by sophomore second baseman Austen Roellig to lead off the game, Utah junior left-fielder Jake Long ambushed Klecker for an early RBI double, all before recording an out. 

Yet Klecker said he remained composed on the mound, reasserting confidence in himself.  

“I always tell myself, ‘I'm always one pitch away,’” Klecker said. “‘If I execute this pitch, the hitter is going to get themselves out.’”  

Klecker said he stayed off the middle of the plate to find success, which translated into retiring the side in order and not allowing a hit past the third inning.

While keeping the Utes off the bases, Klecker’s pitch count rose into the 100s, ending his afternoon following seven innings.

However, after the Sun Devils used six relief pitchers in Saturday’s 14-13 thriller, Bloomquist called upon just one, as junior right-hander Jaden Alba finished the game over two scoreless innings. 

Following the ASU bullpen allowing eight runs in the ninth inning less than 24 hours ago, Bloomquist said the group was a bit thin, making him even more grateful for Alba’s performance.  

“Thank you, Jaden Alba, for keeping my blood pressure in check today and making the ninth inning uneventful for the most part,” Bloomquist said. 

Walking a single batter on Sunday, Klecker and Alba did a better job of attacking the strike zone, Bloomquist said. 

Though Klecker walked just one, he pitched into multiple deep counts. While the tough outs caused some frustration, Klecker focused on winning the battle one pitch at a time.

“I feel like it always comes down to just executing pitches,” Klecker said. 

For a pitcher ready for those big moments like Sunday, Klecker said having his coaches, teammates and fans’ support means everything. 

“It's truly like a family environment,” Klecker said. “Knowing you got 40-50 other people behind you, rooting with you and going to war with you. It makes it so much easier to perform at a high level.”