ORLANDO, Fla. – Arizona State’s 7-9 hitters all reached consecutively to load the bases with one out in the top of the ninth inning for sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston.
Both dugouts felt the significance of the moment as the Sun Devils’ leadoff batter and most prolific hitter this season came to the plate.
However, UCF junior right-handed pitcher Evan Jones got Hairston to fly out. Jones then retired the next batter, junior second baseman Nu’u Contrades, on a popout to end the Sun Devils’ rally.
Arizona State (32-15, 15-8 Big 12) fell to UCF (26-16, 14-8 Big 12) 4-2 in Game 1 of a doubleheader Sunday, May 3, at John Euliano Park. The two teams resumed the game that started Saturday, May 2, but ended up being suspended after two innings due to weather.
The ninth-inning rally started just how ASU drew it up, with the Sun Devils loading the bases for one of the most dangerous hitters in all of college baseball.
Yet, neither Hairston nor Contrades could come through in the clutch.
ASU struggled Sunday afternoon at the plate, scoring just one run on a sac-fly. The other run came Saturday in the second inning on a throwing error by Knights senior third baseman Javier Crespo.
It was a frustrating day for the Sun Devils’ offense, which recorded nine hits, none for extra bases, and left nine runners on base.
Both head coaches pieced together the pitching over the two days, four pitchers entering the game for UCF and five for ASU.
Senior right-hander Kole Klecker started Sunday for the Sun Devils, but left with right shoulder soreness after two innings. The team said the move was precautionary.
The difference in the game was the two runs the Knights scored in the bottom of the seventh off sophomore right-hander Finn Edwards, only one of which was earned.
Senior right-hander Roman Kimball got the bulk of the outs for UCF in relief of senior Kris Sosnowski, who left with an injury after recording two outs to start the action Sunday.
Evan Jones, another senior right-hander, got the six-out save, his fourth save of the season. Jones worked around significant traffic in both innings to close the door for the Knights.
The two teams will face off again at approximately 4:49 p.m. EDT Sunday in a pivotal rubber match.