PHOENIX – On St. Patrick’s Day, it was fitting that the Sun Devils needed a little bit of luck to win.
On the final play of the game, sophomore catcher Coen Niclai hit a laser down the third base line, hitting the third base bag and jumping unconventionally into left field, where freshman left fielder Tanner Johns overran the ball. That was a sufficient delay for junior first baseman Dominic Smaldino to score from first.
Arizona State baseball (15-5, 2-1 Big 12) walked off Grand Canyon (8-14) 4-3 in extra innings. This was the first extra-inning game for the Sun Devils this season.
“Coen came up big not only with a two-run homer, but there with the base hit there at the end,” Arizona State head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “Smaldino was running extremely hard there and didn’t slow down.”
Johns was not the starting left fielder for the Antelopes. Sophomore Gunnar Penzkover started the game in left before being pinch-hit for in the ninth.
Niclai was responsible for the game-tying run as well. He hit a 405-foot two-run home run in the seventh. That was his second homer of the season.
“Earlier in the game, (I) felt like I was a little erratic,” Niclai said.
Niclai had one homer last year at Oregon. He has set career-highs in runs, RBI and walks this season and tied his career high in hits.
5th-year outfielder and the reigning Big 12 newcomer of the week, Dean Toigo, slugged his ninth home run of the season. The 421-foot blast was the 41st of his college career. He has six fence-clearers in his last seven games
“They were playing him (Toigo) all night perfectly defensively,” Bloomquist said. “So he had four really good at-bats tonight.”
Junior first baseman Dominic Smaldino had a pair of singles and was the winning run. The tall first baseman was hustling on the final play and scored easily.
Redshirt sophomore infielder Garrett Michel crucially walked before getting driven in by Niclai. He was pinch-hitting for sophomore outfielder Ky McGary. McGary, a right-handed bat, was playing in the designated hitter role against GCU’s southpaw pitcher instead of the lefty bat of Michel.
Sophomore utility Landon Hairston went 3-5 in the leadoff spot. Hairston has been a hit machine, leading the team in nearly every offensive statistic.
“The way he swings the bat and (it) set the game with a good tone,” Bloomquist said. “I’m just trying to get him as many at-bats as possible, that’s why he’s in our leadoff spot.”
Junior shortstop PJ Moutzouridis went 2-4 with a walk. Redshirt sophomore third baseman Austen Roellig collected a hit, extending his hit streak to 12.
Arizona State went 1-8 with runners in scoring position. The team had a few base-running errors, with Moutzouridis caught in a rundown between third and home, Smaldino was tagged out trying to extend a single and Hairston was forced out at second on a double play.
“I’m never gonna get upset with our guys for making aggressive baserunning mistakes,” Bloomquist said.
The pitching was excellent for the Sun Devils, with three pitchers throwing no-hitters in their outings.
Sophomore lefty Easton Barrett threw three innings to start. At times this season, he struggled with walks, but only allowed two, as those were his only baserunners on the night. He struck out four, tying a season-high.
In his last two appearances, Barrett has fared well after a poor first three appearances, where he walked 13 in four and a third innings. The Utah native threw 29 strikes on 53 pitches tonight. His ERA lowers to 8.64.
“He did fall behind, every once in a while, he kind of lost it a little bit,” Bloomquist said. “Even when he got behind in the count, he was able to get back in it and usually with a breaking ball.”
After Barrett, the road got rocky. Junior right-hander Jaden Alba came in and allowed a pair of runs in as many innings. He allowed four hits and a strikeout. His ERA rises to 7.62.
Junior right-hander Josh Butler then entered the game and threw an inning and a third. He allowed a run on a pair of hits with a pair of strikeouts. His ERA sits at a reliable 2.79.
Graduate righty Colby Guy threw two and two-thirds innings, taking the Sun Devils to the scheduled end. He struck out four as the only baserunner he allowed was on a fielder’s choice. The South Carolina native has emerged as a trusty arm with a 2.70 ERA.
“With the way Colby Guy was throwing there, I’m like ‘man, I can’t afford to take him out right now.’” Bloomquist said. “I didn’t want to take the chance of bringing in another arm who maybe didn’t have his best stuff when that guy has his best stuff.”
Sophomore right-hander Finn Edwards struck out the side in the tenth. He had a nice bounce-back outing after allowing two runs in less than an inning in his last appearance.
For GCU, freshman southpaw and one-time Arizona State commit Cody Kiemele pitched well, only allowing the Toigo home run, in six innings of work.
“I blacked out a little bit,” Niclai said. “I saw him (Johns) trip over himself, and from there it's hard to remember anything.”