PHOENIX – It was a relatively calm game for the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Utah junior catcher Jack Kleveno hit his first home run of the season, and the umpires issued warnings after some jawing.
In the bottom of the frame, redshirt sophomore catcher Brody Briggs popped out to shortstop. As Briggs jogged to first, he bickered with Utah’s pitcher Colter McAnelly. After Briggs crossed the bag, the first base umpire, Nathan White, ejected Briggs.
Arizona State head coach Willie Bloomquist then hustled out of the dugout in frustration. Bloomquist was then tossed after a heated discussion with the umpires. After he took his time leaving the field, the umpires got together and decided to eject McAnelly. That ejection had the potential to alter the course of the game.
It did not change the course of the game for No. 20 Arizona State baseball (24-11, 7-5 Big 12) as the offense sparked, but the flame burned out quickly, ultimately losing 10-4 to Utah (17-13, 5-7 Big 12).
“I’m going to protect my players, whether the results in me being ejected or not, fine,” Bloomquist said. “When one of my players gets tossed for, in my opinion, something that was instigated by a different player, then I got a problem with it.”
McAnelly was cruising through the Sun Devils' lineup and only allowed a pair of hits in the four and a third innings he pitched. He had struggled against Big 12 opponents this season, and this was his best outing in conference play.
At the time, nobody was in the Utah bullpen. Junior Demitri Diamant came in relief, and junior shortstop PJ Moutzouridis singled, followed by sophomore utility Landon Hairston, who hit a home run against Diamant, making the score 7-4.
That was all the runs the Sun Devil bats could muster for the night.
Junior lefty Cole Carlon did not have his best stuff. He threw four and two-thirds innings, eight hits, seven runs (all earned), three walks, two hit batters and eight strikeouts. His season ERA rises to 4.11.
The eight hits tied a career high, and the seven runs were a career high for Carlon. The two hit batters were a career high for him as well, and he had not hit a batter this season.
“(It) seemed like he was pitching in high leverage situations the whole time,” Bloomquist said.
Redshirt junior right-hander Colin Linder threw the ball well, going three innings, allowing two runs, which crossed the plate after he left the game. He allowed two hits and a walk, while striking out five. His ERA rises to 4.41.
Senior lefty Sean Fitzpatrick struggled walking two and hitting a batter. Fitzpatrick did not record an out, allowing both of the inherited runners from Linder to cross home plate. His ERA stays at 4.20.
Sophomore righty Eli Buxton then entered the game and put out the fire, going two-thirds of an inning. In the ninth, he allowed a walk that would score after he departed from the game. His ERA rises to 13.97.
Junior southpaw Brady Louck allowed the inherited runner from Buxton to score and finished the game, throwing two-thirds of an inning. He allowed a hit and struck out a batter.
The arms allowed seven walks and hit two batters in total.
Hairston’s homer was his 20th of the season and 17th in his last 22 games. He had two of the Sun Devils four hits in the game and scored twice.
After not playing in the two midweek games, redshirt junior second baseman Nu’u Contrades went 1-3 with a walk. Moutzouridis had the other hit.
After Briggs was ejected, Niclai walked twice in his two plate appearances.
Three Sun Devil starters failed to reach base, including Briggs. Redshirt sophomore Austen Roellig failed to reach base against his former team.
“It wasn’t a very good approach,” Bloomquist said. “A lot of late on the fastball.”
Suspensions could be in play. Briggs will be suspended for one game under NCAA Rule 2-26 Section F. McAnelly will be suspended for four games under NCAA Rule 2-26 Section E.
These could not be the final length, depending on what the conference and umpires decide. Bloomquist’s length will be determined later, with no further suspension likely.
“I do want to see more intensity out of our guys,” Bloomquist said. “Having a little bit of an edge at times is warranted and needed, and I think now is one of those times when it’s needed.”