ASU defeats Valley competitor GCU 4-3 in extra innings

The Arizona State Sun Devils (15-5) hosted the Grand Canyon Lopes (8-14) for a battle in the Valley on Tuesday night. The game went into extra innings after sophomore catcher Coen Niclai hit a two-run dinger, his second of the season, to tie it 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh and put the Sun Devils in winning position.

The first four innings were scoreless as both teams played strong infield defense. ASU’s Achilles heel so far this season has been the bullpen. Head coach Willie Bloomquist placed five pitchers on the mound by the end of the night. 

Sophomore Finn Edwards, however, was a standout, striking out all three batters he faced in the tenth inning, which also secured him the win.

It all came down to the Sun Devils in the bottom of the tenth. GCU replaced senior Brock Tony for Cam Cunnings on the mound. Then Sun Devile Junior Dominic Smaldino stepped up to the plate and singled into left field. To follow, Junior Dominic Longo struck out, and sophomore Garrett Michel flew out to center field. 

With one on and two outs, and Niclai already swinging the bat well, he looked to take it home– and that he did. The sophomore hit one into left field and advanced Smaldino from first when a fielding error by Tanner Johns allowed him to keep running and take it all the way home.

 Between his game winning RBI and seventh inning homer, Niclai was no doubt the star of the game. Alongside him at the plate was senior Dean Toigo who hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to put ASU on the board.

The Lope's infield defense kept them in the game as they faced a bullpen problem after replacing starter Cody Kiemele. Graduate Jacob Limas stepped up in the eighth and hit two batters, which gave ASU a potential scoring chance. 

The Sun Devils are 14-1 at home and on a three game winning streak. They will travel to Kansas State on Friday to play the Wildcats who are 16-5 on the season.