SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Second seed Oregon State survived with a 3-2 win over Arizona in their second game of pool play, but they’ll have to wait to find out if they’ll advance to tomorrow’s semifinals.
The win gave the Beavers a 1-1 record in the tournament, not good enough to win the pool, but potentially good enough to win a wildcard berth in the semifinals should Arizona beat California in Thursday’s nightcap.
Arizona State loaded the bases to start the top of the third, beginning with a walk on a nine-pitch at-bat for Ryan Campos. Kien Vu and Nick McLain each followed with singles. Jacob Tobias grounded into what should have been a 6-4-3 double play, but the throw to first by Oregon State shortstop Elijah Hainline was high, allowing Tobias to reach, Campos to score, and giving the Sun Devils runners at the corners with one out. Compton followed with a single to right that scored Vu to make it 2-0 ASU.
Travis Bazzana walked in the bottom of the third, and with that, the native of Australia reached base in all 55 games he has played this season.
Turley led off the bottom of the bottom of the fourth with a four-pitch walk and later scored on a sac fly by Kasper to make it 2-1. The next batter, Mason Guerra launched a titanic tater on a 1-0 fastball to left, scoring Macias to give the Beavers a 3-2 lead.
“He threw me some fastballs in my first at-bat, kind of got by me,” Guerra said. “You know, I kind of changed my approach going into my next at-bat, kind of knowing I was going to get more heaters, and I got one in my zone and, you know… damaged it.”
Guerra’s home run carried over the left field bullpen at Scottsdale Stadium, which is 360 feet down the line on that side, and landed on the berm area, traveling at least 400 feet.
The Beaverton, Ore.-native battled back from a midseason slump by keeping his attitude up and waiting for his chance.
“I went through a pretty tough time there in the middle of the season, and you know, my confidence really never wavered. I was always still very confident myself,” Guerra said. “I knew I was always one swing away. I was trying to do, I was just trying to provide for my team… trying to get myself going so that you know our team can be as good as we can be.”
Beavers starter Aiden May went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out two and walking two before handing the ball off to Nelson Keljo, who threw four hitless innings, striking out four and walking one to earn the win.
“All my pitches were working. I mean, normally my fastball is working, but sometimes it’s tough with my slider and changeup to command that, and when all three of those are working, keep the hitter guessing, it really worked,”
Keljo said. “…I think the biggest thing, my grandpa texted me before the game today, just have fun out there.”
Keljo’s grandfather, Dirk Koopman, is one of the sophomore’s biggest influences and supporters, the pitcher said.
With one out and a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh, Arizona State issued an intentional walk to Bazzana, the 11th free pass he received this year, to bring up Canon Reeder. With an 0-1 count to Reeder, ASU pitcher Matt Tieding balked, advancing the runners to second and third. Two pitches later, Reeder struck out, and Turley drew an intentional pass. Macias popped out to second to end the threat.
Bridger Holmes came in from the bullpen and retired the side in order with just 10 pitches to get the save for OSU.
Arizona State went 0-2 in the Pac-12 Tournament and is eliminated. The Sun Devils are 32-26 and are currently ranked 80th in the RPI, meaning that they’ll need some help from underdogs in other conferences over conference championship weekend to have a chance at getting into the NCAA Tournament.
“What happens tonight is now out of our control. Like, whether we get an opportunity to play tomorrow, we are gonna prep like we’re gonna get the opportunity to play tomorrow,” Oregon State head coach Mitch Canham said. “And if not, then we have to get home and go prep for hosting a regional. I know these guys definitely deserve that opportunity.”
