Arizona Baseball beats ASU, Secures the Territorial Cup Series

The dramatics were in full effect in the rivalry between Arizona and ASU last night, as the Arizona Baseball team secured the Territorial Cup Series.

Over the course of the Arizona and ASU rivalry, there have been many, classic moments. Last night was no different, when the Arizona Baseball team wrapped up their last home series of 2018 against rival ASU, Territorial Cup Series on the line.

It’s been a long time since the Cup has been in Tucson, but finally after a long wait, it returns home to its rightful place.

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For those who are not familiar, the series began in 2009, when the two schools decided to participate in a year-long, head-to-head competition that would be based on a point system that would determine a winner to the school who gets to 10-and-a-half points first.

Arizona hasn’t been the outright winner of the series since 2011-12, and tied the series in 2012-13, creating some controversy between the schools, as to who actually won it.

Well, for 2017-18, there is no doubt, as it all came down to Baseball!

It’s worth noting, that the Wildcats beat ASU earlier this year, when Arizona Baseball traveled to Tempe, beating ASU 6-2 in a single game series. All Arizona needed to do was win two of three.

Game one certainly set the stage for a dramatic series. Hoping to keep tournament hopes alive, Cody Deason took the mound for the Cats, and would deliver a gutsy performance.

For the first three innings, there wasn’t much doing, as both teams couldn’t get anything going offensively. However, ASU were the ones to strike first as the Sun Devils put across two runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Luckily, the Wildcats responded and quickly. With two on and no outs, Matt Fraizer would come up with a great chance to gets things going for the Cats. That’s when he would take a 3-1 pitch, doubling it, scoring two runs and tying the game 2-2.

Not but a few batters later, Cal Stevenson would fly out to center field, scoring a run from third, giving Arizona a 3-2 lead after four innings.

Unfortunately, that lead would not last long as ASU would get two more runs, reclaiming the lead.

Still trailing after seven and a half innings, the Wildcats would finally find an answer in the bottom of the seventh.

With two men on and one out in the inning, Cameron Cannon would reach on a fielders choice that would score Jacob Blas from third, once again tying the game, this time at 4-4.

Later in the inning, Arizona catcher Cesar Salazar would give the Wildcats the lead for good in this one, when he would fly out to right field, scoring Alfonso Rivas from third, making it 5-4 Arizona.

Not but a few batters later, Fraizer came up big again in this one, this time singling to right field, scoring Cannon and giving the Wildcats a 6-4 lead!

From then on, Arizona would shut the door on the Devils, sealing the game one victory by a 6-4 final!

Deason would be pulled in the seventh inning in this one. Despite the gutsy performance, he would get the no decision in what will likely be his last game at Hi Corbett as a Wildcat!.

Wildcats reliever Avery Weems would pick up his second win on the year, and closer Zach Stone would earn his second save of the season.

Game two wouldn’t fair well for Arizona, as the fell behind early, but couldn’t keep the Devils’ offense from thriving. Junior pitcher Michael Flynn would get the start and would struggle early on.

ASU would jump out to an early 1-0 lead, but luckily, Arizona would retaliate, when Alfonso Rivas would score on a wild pitch to tie it a 1-1 in the bottom of the first.

The Sun Devils would unload for four runs in the very next inning, putting the pressure on early.

Trailing 5-1 heading into the bottom of the third, Arizona would respond and in a big way. Nick Quintana would get things going for the Cats with two runners on and no outs. That’s when Quintana would single to left, scoring Rivas, cutting the lead to just three.

With Fraizer as the very next batter, he too would single to left, scoring Cannon, making it just 5-3 ASU.

Thanks to a few timely hits, Blas would come up to the plate with a huge opportunity to do some damage. With men on, the freshman sensation would single to center field, scoring two Wildcat runners, and tying the game at 5-5. Unfortunately, that’s all the offense Arizona would muster in this one.

ASU would continue its offensive barrage, scoring five more runs over the course of the next few innings, ultimately stealing game two by a 10-5 final, evening the series at 1-1.

Now down to the third and final game to determine the Series Cup winner, Arizona would need a big performance, and the theatrics certainly didn’t disappoint.

Juan Aguilera would take the mound in game three for Arizona, but he would only last the first two innings before being pulled.

ASU would get to a quick 2-0 start, but Arizona would rally in the first, when Quintana would homer for the 13th time this season with a runner on, making it 2-2.

The Sun Devils would add another run the very next inning, and four more runs in the fourth, making it 7-2 in favor of ASU.

Luckily, the Wildcats would Bear Down in this one, not going away easily. Down five heading into the bottom of the fourth, Quintana would homer for the second time in this one. This time a solo shot that would cut ASU’s lead to just four runs.

Now down 7-3, Ryan Haug would come up a few batters later with bases loaded and one out. Haug would double down the left field line, clearing the bases, and cutting ASU’s lead to just one run, 7-6.

Unfortunately, that’s all the offense Arizona would have for now. Still trailing 7-6, Arizona would tie things at 7-7 in the bottom of the sixth, when Fraizer would single to left field scoring Blas from third with one out.

ASU would take the lead again in the seventh, scoring two-more runs, making it 9-7. Arizona was not done though!

With two men on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, Salazar would come up to the plate, only to reach on a fielding error, that would score Rivas from second, and Quintana from first, tying the game 9-9. Blas would fly out on the next at-bat, ending that inning.

The Sun Devils would make things a little scary there for a moment, when the bases would be loaded with two outs in the top of the eighth. That’s when Stone would slam the door shut on ASU’s chances of scoring, when he would strike out the ASU batter in dramatic fashion, ending the Devils’ chance at re-taking the lead.

The Wildcats would have scoring opportunities in the eighth and ninth inning, but were unable to capitalize, as the game would head into extras, perhaps in fitting fashion.

The 10th inning would be a scoreless one for both teams, as the intensity became greater with each passing inning.

Finally after another goose egg frame by ASU, the 11th inning would shape up to be a historic one for Arizona. First, the hot-hitting Quintana would walk again in this one, leading off the inning.

Salazar would foul out on a bunt attempt, stranding Quintana at first. Blas would come up next, only to be put on base thanks to a hit-by pitch.

Williams would then come up, with a great opportunity. Two on and one out, the freshman would take an 0-1 pitch that he would hit through the right side of the infield, where the ASU outfielder would misplay the ball.

An opportunistic Quintana would round third, cruising to home, scoring an uncontested run, giving the Wildcats the 10-9 win in walk-off fashion.

With the win, Arizona improves to 32-21 (12-15) on the season, and gives Arizona the Territorial Cup Series win!

https://twitter.com/AZATHLETICS/status/998049637834543105

Arizona Baseball finishes their season at Hi Corbett Field with an impressive 23-6 record, and will play their last series of 2018 possibly, when the Wildcats travel to Eugene, to take on Pac-12 foe, the Oregon Ducks next weekend.

The Wildcats delighted fans in attendance this weekend, and give Arizona fans even more to cheer about as they are the Series Cup Champions!

Must Read: More on Arizona Baseball

At Zona Zealots, we are proud of all our athletic teams that contributed to this! Bear Down, Arizona!