ASU freshman designated hitter R.J. Ybarra is going to start earning more playing time if he can continue to dial up ninth inning, game-winning hits.
Ybarra did just that Tuesday night for No. 22 ASU baseball against Wichita State, propelling the Sun Devils (16-8-1) to 4-3 victory in the first of two games of their mid-week series.
It was a chilly night, but not even that could stop Ybarra from delivering the deciding single with two outs in the ninth.
“A few batters before I was up, I felt like I was going to get an opportunity,” Ybarra said. “I was just sitting on a fastball and got the pitch I wanted and hit it.”
Ybarra’s hit proved even bigger as both the Sun Devils and Shockers (16-13) each left 14 men on base.
“I thought we were going to score a few more runs, but we came through with a win, and that’s all that matters,” Ybarra said.
The Sun Devils struck quick in the top of the first courtesy of an RBI single from redshirt sophomore outfielder Trever Allen.
Junior second baseman James McDonald also scored on the Allen single because to a throwing error to make it 2-0.
Ybarra said getting early momentum on the road is critical.
“Any time you can score early and get a little more comfortable is definitely nice,” Ybarra said.
The Shockers struck back with two of their own in the third with RBIs from sophomore first baseman Casey Gillaspie and sophomore utilityman Tyler Baker off ASU junior starter Billy Young.
Minus that inning, Young was very effective, allowing only those two runs in five innings.
Ybarra, who also catches, said Young looked poised on the mound in his first start of the season.
“He struggled a little bit at first, but he came around and pitched really well for us,” Ybarra said.
The Sun Devils grabbed the lead back in the fourth for Young when junior outfielder Kasey Coffman doubled home freshman first baseman David Graybill.
Freshman Eric Melbostad replaced Young in the sixth and struggled, allowing the tying run to score in his two thirds of an inning.
The Sun Devil bullpen was solid from there on out.
Senior Matt Dunbar came in for Melbostad and pitched two scoreless innings, but was pulled with two outs in the eighth in favor of fellow senior Alex Blackford.
Blackford was faced with a bases-loaded jam, but induced a flyout and survived to pick up his third win of the season.
ASU freshman closer Ryan Burr came in to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth and did so, earning his sixth save of the season.
Ybarra said the ability of the Sun Devils to grind out a tough game like today’s is very telling.
“It’s huge,” Ybarra said. “Whenever we can go out there and battle and still get a win is big for us.”
The Sun Devils will go for the mini-sweep of Wichita State tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu
