ASU moves on at CWS

OMAHA, Neb. – Kole Calhoun can’t explain it. He just keeps hitting.

Arizona State’s junior left fielder continued his tear at the College World Series on Thursday night, hitting a game-tying grand slam in the fifth inning and the go-ahead double in the seventh in a 12-5 victory that eliminated North Carolina.

In the Sun Devils’ three CWS games, Calhoun has hit three homers and driven in 10 runs.

Calhoun hemmed and hawed and fidgeted with his water bottle when asked why he’s been so good in Omaha. Finally, ASU coach Pat Murphy intervened.

“He was saving it,” Murphy said.

“Yeah, I was saving it,” Calhoun said.

The Sun Devils (51-13) are hoping Calhoun hasn’t used up all his big hits, because now they must beat No. 1 national seed Texas twice to reach next week’s best-of-3 finals. The teams meet tonight and, if ASU wins, play again Saturday.

Calhoun led an offensive attack that produced the most runs surrendered by Carolina (48-18) this season and backed a strong pitching performance by Josh Spence, who went seven innings for a second straight start on three days’ rest.

Spence (10-1) allowed seven hits and four runs, three earned, during his 126-pitch outing. He struck out eight.

North Carolina’s usually dependable pitching staff melted down in the muggy 92-degree heat. Colin Bates (4-4) took the loss in relief of Matt Harvey, who threw a CWS-record four wild pitches.

Harvey’s control problems caught up to the Tar Heels in the fifth. He was pulled in favor of Brian Moran after hitting Jason Kipnis and walking Carlos Ramirez to load the bases.

Calhoun, the first batter to face Moran, slugged a 3-2 pitch into the seats 390 feet away in right-center field to tie it at 4.