PHOENIX (Interstat) — Andrew Cain’s go-ahead double in the 11th inning sparked a two-run rally as the Arizona Wildcats outlasted the Arizona State Sun Devils 5-3 in a tense, extra-inning Big 12 conference matchup Monday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The Wildcats, who had dropped three of four to their in-state rivals earlier this month, snapped a two-game skid and improved to 14-22 overall and 5-11 in conference play. The Sun Devils, ranked 22nd nationally, fell to 26-12 and 9-7.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the 11th. With the score tied 3-3, Tony Lira led off with a double against Arizona State reliever Colin Linder. Cain, mired in an 0-for-14 slump entering the night, then drove a 1-2 pitch into the gap in right-center field, scoring Lira easily. Cain advanced to third on a passed ball and later scored on a two-base error by third baseman Austen Roellig on a fielder’s choice, providing crucial insurance.

Arizona’s bullpen trio of Corey Kling, Garrett Hicks and Patrick Morris was the foundation of the victory, combining for nine innings of scoreless, one-hit relief after starter Patrick Morris allowed one run over three innings. Kling and Hicks each threw three perfect innings, striking out three batters apiece, to stifle the Sun Devils’ offense through the middle and late stages.

The Wildcats built an early lead against Sun Devils starter Austin Musso. Cain launched a solo home run, his fifth of the season, to deep right field in the second inning. Beau Sylvester followed two batters later with his first homer of the year. Nate Novitske added a solo shot in the third, making it 3-0.

Arizona State got a run back in the third on a sacrifice fly by Dean Toigo, scoring PJ Moutzouridis. The game then became a pitchers’ duel, with Kling and Hicks dominating for Arizona and the Sun Devils’ bullpen keeping pace. Derek Schaefer struck out four over two perfect innings, and Sean Fitzpatrick fanned all three batters he faced in the eighth.

The Sun Devils finally broke through against Arizona reliever Collin McKinney in the eighth. After Toigo was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch, Nu’u Contrades crushed a two-run homer to right field, his 11th of the season, tying the game at 3-3 and sending the rivalry clash to extra innings.

Hicks worked around a walk in the ninth to force extras, and after the Wildcats took the lead in the 11th, he returned to close the door in the bottom half. Arizona State put the tying runs on base with two singles, but Hicks induced a flyout from Moutzouridis and a game-ending flyout from Landon Hairston to secure the win.

Cain finished 3 for 5 with the home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Novitske added two hits, including his homer. Contrades led Arizona State, going 2 for 5 with the game-tying two-run homer.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, which gave Arizona State a 57.1% probability to win and projected a 6-2 Sun Devils victory.

Arizona travels to face BYU in a three-game series beginning Thursday. Arizona State opens a three-game set at BYU on Thursday.