PHOENIX – Left-hander Connor Higgins provided 4.2 dominant innings of relief while the Sun Devil Baseball offense chipped away at an early 4-0 deficit to come back and defeat the UNLV Rebels on Barry Bonds Night on Tuesday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
On an evening when the all-time MLB home run king returned to Tempe to throw out the first pitch and the Sun Devils honored the legend with retro throwback uniforms from adidas, it was only fitting that a big home run would provide the difference in the game.
Tyler Williams took the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning over the wall in left field, a two-run shot that marked his team-leading third home run of the season as the Devils went ahead 5-4 and let Higgins take over from there.
The sophomore hurler walked the first batter he saw in the fifth inning to load the bases with just one out, but immediately issued an inning-ending double play before retiring the next 12 batters he faced in a flawless effort in which he struck out a career-high six batters to earn his first victory as a Sun Devil.
The crowd of 4,107 in attendance was the largest for a mid-week game and the fifth-largest overall attendance total since the Sun Devils moved to Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 2014. The crowd was treated to the return of Barry Bonds, as the all-time Sun Devil for Life accepted an honorary retro jersey from head coach Tracy Smith and the team while also throwing the first pitch.
UNLV (10-17) came out of the gates aggressive, resulting in a 4-0 lead through two innings. The Rebels were able to get to Arizona State starting left-hander Zach Dixon, scoring one run in the first and adding three more in the second inning.
Trailing 4-0 after the top half of the second, the Sun Devils (11-12) would strike back quickly in the bottom half of the inning to cut into the UNLV lead. A two-out, two-RBI triple from the number nine-hitter Gage Canning produced the first runs for the Sun Devils, scoring catcher Zach Cerbo and infielder Taylor Lane who had reached on a single.
Right-hander Alec Marsh became the second pitcher to take the mound for the Sun Devils, getting the call to replace Dixon in the top of the second. After giving up a single to the first batter he faced, Marsh settled in nicely to keep the game close. Marsh went a career-long 2.2 innings pitched, giving up just three hits and not allowing a run.
Still leading 4-2, the Rebels replaced starting left-hander Corey Wilson after two innings giving up with Wilson responsible for both runs. New pitcher, right-hander Paul Richy, entered in the third inning, giving the Rebels a scoreless first inning of work.
The ASU bats cut into the lead in Richy's second inning of work.
Infielder Carter Aldrete began the rally by smoking a leadoff double to left. Playing solid, fundamental baseball, the next batter, designated hitter Tyler Williams, shortened up and put the ball in play to the right side advancing Aldrete to third. Continuing the theme of productive at-bats, catcher Zach Cerbo launched a fly ball to center field, send the Rebels outfielder back plenty deep enough to score Aldrete from third on a sacrifice fly and trimming the Rebels lead to just 4-3.
With two of the first three batters in the fifth inning reaching, Higgins came in to relieve Alec Marsh. Higgins walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but would immediately turn around and induce a clutch double play to get the Devils out of the inning and keep the score at 4-3.
An efficient 1-2-3 top half of the sixth inning from Higgins built the momentum for a potential rally to take the lead in the bottom half of the sixth. Carter Aldrete got things going with a one-out single. The very next batter, Tyler Williams, took the first pitch he saw and launched it over the left field fence to give the Sun Devils their first lead of the game, 5-4.
The walk allowed to the first batter he faced out of the bullpen would wind up being the only baserunner Connor Higgins allowed the rest of the game.
With the Sun Devils still clinging to just a one-run lead, Higgins cruised through his final three innings of his outing. He struck out the side in the seventh inning and retired the Rebels on just four pitches in the eighth, forcing all three batters to ground out.
Looking to close the game out in the ninth, Higgins trotted back out to take the mound. Showing no signs of fatigue, Higgins looked as brilliant as ever, striking out the side behind his fast ball to stifle any hopes of a UNLV rally.
NOTES: Connor Higgins established several career-highs with his spectacular outing on Tuesday night…Higgins set career-highs in innings pitched (4.2) and strikeouts (6)…After giving up four earned runs in just 1.1 innings in three appearances to start the season, Higgins has gone 8.1 innings in his last four appearances without allowing a single earned run, striking out 10 while walking just two, recording one save and one victory in that span...Gage Canning's second inning two-RBI triple was his fourth triple of the year, moving him into a tie for first place in the Pac-12 Conference in that category…Canning has now tripled in two of his past three games…Lyle Lin has now reached base in 22 of his 23 games this year…Carter Aldrete and Hunter Bishop both recorded two-hit games for their 5th and 4th multi-hit games of the season respectively.
UP NEXT: The Sun Devils return to Pac-12 action this weekend as they host the UCLA Bruins beginning Friday, March 31 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Friday and Saturday's games will get underway at 6:30 p.m. PT with the finale set for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch. All three games will be streamed live via the Pac-12 Networks at pac-12.com/live while each game will be carried over the airwaves with Tim Healey and Max Rossiter on the call at NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM, 100.7 KSLX HD 2 and via the TuneIn app at thesundevils.com.
Join the conversation all season
Twitter: @ASU_Baseball | Facebook: Sun Devil Baseball | Instagram: ASU_Baseball
2017 Season Tickets
Sun Devil Baseball season tickets are on sale now, and fans can purchase by calling 480-965-5812 or click here for more information and to purchase
5-Game Mini Plans
This plan allows fans to choose five (5) games in the 2017 season to create their own customized schedule. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Flex Plans
This plan gives fans the ultimate flexibility with eight (8) vouchers redeemable for tickets to any home game. Fans can use all nine tickets at one game, or one ticket at nine different games; simply present your voucher to the ticket office whenever you decide to attend. Tickets are at a 20-33 percent discount and in the Infield Reserved Seating sections. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets for the team's non-conference slate are on sale now. Call 480-727-0000 or click here for more information and to purchase.
On an evening when the all-time MLB home run king returned to Tempe to throw out the first pitch and the Sun Devils honored the legend with retro throwback uniforms from adidas, it was only fitting that a big home run would provide the difference in the game.
Tyler Williams took the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning over the wall in left field, a two-run shot that marked his team-leading third home run of the season as the Devils went ahead 5-4 and let Higgins take over from there.
The sophomore hurler walked the first batter he saw in the fifth inning to load the bases with just one out, but immediately issued an inning-ending double play before retiring the next 12 batters he faced in a flawless effort in which he struck out a career-high six batters to earn his first victory as a Sun Devil.
The crowd of 4,107 in attendance was the largest for a mid-week game and the fifth-largest overall attendance total since the Sun Devils moved to Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 2014. The crowd was treated to the return of Barry Bonds, as the all-time Sun Devil for Life accepted an honorary retro jersey from head coach Tracy Smith and the team while also throwing the first pitch.
UNLV (10-17) came out of the gates aggressive, resulting in a 4-0 lead through two innings. The Rebels were able to get to Arizona State starting left-hander Zach Dixon, scoring one run in the first and adding three more in the second inning.
Trailing 4-0 after the top half of the second, the Sun Devils (11-12) would strike back quickly in the bottom half of the inning to cut into the UNLV lead. A two-out, two-RBI triple from the number nine-hitter Gage Canning produced the first runs for the Sun Devils, scoring catcher Zach Cerbo and infielder Taylor Lane who had reached on a single.
Right-hander Alec Marsh became the second pitcher to take the mound for the Sun Devils, getting the call to replace Dixon in the top of the second. After giving up a single to the first batter he faced, Marsh settled in nicely to keep the game close. Marsh went a career-long 2.2 innings pitched, giving up just three hits and not allowing a run.
Still leading 4-2, the Rebels replaced starting left-hander Corey Wilson after two innings giving up with Wilson responsible for both runs. New pitcher, right-hander Paul Richy, entered in the third inning, giving the Rebels a scoreless first inning of work.
The ASU bats cut into the lead in Richy's second inning of work.
Infielder Carter Aldrete began the rally by smoking a leadoff double to left. Playing solid, fundamental baseball, the next batter, designated hitter Tyler Williams, shortened up and put the ball in play to the right side advancing Aldrete to third. Continuing the theme of productive at-bats, catcher Zach Cerbo launched a fly ball to center field, send the Rebels outfielder back plenty deep enough to score Aldrete from third on a sacrifice fly and trimming the Rebels lead to just 4-3.
With two of the first three batters in the fifth inning reaching, Higgins came in to relieve Alec Marsh. Higgins walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but would immediately turn around and induce a clutch double play to get the Devils out of the inning and keep the score at 4-3.
An efficient 1-2-3 top half of the sixth inning from Higgins built the momentum for a potential rally to take the lead in the bottom half of the sixth. Carter Aldrete got things going with a one-out single. The very next batter, Tyler Williams, took the first pitch he saw and launched it over the left field fence to give the Sun Devils their first lead of the game, 5-4.
The walk allowed to the first batter he faced out of the bullpen would wind up being the only baserunner Connor Higgins allowed the rest of the game.
With the Sun Devils still clinging to just a one-run lead, Higgins cruised through his final three innings of his outing. He struck out the side in the seventh inning and retired the Rebels on just four pitches in the eighth, forcing all three batters to ground out.
Looking to close the game out in the ninth, Higgins trotted back out to take the mound. Showing no signs of fatigue, Higgins looked as brilliant as ever, striking out the side behind his fast ball to stifle any hopes of a UNLV rally.
NOTES: Connor Higgins established several career-highs with his spectacular outing on Tuesday night…Higgins set career-highs in innings pitched (4.2) and strikeouts (6)…After giving up four earned runs in just 1.1 innings in three appearances to start the season, Higgins has gone 8.1 innings in his last four appearances without allowing a single earned run, striking out 10 while walking just two, recording one save and one victory in that span...Gage Canning's second inning two-RBI triple was his fourth triple of the year, moving him into a tie for first place in the Pac-12 Conference in that category…Canning has now tripled in two of his past three games…Lyle Lin has now reached base in 22 of his 23 games this year…Carter Aldrete and Hunter Bishop both recorded two-hit games for their 5th and 4th multi-hit games of the season respectively.
UP NEXT: The Sun Devils return to Pac-12 action this weekend as they host the UCLA Bruins beginning Friday, March 31 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Friday and Saturday's games will get underway at 6:30 p.m. PT with the finale set for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch. All three games will be streamed live via the Pac-12 Networks at pac-12.com/live while each game will be carried over the airwaves with Tim Healey and Max Rossiter on the call at NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM, 100.7 KSLX HD 2 and via the TuneIn app at thesundevils.com.
Join the conversation all season
Twitter: @ASU_Baseball | Facebook: Sun Devil Baseball | Instagram: ASU_Baseball
2017 Season Tickets
Sun Devil Baseball season tickets are on sale now, and fans can purchase by calling 480-965-5812 or click here for more information and to purchase
5-Game Mini Plans
This plan allows fans to choose five (5) games in the 2017 season to create their own customized schedule. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Flex Plans
This plan gives fans the ultimate flexibility with eight (8) vouchers redeemable for tickets to any home game. Fans can use all nine tickets at one game, or one ticket at nine different games; simply present your voucher to the ticket office whenever you decide to attend. Tickets are at a 20-33 percent discount and in the Infield Reserved Seating sections. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets for the team's non-conference slate are on sale now. Call 480-727-0000 or click here for more information and to purchase.