PHOENIX -- The eighth-ranked Sun Devil Baseball team rallied behind the hot bat of Hunter Jump and positively dominant outing in relief from Bryce Barnett en route to a 9-4 victory over Fresno State and series win on Saturday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Just a day after logging the go-ahead RBI on Friday, Jump came a triple shy of the cycle on Saturday with a monstrous 3-for-5 day with four RBIs and yet another go-ahead RBI late in the game.
Barnett was nigh unhittable, spelling starter Tyler Thornton in the top of the sixth and striking out a career-high seven batters with no walks, no runs and just one hit allowed - a bloop single on the first batter he faced on the night. The freshman retired the final 11 batters he faced in the contest - seven of them by way of strikeout.
Fresno State got on the board in the top of the first inning with a two-out solo home run, but No. 8 ASU quickly responded in the bottom half with two runs of their own on a two-run home run by junior outfielder Hunter Jump.
ASU climbed out to a 4-1 lead before Fresno State came roaring back with three unanswered runs to tie things in the sixth. The tie didn't last long though, as the vaunted Sun Devil offense came to life for five runs in the bottom of the sixth, capped off by a three-run home run from freshman second baseman Nathan Baez for a 9-4 lead that would stick for the remainder of the night.
The Turning Point
After the Bulldogs tied up the game 4-4 in the sixth inning, the Sun Devils came right back in the bottom half of the frame. A single by junior shortstop Alika Williams got it going for ASU, followed by another single from junior first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Hunter Jump's incredible day continued when he came through with the third single of the inning to score Williams and put the Sun Devils ahead for good, 5-4.
Gage Workman then reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop, which led to freshman second baseman Nathan Baez breaking the game open with a three-run home run deep into left field - his second homer of the last three days - to make it a 9-4 advantage.
The Dagger
Barnett came into the game in relief of ASU starting pitcher sophomore Tyler Thornton in the top of the sixth inning. After pitching out of a jam in the top of the sixth inning, Barnett faced little resistance from the Fresno State bats the rest of the game finishing with seven strikeouts in the 3.2 innings of work and retiring the final 11 batters he faced in the tilt.
Notables
First inning
ASU starting pitcher Tyler Thornton retired the first two batters of the game but then allowed a two-out solo home run to Fresno State. Outfielder Hunter Jump gave ASU the 2-1 lead in the bottom half with a two-run home run that just snuck over the opposite field wall.
Second inning
Thornton allowed two singles in the top half of the inning but left both of the Bulldogs stranded. In the bottom half, the Sun Devils loaded the bases after a pair of HBP's and a single and Torkelson at the plate. The All-America put a good swing on the ball and laced one to the warning track in left but FSU was playing deep and made the play to avoid any damage.
Third inning
A leadoff triple, followed by a HBP to start the inning had the Bulldogs in business, but Thornton was able to pitch out of trouble, retiring the next three batters to keep Fresno State scoreless in the frame. The Sun Devils extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom half thanks to a Jump RBI double, followed by an RBI single from third baseman Gage Workman.
Fourth inning
With only five pitches thrown, Thornton recorded a 1-2-3 frame to start the inning. Two Sun Devils walked in the bottom half of the inning but were left stranded when Workman grounded out to end the inning.
Fifth inning
Fresno State cut the ASU lead to 4-3 in the top half with a two-out RBI single that knocked in two Bulldogs. The Sun Devil's bats then went down quietly, as two flyouts followed by a pop-up held ASU's lead at one run.
Sixth inning
With a leadoff single and a walk, freshman reliever Bryce Barnett came into the game and FSU got a bloop single to center that allowed the Bulldogs to tie it up 4-4. The Sun Devils retook the lead, however, tacking on five runs in the bottom half of the inning, capped off by a three-run home run by second baseman Nathan Baez.
Seventh Inning
Barnett continued his stellar outing, striking out all three batters he saw in the top of the frame. In the bottom half, Alika Williams hit a two-out single but was ultimately stranded when Spencer Torkelson grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Eighth inning
Staying on a roll, Barnett retired all three batters he faced in the top half of the inning. Trevor Hauver hit a single to lead off the bottom half, but that was it for the Sun Devils, as the next three ASU batters were retired in order.
Ninth inning
Barnett mowed down the Bulldogs in the top of the ninth, striking out his seventh batter of the game to close things out and secure ASU the series victory.
Up next
The Sun Devils finish off their three-game series against the Fresno State Bulldogs on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. AZT. The last game will be streamed on the Pac-12 Network Live Stream.
Just a day after logging the go-ahead RBI on Friday, Jump came a triple shy of the cycle on Saturday with a monstrous 3-for-5 day with four RBIs and yet another go-ahead RBI late in the game.
Barnett was nigh unhittable, spelling starter Tyler Thornton in the top of the sixth and striking out a career-high seven batters with no walks, no runs and just one hit allowed - a bloop single on the first batter he faced on the night. The freshman retired the final 11 batters he faced in the contest - seven of them by way of strikeout.
Fresno State got on the board in the top of the first inning with a two-out solo home run, but No. 8 ASU quickly responded in the bottom half with two runs of their own on a two-run home run by junior outfielder Hunter Jump.
ASU climbed out to a 4-1 lead before Fresno State came roaring back with three unanswered runs to tie things in the sixth. The tie didn't last long though, as the vaunted Sun Devil offense came to life for five runs in the bottom of the sixth, capped off by a three-run home run from freshman second baseman Nathan Baez for a 9-4 lead that would stick for the remainder of the night.
The Turning Point
After the Bulldogs tied up the game 4-4 in the sixth inning, the Sun Devils came right back in the bottom half of the frame. A single by junior shortstop Alika Williams got it going for ASU, followed by another single from junior first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Hunter Jump's incredible day continued when he came through with the third single of the inning to score Williams and put the Sun Devils ahead for good, 5-4.
Gage Workman then reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop, which led to freshman second baseman Nathan Baez breaking the game open with a three-run home run deep into left field - his second homer of the last three days - to make it a 9-4 advantage.
The Dagger
Barnett came into the game in relief of ASU starting pitcher sophomore Tyler Thornton in the top of the sixth inning. After pitching out of a jam in the top of the sixth inning, Barnett faced little resistance from the Fresno State bats the rest of the game finishing with seven strikeouts in the 3.2 innings of work and retiring the final 11 batters he faced in the tilt.
Notables
- Torkelson has now walked in 15 of ASU's 16 games this year. His two walks on Saturday brought his NCAA leading total to 31 walks on the season.
- The top of the Sun Devil lineup was at its best on Saturday, with the 1-4 hitters combining to go 7-for-15 with seven runs and four RBIs.
- Assistant head coach Ben Greenspan coached the Sun Devils Saturday night as head coach Tracy Smith was suspended for the rest of the series after being ejected in the opener on Friday night.
- After knocking in the game-winning run on Friday night, Jump continued his hot streak at the plate, going 3-5 on Saturday night with a home run and 4 RBIs
- Thornton threw 5.1 innings allowing four runs and striking out four and earning the no-decision.
- ASU has won each of its five multi-game series to start the 2020 campaign.
- The Sun Devil pitching rotation has allowed 5 or fewer runs in 15 of the team's first 16 games of the year.
First inning
ASU starting pitcher Tyler Thornton retired the first two batters of the game but then allowed a two-out solo home run to Fresno State. Outfielder Hunter Jump gave ASU the 2-1 lead in the bottom half with a two-run home run that just snuck over the opposite field wall.
Second inning
Thornton allowed two singles in the top half of the inning but left both of the Bulldogs stranded. In the bottom half, the Sun Devils loaded the bases after a pair of HBP's and a single and Torkelson at the plate. The All-America put a good swing on the ball and laced one to the warning track in left but FSU was playing deep and made the play to avoid any damage.
Third inning
A leadoff triple, followed by a HBP to start the inning had the Bulldogs in business, but Thornton was able to pitch out of trouble, retiring the next three batters to keep Fresno State scoreless in the frame. The Sun Devils extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom half thanks to a Jump RBI double, followed by an RBI single from third baseman Gage Workman.
Fourth inning
With only five pitches thrown, Thornton recorded a 1-2-3 frame to start the inning. Two Sun Devils walked in the bottom half of the inning but were left stranded when Workman grounded out to end the inning.
Fifth inning
Fresno State cut the ASU lead to 4-3 in the top half with a two-out RBI single that knocked in two Bulldogs. The Sun Devil's bats then went down quietly, as two flyouts followed by a pop-up held ASU's lead at one run.
Sixth inning
With a leadoff single and a walk, freshman reliever Bryce Barnett came into the game and FSU got a bloop single to center that allowed the Bulldogs to tie it up 4-4. The Sun Devils retook the lead, however, tacking on five runs in the bottom half of the inning, capped off by a three-run home run by second baseman Nathan Baez.
Seventh Inning
Barnett continued his stellar outing, striking out all three batters he saw in the top of the frame. In the bottom half, Alika Williams hit a two-out single but was ultimately stranded when Spencer Torkelson grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Eighth inning
Staying on a roll, Barnett retired all three batters he faced in the top half of the inning. Trevor Hauver hit a single to lead off the bottom half, but that was it for the Sun Devils, as the next three ASU batters were retired in order.
Ninth inning
Barnett mowed down the Bulldogs in the top of the ninth, striking out his seventh batter of the game to close things out and secure ASU the series victory.
Up next
The Sun Devils finish off their three-game series against the Fresno State Bulldogs on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. AZT. The last game will be streamed on the Pac-12 Network Live Stream.