PHOENIX – The #22 Sun Devil Baseball team broke a tight game open in the sixth inning, scoring 10 runs over its final three innings at the plate to cruise to a 13-4 victory over Nevada on Tuesday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Hunter Jump had his best game of the season, recording three RBIs on two doubles – the later of which helped put Nevada away in the sixth inning. Hunter Haas had the go ahead RBI and blew the game open in the seventh with a base-clearing double as he finished the game with a career-best four RBIs.
Drew Swift, Ethan Long and Sam Ferri all recorded multi-hit efforts while Kade Higgins recorded his first career home run on the only pitch he saw of the day.
Jared Glenn earned his second win in as many appearances as seven Sun Devil pitchers combined to hold Nevada to just four runs despite nine hits.
TURNING POINT
With things tied up at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Sun Devils capitalized on a leadoff error to Kai Murphy who took second on a passed ball and third on a balk. Sean McLain was hit by a pitch and Drew Swift walked to load the bases with one out. Hunter Haas put ASU up for good with an infield single right up the middle and Hunter Jump gave ASU the breathing room it needed with a two-RBI double immediate after to put ASU up, 6-3. Ethan Long added some insurance with a sac fly to make it 7-3 and the Sun Devil bats continued the thrive from there.
NOTES
First Inning
Drew Swift continued his streak of hot hitting with a leadoff single and then did his part on the basepath to keep the Nevada pitcher guessing. After five or so pickoff attempts at first, Hunter Jump gave one a ride for an RBI double to right center to score Swift from first and give ASU an early advantage.
Second Inning
Justin Fall needed just 10 pitches and three minutes to take down the Wolf Pack order but ASU went down in similar style in the frame.
Third Inning
A leadoff walk came back to bite ASU and Nevada got on the board with a two-out RBI single after a nine-pitch at bat from Stinson. ASU got two on with just one out in the bottom of the frame but couldn't capitalize.
Fourth Inning
Nevada ripped off a trio of singles off Jared Glenn – who entered in place of Justin Fall - to lead off the fourth inning, leading to two runs before Joe Lampe saved a third with an incredible diving stab in center. ASU bounced right back in the bottom of the frame behind an RBI standup triple from Kai Murphy who was brought home by Lampe's third sac fly of the season to tie things at 3-3.
Fifth Inning
Glenn bounced back after a shaky start and was helped by an incredible diving stab at first from Jack Moss to put together a 1-2-3 frame. Ethan Long recorded his first career hit and Nate Baez drew a walk but ASU was unable to mount a two-out rally.
Sixth Inning
ASU capitalized on a leadoff error and some wild pitching from the Wolf Pack defense, loading the bases on the error, a HBP and a walk. Hunter Haas put ASU back on top with an infield RBI single before Jump gave ASU some breathing room with a two-RBI double and Ethan Long tacked on another with a sac fly and his first career RBI to make it 7-3.
Seventh Inning
After a leadoff walk, Cam Dennie entered and kept Nevada off the board with a strikeout and a pair of ground outs. The Devils blew things open in the bottom half of the frame, loading the bases with one out for Hunter Haas and the freshman did the rest, clearing the base path with a three-RBI double to make it 10-3. Ethan Long singled and forced an error at third in the process to bring another run across and make it 11-3.
Eighth Inning
Nevada got one back behind a pair of doubles but ASU bounced back immediately in the bottom half of the frame behind a pair of freshman at bats. Blake Pivaroff started the two-out rally with a pinch hit single to bring Kade Higgins to the plate. The fellow freshman took the first pitch her saw out of the park for his first career home run and a 13-4 Sun Devil advantage.
Ninth Inning
Ethan Long switched over to pitcher from his DH spot and post and retired all three batters he faced to seal the Sun Devil victory.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will welcome Utah in a three-game non-conference series at home. ASU will head to Salt Lake City for the conference version later this year. Friday's game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. AZT first pitch, with Saturday getting underway at 2 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Watch both game via the live stream or follow through live stats. Saturday and Sunday's games will both be available over the airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM
Hunter Jump had his best game of the season, recording three RBIs on two doubles – the later of which helped put Nevada away in the sixth inning. Hunter Haas had the go ahead RBI and blew the game open in the seventh with a base-clearing double as he finished the game with a career-best four RBIs.
Drew Swift, Ethan Long and Sam Ferri all recorded multi-hit efforts while Kade Higgins recorded his first career home run on the only pitch he saw of the day.
Jared Glenn earned his second win in as many appearances as seven Sun Devil pitchers combined to hold Nevada to just four runs despite nine hits.
TURNING POINT
With things tied up at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Sun Devils capitalized on a leadoff error to Kai Murphy who took second on a passed ball and third on a balk. Sean McLain was hit by a pitch and Drew Swift walked to load the bases with one out. Hunter Haas put ASU up for good with an infield single right up the middle and Hunter Jump gave ASU the breathing room it needed with a two-RBI double immediate after to put ASU up, 6-3. Ethan Long added some insurance with a sac fly to make it 7-3 and the Sun Devil bats continued the thrive from there.
NOTES
- Joe Lampe registered his team-leading third sac fly of the season.
- Drew Swift recorded his fourth consecutive game with two hits. He has a hit in all seven ASU games this season. He has multiple hits in 12 of his last 19 games, dating back to last season.
- Ethan Long got his first start at designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with an RBI before coming in to close out the game on the mound in the ninth.
- ASU has scored 22 runs in its last two games after having just 15 COMBINED runs in its first five games.
- ASU has held its opponents to 5 runs or fewer in 22 of the 24 games since Jason Kelly has come on as the pitching coach. For perspective ASU game up six or more runs in 25 of its 57 games in the 2019 season.
- Hunter Haas has two hits in each of his last four games.
- Despite having three new starters in the infield, ASU's infielders have combined for just two errors this season on 124 chances (.984). The left side of the infield of veteran Drew Swift – playing shortstop for the first time since the beginning of his freshman year – and Hunter Haas have been perfect from the field.
First Inning
Drew Swift continued his streak of hot hitting with a leadoff single and then did his part on the basepath to keep the Nevada pitcher guessing. After five or so pickoff attempts at first, Hunter Jump gave one a ride for an RBI double to right center to score Swift from first and give ASU an early advantage.
Second Inning
Justin Fall needed just 10 pitches and three minutes to take down the Wolf Pack order but ASU went down in similar style in the frame.
Third Inning
A leadoff walk came back to bite ASU and Nevada got on the board with a two-out RBI single after a nine-pitch at bat from Stinson. ASU got two on with just one out in the bottom of the frame but couldn't capitalize.
Fourth Inning
Nevada ripped off a trio of singles off Jared Glenn – who entered in place of Justin Fall - to lead off the fourth inning, leading to two runs before Joe Lampe saved a third with an incredible diving stab in center. ASU bounced right back in the bottom of the frame behind an RBI standup triple from Kai Murphy who was brought home by Lampe's third sac fly of the season to tie things at 3-3.
Fifth Inning
Glenn bounced back after a shaky start and was helped by an incredible diving stab at first from Jack Moss to put together a 1-2-3 frame. Ethan Long recorded his first career hit and Nate Baez drew a walk but ASU was unable to mount a two-out rally.
Sixth Inning
ASU capitalized on a leadoff error and some wild pitching from the Wolf Pack defense, loading the bases on the error, a HBP and a walk. Hunter Haas put ASU back on top with an infield RBI single before Jump gave ASU some breathing room with a two-RBI double and Ethan Long tacked on another with a sac fly and his first career RBI to make it 7-3.
Seventh Inning
After a leadoff walk, Cam Dennie entered and kept Nevada off the board with a strikeout and a pair of ground outs. The Devils blew things open in the bottom half of the frame, loading the bases with one out for Hunter Haas and the freshman did the rest, clearing the base path with a three-RBI double to make it 10-3. Ethan Long singled and forced an error at third in the process to bring another run across and make it 11-3.
Eighth Inning
Nevada got one back behind a pair of doubles but ASU bounced back immediately in the bottom half of the frame behind a pair of freshman at bats. Blake Pivaroff started the two-out rally with a pinch hit single to bring Kade Higgins to the plate. The fellow freshman took the first pitch her saw out of the park for his first career home run and a 13-4 Sun Devil advantage.
Ninth Inning
Ethan Long switched over to pitcher from his DH spot and post and retired all three batters he faced to seal the Sun Devil victory.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will welcome Utah in a three-game non-conference series at home. ASU will head to Salt Lake City for the conference version later this year. Friday's game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. AZT first pitch, with Saturday getting underway at 2 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Watch both game via the live stream or follow through live stats. Saturday and Sunday's games will both be available over the airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM