PHOENIX – Sun Devil Baseball continued its hot stretch, defeating Seattle University 11-6 on a brisk Tuesday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils (20-9, 7-2 Pac-12) led from the first inning to the final pitch and improved to 3-0 all-time against the Redhawks (7-18, 5-7 WAC).
ASU has now won 14 of its last 16 games and maintained momentum throughout the game, recording at least one hit in all eight innings up to the plate.
Ryan Campos tied his career-high with four hits, going 4-for-4 with a double and three hits. Nu'u Contrades, Luke Keaschall, Isaiah Jackson, and Jacob Tobias each accounted for multiple hits.
TURNING POINT
The Sun Devils capitalized on a shaky start from Seattle University southpaw Kian Hogan, who gave up three runs and three walks on 34 pitches in the first inning. A patient and discipline approach from Arizona State allowed them to grab an early 3-0 lead, one they would not relinquish.
BIG MOMENT
With the game still in the balance, Luke Keaschall hit a one-out double off the left-field wall in the fifth, putting runners on second and third while driving a run in. Two batters later, Luke Hill roped a first-pitch fastball through the left side of the infield, driving in two and giving the Sun Devils a 9-4 lead.
FINAL STRAW
Isaiah Jackson cranked a 399-foot home run over the Whiteman Family Performance Center in the bottom of the eighth to seal the deal for the Sun Devils.
NOTABLES
- Jacob Tobias extended his team-high 28-game on-base streak with a first inning RBI single. He finished with three runs batted in, his 10th career multi-RBI game.
- Ryan Campos, who had the second-highest OBP in the Pac-12 before tonight (.519), has now reached base in 27 straight games and in 64-of-71 (90.1%) of games with the Sun Devils overall. He extended his hit streak to 10. Additionally, Campos is 33-of-62 (.532) in ASU's last 16 games. He has 12 walks and 2 HBP, reaching base at a .618 OBP.
- Nu'u Contrades is batting 36-of-74 (.486) with a team-leading 26 RBIs, 12 extra-base hits, and 22 runs scored in ASU's last 16 games. He is slugging at a .811 clip.
- Luke Keaschall has also been on a tear over his last 16 games, hitting .426 with a team-leading 15 extra base hits. 5 of those are home runs with 10 doubles, good enough for a .794 slugging percentage. He has also walked 8 times for an OBP of .500.
- The Sun Devils have scored in the first inning in 16 of the first 29 games and improve to 12-4 in such games this season.
- ASU improves to 6-0 in one-game series this season. They had four wins in such games last season.
- Arizona State became the first Pac-12 team to reach the 20-win mark in 2023, doing so in 29 games. It took them 40 games to get to 20 wins last year.
- Nolan Lebamoff threw 1.1 innings of relief and now has not allowed an earned run in his last 13 appearances.
- In ASU's single-game midweek this year, the bullpen has combined for a 2.70 ERA, factoring into five decisions in the six games (5-0). They boast a 38-13 strikeout to walk ratio while holding opponents to a .210 batting average.
- ASU finished with 13 hits and now has double-digit hits in 12 of the last 16 games.
INNING-BY-INNING
First Inning
After a 3-1 count to open the night, Seattle's first batter hit a flyout to left field. Matt Tieding then delivered two strikeouts to bring ASU to the plate.
At the bottom of the inning, Nu'u Contrades started off the hitting with a groundball right over second base to get him on first. He was led to third after Ryan Campos and Luke Keaschall were both walked. With the bases loaded, Jacob Tobias split the first and second basemen to get on first and bring two runners in. Luke Hill was then hit-by-pitch and the bases refilled. Kien Vu took ASU's third walk and brought another runner home. A strikeout and foul out to first put a close to the opening inning with the Sun Devils up 3-0.
Second Inning
A walk followed up by a line drive double just inside of third base put a runner on second and third for the Redhawks. An ensuing single brought a runner home for Seattle. With runners on first and second, the next three batters flied out to center field to leave the score at 3-1 in favor of ASU. Tieding's night pitching ended with a statline of 2.0 IP 2H's 2K's & 1 BB with 40 pitches.
Third Inning
Seattle made up for a flyout to right field with two singles. First baseman Jacob Tobias then caught a line drive straight to his glove and beat the runner back to the plate for a solo double-play. Score remains 3-1. Hansell wrapped up his relieving duties after 1.0 IP 2H's on 11 pitches.
Kien Vu led off the frame with a triple to the right field wall. He was batted in by Wille Cano, who got thrown out on his way to first. The inning ended after a popout to the catcher and a strikeout with ASU up 4-1.
Fourth Inning
The Redhawks doubled to right center to open the inning. A flyout to left field and a groundout to third base put two outs on the board, but Seattle was able to bring the runner in on a single up the middle. The Sun Devils closed out the frame 4-2 with a fielder's choice at second.
Nu'u Contrades reached first on a high shot to center field. Ryan Campos doubled down the first base line to put runners on second and third. A line drive by Luke Keaschall glanced off the shortstop's glove and filled the bases. Jacob Tobias got his third RBI and sprinted to first to avoid a double play by Seattle. He then stole second on a wild pitch. ASU traded another out for a run as Luke Hill flied out to right field to bring Ryan Campos home. A walk and hit-by-pitch let Kien Vu and Willie Cano load the bases yet again. Trey Newman tried to add on to the damage but Seattle's shortstop got the ground ball to second base a split second before Cano slid into it. ASU left the inning up 6-2.
Fifth Inning
After two walks and a flyout, both runners on base advanced on a wild pitch. A groundout RBI and single through the right side brought two runners home for Seattle, and sparked an ASU pitching change to Nolan Lebamoff. Dylan Gardner ended his night with 1.2 IP 3H 2BB with 24 pitches. The next Redhawk up to the plate flied out to center field and the inning ended with ASU leading 6-4.
With a runner on via walk, Campos singled through the right side to put runners on first and second. Luke Keaschall then doubled deep into left field to bring Contrades home. Luke Hill stepped up to the plate with two outs and a runner on second and third. He hit a quick line drive through the left side to bring both runners home and put himself on first. Hill stole second on the next pitch, but another strikeout left him stranded. The inning ended 9-4.
Sixth Inning
Lebamoff gave up a walk before recording two kills. The runner advanced to second on a passed ball and Seattle was walked again. A fielding error gave Seattle an easy run but the Sun Devils threw the next batter out at first to end the top of the inning. Nolan Lebamoff ends his night 1.1 IP 0H 2K's 2BB's on 41 pitches. ASU up 9-5.
With two outs, pinch-hitter Isaiah Jackson singled to right field and then was called out on an attempted second base steal. The score remains 9-5.
Seventh Inning
A foul out at the left wall followed by a strikeout and a fly out put a quick lid on the top of the seventh. Jesse Wainscott ends his night 1.0 IP 1 K on 8 pitches.
ASU left runners on first and second stranded in the bottom frame, and the score remains unchanged at 9-5.
Eighth Inning
The Sun Devils got off the mound thanks to a popout, line out, and a groundout in the midst of giving up two walks. Score remains 9-5.
Willie Cano got on first via a walk, and pinch-hitter Isaiah Jackson stepped into a 2-2 pitch with two outs and sent it past the bullpen and out of the park to bring the Sun Devils lead to 11-5. Contrades grounded out on the next pitch and the Sun Devils looked to close out one more inning.
Ninth Inning
Seattle's bats came alive in the last frame and the Redhawks scored on a deep double to center field. The runner on second stole third with two outs remaining, but Tyler Valdez through his second strikeout in a row to close out the game.
ON DECK
The Sun Devils have a day off before hosting Washington State on Thursday at 6 p.m. AZT for the first game of a three-game homestand at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The game will be available through the Pac-12 Live Stream and over the airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM.