PHOENIX – Sun Devil Baseball put together a solid all-around effort as it took the first game of its conference series against BYU, 8-3, on Thursday evening at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Ben Jacobs overcame a shaky start to go 6.1 innings with 11 strikeouts and Lucas Kelly and Cole Carlon shut things down on the backend with 2.2 innings of scoreless work with five strikeouts and no walks on just 33 total pitches combined.
The Sun Devils (26-16, 12-7 Big 12) racked up 10 hits on offense and added on some insurance runs late to keep things relatively drama-free down the stretch.
Matt King recorded three RBIs to bring his total to seven in two games played this week. King, Kyle Walker, Nu'u Contrades and Jax Ryan each recorded two hits in the game. The top of the Sun Devil order recorded six of ASU's RBIs in the game.
The Sun Devils will look for their seven series win of the season tomorrow evening with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. AZT.
TURNING POINT
The Sun Devils fell in a 2-1 hole early but picked up a pair of runs in the third to reclaim a 3-2 lead. ASU wasted no time adding to that in the fourth, though, with Kyle Walker plating Jax Ryan from first with an RBI double to right center and on the very next pitch, Landon Hairston launched his third homer of the year - an oppo shot to give ASU a 6-2 lead.
BIG MOMENT
BYU came right back with its biggest threat in the next half inning, loading the bases against Jacobs with no outs and bringing the tying run to the plate. Jacobs was unfazed in the moment, giving up a run on a sac fly before posting back-to-back strikeouts to strand two runners in scoring position and keep the Sun Devils on top 6-3.
FINAL STRAW
While the back end of games has been a roller coaster for ASU all season, Lucas Kelly and Cole Carlon ensured there would be no concerns in this one. Kelly went 1.2 innings after entering in the seventh, tossing 22 pitches - 19 of which were strikes - while striking out three and giving up just one hit. Carlon remained untouchable in the ninth with two strikeouts and a 1-2-3 inning on 11 pitches.
NOTABLES
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Willie Bloomquist
Opening Statement
"We were able to put together eight runs on a Thursday night, that's usually decent. But we got to some other guys going still. I mean, there was Jax Ryan, he was a nice spark in there today. Added some life to the offense, but we got to get some of these other guys going that are capable of swinging the bat a little bit better."
On Ben Jacobs' performance
"The great part about Benny's performance tonight was that he had a rocky first. They came out swinging the sticks pretty good. And that team can swing the bats over there a little bit. And the way it started, I'm like, 'man, they're getting some good swings off of him.' They're in the first, usually, that's the second, third time through, where they start getting better swings. And so obviously that was a little concerning. Coming out with them right on a lot of his stuff. But the way he settled in and battled and competed and got us through little bit more than six innings, and really kept him at bay after the first inning was phenomenal. He got himself into trouble where he had a couple walks and two lead off walks but he did a great job limiting the damage, only giving up one right there. So that was a gutty performance on his part, top to bottom."
On the pitchers and hitters complementing each other
"We understand that our offense is better when we get on and off the field quicker and get our boys back to the bat racks, and keep the other team on the field longer. Obviously, you would like to pencil it out that way. Doesn't always work that way. But the bottom line is, these guys understand the importance of picking each other up. We've been preaching on the offensive side of the ball. Today it was 6-3 going into the sixth, and we had a couple of zeros offensively. And seemed like, 'oh boy, here's that low again.' We were able to scratch out a couple of runs late to add on, which was big, but just the importance of knowing those add on runs for our staff is big, and they did a good job of that tonight. And then obviously playing defense behind our guys, it's full team effort at the end of the day. There's not two sides, pitching and offense that are pointing fingers at each other, we're in this together, and we know we complement each other when we're on our game."
On the production from the middle infielders
"Those two guys have just been phenomenal. Matt King and Kyle Walker, they're the heart and soul of our offense. They're playing with energy. They're playing with leadership skills. They're taking over, which is pretty outstanding considering the company that they're in in that lineup. You combine that with a kid like Jax Ryan, who's hitting .340 and having a hard time getting the lineup. You gotta feel bad for someone who's that kid, he just continues to keep his mouth shut and work hard and wait for his opportunities, and when he gets them, he continues to produce. So I gotta continue to find ways to get him in the lineup as well. So those guys have just been doing a great job."
Outfielder Landon Hairston
On his fourth inning 2-run home run
"I thought it was another line out, to be honest, and it just kind of kept carrying, and I was about to get pretty mad."
On making the start in left field
"I was fine, I guess. Most of my innings have been in right this year, but left field is where I'm most comfortable in the outfield and just staying ready to play wherever."
Designated Hitter Jax Ryan
On his performance tonight
"I felt like I stuck to the approach that they gave me. That's what they've been beating on the past couple weeks, just sticking to your approach. Not swinging at the pitches he wants you to swing at, and just sticking to the approach and staying ready."
On playing with the veteran infielders on the team
"I've learned a lot from both those guys, those are both the positions that I mostly play. At practice, just competing with them every single day, they're making me better. I'm making them better. Learning from both of their approaches. Kyle's more of an aggressive hitter, and he doesn't miss the pitches that he's looking for. And King, he does the same thing. He doesn't miss his pitches, but he also just sticks to his approach. And I like learning from them."
Pitcher Ben Jacobs
On pitching out of jams
"Just trust my stuff and trust my confidence. That's what I take pride in most, is my confidence and how I handle myself on the mound, and when stuff gets shaky like that, I have to go back to who I know I really am and know what I really can do, so just leaning on that confidence and trusting myself and ultimately trusting the guys behind me to make plays like they did all night."
On the team's focus moving forward
"What we've been doing is just trusting each other. Like from a pitching standpoint, just guys coming in with the sole purpose of picking the guy up that was just pitching. I think it's a lot easier to pitch that way when you're pitching for each other, rather than just for your stats and trying to get zeros and stuff, but it means a lot more when you're going out there and fighting for each other. And from a hitting standpoint, just keep passing it. And hitting seems to be contagious with us. And when one guy hits, everyone else hits. So it's always super fun to watch the hitters when they get in that groove and they start building off of each other, and same with the pitchers. So I think if we keep doing that, we'll be in a great spot."
Pitcher Lucas Kelly
On coming in to pitch in the late innings
"Just staying ready every inning down there. It's kind of tough, because you never know when you're going to get called, because we got a dozen plus guys in that bullpen that can get the job done. So you just got to mentally stay ready every inning. And I think it pays off."
On his performance this season
"It's kind of been a rough go for me so far, but you just gotta take it from outing to outing. Just like Ben said, you just got to trust your preparation if it's getting really hard, so once you get out there, that's the easy part."
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Ben Jacobs took the mound, getting things started with a strikeout. The next batter laced a double down the left field line, and moved over to third on a single up the middle. Another single drove in the first run of the game for the Cougars, and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. BYU tacked on another run on an RBI-groundout. The Sun Devils were able to escape the jam on Jacobs' second strikeout of the game, but the damage had already been done, with the Cougars up 2-0.
After Kyle Walker's leadoff single, the Devils got on the board with an RBI-single from Matt King. With two outs, Nu'u Contrades doubled down the left field line, but Jacob Tobias was thrown out at home to end the inning. The Devils trail 2-1.
Second Inning
Jacobs returned to the mound, pitching around a leadoff single to put up a scoreless inning.
Jax Ryan picked up a two-out single, but ASU couldn't get anything else going on the basepaths.
Third Inning
The Sun Devils retired the side, as Jacobs picked up his fourth strikeout.
Walker walked to lead off the inning, then advanced around the bases on a ground out, balk, and sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2. After back-to-back hit by pitches, the Devils took the lead after Kien Vu singled. Josiah Cromwick flew out to end the inning, but the Sun Devils took their first lead of the game, up 3-2.
Fourth Inning
Jacobs returned to the mound for his fourth inning of work, striking out three while working around a pair of singles.
Ryan led off with a single to center field, and Walker drove him in with a double to right center, putting the Devils up 4-2. Landon Hairston then cranked a ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run. A strikeout and a groundout followed, ending the inning with ASU now leading 6-2.
Fifth Inning
After issuing back-to-back walks to open up the frame, the Cougars loaded the bases on a single up the middle before scoring on a sacrifice fly. Jacobs was able to limit the damage, issuing back-to-back strikeouts to keep the lead to 6-3.
The Sun Devils struggled again, getting only one baserunner on during the inning, as Jax Ryan reached on an error.
Sixth Inning
Jacobs continued his strong outing, picking up a three-up, three-down inning, bookended by a pair of strikeouts.
ASU couldn't get anything started on the basepaths in the bottom of the sixth, going down in order.
Seventh Inning
Jacobs came back out for the top of the seventh, retiring the first hitter on a ground out back to the mound, before he was replaced by Lucas Kelly. The righty reliever entered the game and struck out both batters he faced in the inning.
The Sun Devils put another run on the board as Vu reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and third, and came around to score on an error. Cromwick went down swinging after to end the inning.
Eighth Inning
Kelly returned to the mound for his second inning of work, and after surrendering a leadoff single, sent the next three batters down in order, picking up another strikeout.
Ryan led off the inning with a walk, but was caught trying to steal second. Jackson struck out, then Walker walked and stole second. Hairston drew a walk, the third of the inning, then King singled in a run, extending ASU's lead to 8-3. Tobias then flew out to left field to end the inning.
Ninth Inning
Cole Carlon came in to pitch the ninth, striking out two and retiring the side, securing the series opening win for the Sun Devils.
Ben Jacobs overcame a shaky start to go 6.1 innings with 11 strikeouts and Lucas Kelly and Cole Carlon shut things down on the backend with 2.2 innings of scoreless work with five strikeouts and no walks on just 33 total pitches combined.
The Sun Devils (26-16, 12-7 Big 12) racked up 10 hits on offense and added on some insurance runs late to keep things relatively drama-free down the stretch.
Matt King recorded three RBIs to bring his total to seven in two games played this week. King, Kyle Walker, Nu'u Contrades and Jax Ryan each recorded two hits in the game. The top of the Sun Devil order recorded six of ASU's RBIs in the game.
The Sun Devils will look for their seven series win of the season tomorrow evening with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. AZT.
TURNING POINT
The Sun Devils fell in a 2-1 hole early but picked up a pair of runs in the third to reclaim a 3-2 lead. ASU wasted no time adding to that in the fourth, though, with Kyle Walker plating Jax Ryan from first with an RBI double to right center and on the very next pitch, Landon Hairston launched his third homer of the year - an oppo shot to give ASU a 6-2 lead.
BIG MOMENT
BYU came right back with its biggest threat in the next half inning, loading the bases against Jacobs with no outs and bringing the tying run to the plate. Jacobs was unfazed in the moment, giving up a run on a sac fly before posting back-to-back strikeouts to strand two runners in scoring position and keep the Sun Devils on top 6-3.
FINAL STRAW
While the back end of games has been a roller coaster for ASU all season, Lucas Kelly and Cole Carlon ensured there would be no concerns in this one. Kelly went 1.2 innings after entering in the seventh, tossing 22 pitches - 19 of which were strikes - while striking out three and giving up just one hit. Carlon remained untouchable in the ninth with two strikeouts and a 1-2-3 inning on 11 pitches.
NOTABLES
- With his 11 strikeouts tonight, Jacobs now has four 10+ strikeout performances this season, and six in his career. He has 10+ strikeouts in back-to-back games after his career high 13 last Thursday against Texas Tech.
- For the tenth time in his Sun Devil career, Jacobs recorded eight or more strikeouts in an outing.
- Kyle Walker has now recorded a hit to start the game in 13 of the last 24 games since becoming the leadoff batter, and a hit on the FIRST PITCH now seven times with his leadoff single tonight.
- Walker extended his on-base streak to 31 games with his first inning single.
- Kien Vu extended his on-base streak to 20 games with his third inning single.
- Big innings have been the theme of ASU's season as the team has now scored in 150 halves of an inning on the year and have plated two or more runs in 96 of those.
- The Sun Devils posted their 23rd game this season without an error and have quietly put up a .982 fielding percentage on the year - a number that will rank in the top 10 in the country when the updated stats are released on Wednesday. ASU ranked outside the Top-100 in each of the last three seasons in the category.
- Arizona State went 4-for-5 on stolen bases tonight with two different players each swiping two bags. The Sun Devils are 17-5 when stealing at least two bases and 9-11 when recording one steal or less.
- The four stolen bases today bring the season total to 84. That's notable as the team had just 53 stolen bases TOTAL a year ago. Additionally, prior to the start of the weekend series, the Sun Devils ranked 45th in the nation in stolen bases.
- ASU struck out double digit batters for the 26th time in 42 games. The 16 punchouts tonight is tied for second most in a single game this season.
- The Sun Devils have 10 or more hits in 23 games this season.
- Arizona State had two. doubles in the contest, the 28th game of 42 with multiple doubles in a game. ASU entered the game second in the nation with 103 doubles this season, now at 105.
- Landon Hairston now has eight extra-base hits in his last ten games (three homers, four doubles, one triple) - notable as he had just one (a double) in his first 26 games as a Sun Devil.
- Cole Carlon now has 63 strikeouts in just 39.2 innings of work. Before even entering the game today, he was already the only player in the nation with 60+ strikeouts in fewer than 40.0 innings.
- Prior to the start of the weekend series, ASU ranked 9th in the country in doubles per game (2.51), 12th in hits (442), 26th in batting average (.311), and 38th in runs (337)
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Willie Bloomquist
Opening Statement
"We were able to put together eight runs on a Thursday night, that's usually decent. But we got to some other guys going still. I mean, there was Jax Ryan, he was a nice spark in there today. Added some life to the offense, but we got to get some of these other guys going that are capable of swinging the bat a little bit better."
On Ben Jacobs' performance
"The great part about Benny's performance tonight was that he had a rocky first. They came out swinging the sticks pretty good. And that team can swing the bats over there a little bit. And the way it started, I'm like, 'man, they're getting some good swings off of him.' They're in the first, usually, that's the second, third time through, where they start getting better swings. And so obviously that was a little concerning. Coming out with them right on a lot of his stuff. But the way he settled in and battled and competed and got us through little bit more than six innings, and really kept him at bay after the first inning was phenomenal. He got himself into trouble where he had a couple walks and two lead off walks but he did a great job limiting the damage, only giving up one right there. So that was a gutty performance on his part, top to bottom."
On the pitchers and hitters complementing each other
"We understand that our offense is better when we get on and off the field quicker and get our boys back to the bat racks, and keep the other team on the field longer. Obviously, you would like to pencil it out that way. Doesn't always work that way. But the bottom line is, these guys understand the importance of picking each other up. We've been preaching on the offensive side of the ball. Today it was 6-3 going into the sixth, and we had a couple of zeros offensively. And seemed like, 'oh boy, here's that low again.' We were able to scratch out a couple of runs late to add on, which was big, but just the importance of knowing those add on runs for our staff is big, and they did a good job of that tonight. And then obviously playing defense behind our guys, it's full team effort at the end of the day. There's not two sides, pitching and offense that are pointing fingers at each other, we're in this together, and we know we complement each other when we're on our game."
On the production from the middle infielders
"Those two guys have just been phenomenal. Matt King and Kyle Walker, they're the heart and soul of our offense. They're playing with energy. They're playing with leadership skills. They're taking over, which is pretty outstanding considering the company that they're in in that lineup. You combine that with a kid like Jax Ryan, who's hitting .340 and having a hard time getting the lineup. You gotta feel bad for someone who's that kid, he just continues to keep his mouth shut and work hard and wait for his opportunities, and when he gets them, he continues to produce. So I gotta continue to find ways to get him in the lineup as well. So those guys have just been doing a great job."
Outfielder Landon Hairston
On his fourth inning 2-run home run
"I thought it was another line out, to be honest, and it just kind of kept carrying, and I was about to get pretty mad."
On making the start in left field
"I was fine, I guess. Most of my innings have been in right this year, but left field is where I'm most comfortable in the outfield and just staying ready to play wherever."
Designated Hitter Jax Ryan
On his performance tonight
"I felt like I stuck to the approach that they gave me. That's what they've been beating on the past couple weeks, just sticking to your approach. Not swinging at the pitches he wants you to swing at, and just sticking to the approach and staying ready."
On playing with the veteran infielders on the team
"I've learned a lot from both those guys, those are both the positions that I mostly play. At practice, just competing with them every single day, they're making me better. I'm making them better. Learning from both of their approaches. Kyle's more of an aggressive hitter, and he doesn't miss the pitches that he's looking for. And King, he does the same thing. He doesn't miss his pitches, but he also just sticks to his approach. And I like learning from them."
Pitcher Ben Jacobs
On pitching out of jams
"Just trust my stuff and trust my confidence. That's what I take pride in most, is my confidence and how I handle myself on the mound, and when stuff gets shaky like that, I have to go back to who I know I really am and know what I really can do, so just leaning on that confidence and trusting myself and ultimately trusting the guys behind me to make plays like they did all night."
On the team's focus moving forward
"What we've been doing is just trusting each other. Like from a pitching standpoint, just guys coming in with the sole purpose of picking the guy up that was just pitching. I think it's a lot easier to pitch that way when you're pitching for each other, rather than just for your stats and trying to get zeros and stuff, but it means a lot more when you're going out there and fighting for each other. And from a hitting standpoint, just keep passing it. And hitting seems to be contagious with us. And when one guy hits, everyone else hits. So it's always super fun to watch the hitters when they get in that groove and they start building off of each other, and same with the pitchers. So I think if we keep doing that, we'll be in a great spot."
Pitcher Lucas Kelly
On coming in to pitch in the late innings
"Just staying ready every inning down there. It's kind of tough, because you never know when you're going to get called, because we got a dozen plus guys in that bullpen that can get the job done. So you just got to mentally stay ready every inning. And I think it pays off."
On his performance this season
"It's kind of been a rough go for me so far, but you just gotta take it from outing to outing. Just like Ben said, you just got to trust your preparation if it's getting really hard, so once you get out there, that's the easy part."
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Ben Jacobs took the mound, getting things started with a strikeout. The next batter laced a double down the left field line, and moved over to third on a single up the middle. Another single drove in the first run of the game for the Cougars, and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. BYU tacked on another run on an RBI-groundout. The Sun Devils were able to escape the jam on Jacobs' second strikeout of the game, but the damage had already been done, with the Cougars up 2-0.
After Kyle Walker's leadoff single, the Devils got on the board with an RBI-single from Matt King. With two outs, Nu'u Contrades doubled down the left field line, but Jacob Tobias was thrown out at home to end the inning. The Devils trail 2-1.
Second Inning
Jacobs returned to the mound, pitching around a leadoff single to put up a scoreless inning.
Jax Ryan picked up a two-out single, but ASU couldn't get anything else going on the basepaths.
Third Inning
The Sun Devils retired the side, as Jacobs picked up his fourth strikeout.
Walker walked to lead off the inning, then advanced around the bases on a ground out, balk, and sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2. After back-to-back hit by pitches, the Devils took the lead after Kien Vu singled. Josiah Cromwick flew out to end the inning, but the Sun Devils took their first lead of the game, up 3-2.
Fourth Inning
Jacobs returned to the mound for his fourth inning of work, striking out three while working around a pair of singles.
Ryan led off with a single to center field, and Walker drove him in with a double to right center, putting the Devils up 4-2. Landon Hairston then cranked a ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run. A strikeout and a groundout followed, ending the inning with ASU now leading 6-2.
Fifth Inning
After issuing back-to-back walks to open up the frame, the Cougars loaded the bases on a single up the middle before scoring on a sacrifice fly. Jacobs was able to limit the damage, issuing back-to-back strikeouts to keep the lead to 6-3.
The Sun Devils struggled again, getting only one baserunner on during the inning, as Jax Ryan reached on an error.
Sixth Inning
Jacobs continued his strong outing, picking up a three-up, three-down inning, bookended by a pair of strikeouts.
ASU couldn't get anything started on the basepaths in the bottom of the sixth, going down in order.
Seventh Inning
Jacobs came back out for the top of the seventh, retiring the first hitter on a ground out back to the mound, before he was replaced by Lucas Kelly. The righty reliever entered the game and struck out both batters he faced in the inning.
The Sun Devils put another run on the board as Vu reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and third, and came around to score on an error. Cromwick went down swinging after to end the inning.
Eighth Inning
Kelly returned to the mound for his second inning of work, and after surrendering a leadoff single, sent the next three batters down in order, picking up another strikeout.
Ryan led off the inning with a walk, but was caught trying to steal second. Jackson struck out, then Walker walked and stole second. Hairston drew a walk, the third of the inning, then King singled in a run, extending ASU's lead to 8-3. Tobias then flew out to left field to end the inning.
Ninth Inning
Cole Carlon came in to pitch the ninth, striking out two and retiring the side, securing the series opening win for the Sun Devils.