Baseball's all-around effort leads to 10-4 Territorial Cup victory over rival Arizona

Turning point
Locked in a 1-1 duel early, the Sun Devils posted one of their vaunted crooked numbers in the bottom of the fourth inning. A Roellig single set the table for Dean Toigo’s third home run in as many games to make it a 3-1 lead. A pair of doubles from Dominic Smaldino and Beckett Zavorek brought another run in before an inevitable Landon Hairston did what he does best, launching an electric two run home to give ASU its 13 half-inning this season with at least five runs. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Big moment
Things got a little hairy for the Sun Devils as Arizona got right back into the game with a three-run missile with no outs in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 6-4. Sean Fitzpatrick was called upon to save the day and did so with the best performance of his career. The captain gave ASU 3.0 innings of scoreless relief in an outing that tied for the longest of his career. Fitzpatrick struck out four with no walks and just one hit allowed.

Final straw
While Fitzpatrick did his part, the Sun Devil offense did theirs. Hairston singled and stole second and scored on a Moutzouridis RBI single to get one run back in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-4. Heads up-base running would plate another in the bottom of the seventh as Dominic Smaldino scored from second on a two-out error on what should have been a routine 6-3 groundout where the throw was rushed due to Brody Briggs’ hustle down the line. The big knock came with two outs in the bottom of the eight as ASU effectively put the game away on Roellig’s two-RBI single up the middle to make it 10-4. Derek Schaefer was unfazed by a leadoff single in the ninth and stranded two runners with a pair of strikeouts to seal the victory.

The big number
6 - Since being thrown into the fire as a pinch runner after Nu’u Contrades had to leave Sunday’s finale against LMU in the first inning with an injury, Austen Roellig has answered the call with six hits in his eight at-bats since that moment. He has scored six runs and added three RBIs and has only had two plate appearances where he didn’t reach base OR have an RBI.

Inning by inning
First inning
Colin Linder began the game out on the mound, delivering two quick strikeouts and a hit before closing out the frame with a flyout. 

Landon Hairston found himself on base courtesy of a hit by pitch. With PJ Moutzouridis reaching in the same fashion, Dominic Longo loaded the bases with a single to center field. Two strikeouts bookended a sacrifice fly from Austen Roellig that scored Hairston and put the first run of the game on the board for the Sun Devils.

Second inning
Linder got the first batter of the inning to fly out to center before issuing a walk and a single to right to put Arizona runners on the corners. After getting a strikeout, Linder gave up an RBI-single to right to tie the game up at one. Another walk loaded the bases for the Wildcats, but a foul out to the first base side ended the frame. 

After two quick outs, Beckett Zavorek singled to right, then moved over to second on a balk. Hairston then struck out to end the inning. 

Third inning
Taylor Penn took over for Linder on the bump to open up the third inning, and sat the Wildcat batters down in order, producing a strikeout and a pair of flyouts to center field. 

The Sun Devil bats were not able get anything going on the basepaths during the bottom of the third.

Fourth inning
Penn returned to the mound for his second inning of work, retiring the side on two popouts and a groundout. 

After Austen Roellig led off with a single, Dean Toigo crushed a home run to deep right, putting the Sun Devils up, 3-1. Dominic Smaldino followed it up with a double to left center, prompting Arizona to make a pitching change. Brody Briggs flew out to center, then Zavorek doubled into left center to score Smaldino and put the Devils up by three. Landon Hairston then teed off on a ball, homering to left center to drive in two. Two groundouts followed, ending the inning with Arizona State up 6-1. 

Fifth inning
Continuing his outing on the mound, Penn managed two groundouts and flyout, allowing just one hit with no runs scored in the frame. 

Garrett Michel led off the fifth with a walk. A strikeout and runner picked off left the Sun Devils with two outs. Toigo and Smaldino each worked a walk before a groundout concluded the bottom of the fifth. 

Sixth inning
Jaden Alba was the next man out of the bullpen for the Sun Devils, surrendering a walk, single, and 3-run home run to cut the lead to 6-4. He was then relieved for Sean Fitzpatrick, who got a groundout and a strikeout before allowing a single. However, the runner was erased on a caught stealing. 

Zavorek started off the inning with a flyout to right, then Hairston singled through the right side before stealing second. Moutzouridis then singled into left to score Hairston and make it 7-4. Longo and Michel then struck out. 

Seventh inning
Staying on the mound was Fitzpatrick. Rolling through the frame, he sat down the Wildcat bats in order; cutting down the first two batters via strikeouts and working a groundout to third. 

Roellig grounded out and Toigo flew out to short right field before Smaldino walked. After a wild pitch allowed Smaldino to take second, Briggs reached base on a throwing error by Arizona’s shortstop, allowing Smaldino to slide past home plate. The one-run inning ended after Beckett took a strikeout looking, leaving the score at 8-4 and the Sun Devils on top through seven. 

Eighth inning
Fitzpatrick pitched another 1-2-3 inning, getting a groundout and a strikeout before Roellig made a huge stop on a ground ball and threw across the diamond for the third out of the inning. 

Hairston led off with a walk, then Moutzouridis replaced him on first after a fielder’s choice. Moutzouridis then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. After Longo struck out, Michel walked on four pitches. Roellig then delivered a 2-out single up the middle to score two and put the Devils up 10-4. Toigo then lined out.

Ninth inning
Derek Schaefer came in for Fitzpatrick to finish out the final frame. After giving up a lead-off single, Schaefer produced a strikeout, a fly out and a walk, before sealing the game with a strikeout. 

Quotables
Head Coach Willie Bloomquist
Opening Statement
“It's more than just a win, even though it counts as just one in the win column. It's nice to jump out and get the first one against those guys. They're a solid team, and for us to come away with the win, obviously, we played pretty well on most facets of the game tonight, and it's a big step for us to get that win tonight.”

On the impact of the crowd during the game
“I’ll speak directly to the fans, thank you for coming out. This is what makes this atmosphere awesome and fun for these kids to play in on a Tuesday night. This is a midweek game, and we had the biggest crowd of the year. It's so much of a different atmosphere when the fans show up like that. And we are very appreciative. I'm very appreciative as the head coach, I know the players were all excited and jacked up,  everyone just had a little bit more intensity walking around. This is what it's supposed to be about here. So thank you to the fans. I appreciate it. We need you. We need you to keep coming out. We got a big conference opener against TCU this weekend. So I anticipate more big crowds this weekend.”

On Beckett Zavorek and Austen Roellig stepping up
“Great at-bats by both of them. Played stellar defense. Austen made an extremely big play there to his forehand side in the eighth to finish that inning off. And then had great at-bats there. In the first, we had bases loaded, nobody out, and we had a big punch out there. Austen came up and at least got us on the board with the bullet to center. It was a sac fly, but great at-bat there. And then a huge hit there in the eighth to put us up six. It's a lot different going to that ninth up six than up just a grand slam. So for him to come up there in that big situation, it was big for him, and big for us. Beckett had some good at-bats tonight as well, a couple hits. So we're going to need those guys to be productive. Obviously, it's just great to have them be productive anyway,  but with the absence of Nu’u (Contrades) we're going to need those guys to step up.”

On Landon Hairston’s big night
“A play that goes kind of unnoticed is that there was a ball down that left field line that he got a great jump on off the bat. I thought it was trouble, and probably going to be extra bases down the line, and I look up and he's ahead of it, and made it look pretty routine, but that's not an easy play. So he stepped up defensively, base running wise, stole a bag tonight. Obviously, his offense speaks for itself, the way he's swinging the bat. But the fact that he's becoming more of a complete player and in different facets of the game is what's impressive. Hitting lead off spot, being able to just give him a straight steal and have him execute it. Those types of things are big. He's starting to understand the base running side of stuff, and picking up keys and making things happen there at the top of the lineup. So it's been all around, it's been awesome for him.”

Outfielder Landon Hairston

On his increase in power from last season
“Being more comfortable in the box. Last year was a big jump. I think I've said it before, but being a freshman last year, you kind of scrap your way into the lineup, take your hits and be a little scrappy guy. But having the confidence now and knowing that I don't have to cheat on anything [helps]. It's been huge being comfortable in the box.”

On what sparks the offense’s success at the plate
“These guys are good, they all rake. I don't think there's any weakness in this lineup. I think anybody can get hot at any time and even if guys are struggling, we have guys that pick each other up and that's the makeup of this group. We have guys that are close knit. We would die for each other, really. We're all new guys but we've meshed really well together."

Pitcher Sean Fitzpatrick

On winning the first of five matchups against Arizona
“Anytime we go out we want to win. This one means a little bit more, obviously, because of the rivalry. But anytime we take the field we're hunting a win. Today we played really well and I'm super proud of the team.”

On the reactions in the locker room after the game
“It was awesome. Anytime you win it's fun. This game obviously means a little bit more to us and to everyone than any other game, but it was fun. The environment's good, this clubhouse is a great group of guys, so we just celebrated with them and had fun.”

Pitcher Taylor Penn

On his performance on the mound tonight
“I just went out there with confidence. I knew my guys had my back. We have a good staff. With Jeremy (Accardo) calling pitches and I just competed like it was another game. [You] can't make it too big.”