PHOENIX - Sun Devil Baseball put on a successful homestand this past week, starting with defeating in-state rival Arizona before winning their first conference game of the season by going 2-1 against No. 17 TCU. Their 4-0 series clinching win on Sunday marked ASU's first shutout against a ranked opponent for the first time since 2018. The Sun Devils will stay home to start this week on Tuesday against GCU, then resume Big 12 play with a road series against Kansas State.
Arizona State started the week off with a 10-4 victory over the Arizona Wildcats. The Sun Devils pulled this one away with a big fourth inning, scoring five runs. Dean Toigo smashed a two-run shot to deep right field, recording his sixth home run of the season. Landon Hairston joined in on the fun with a two-run homer of his own, as he continues his impressive season with his sixth home run of the season as well.
On Friday, Arizona State dropped the series-opening game against TCU. Down 3-5 going into the ninth, the Sun Devils tried to get back into it with an RBI single from Brody Briggs to cut the Horned Frogs' lead to one, but ASU was not able to bring it to a tie.
Moving forward to Saturday, ASU's offense was astonishing in the third as they racked up nine runs as Dean Toigo went 5-for-5 while Landon Hairston nearly recorded a cycle that was featured by a grand slam, his third one of the season. Garrett Michel got his second home run of the season on a two-run deep shot to left in the sixth inning, to add on to ASU's lead. The 15 runs that the Sun Devils recorded were the most runs that TCU has given up all season, as the Maroon & Gold were able to tie the series.
On Sunday in the series finale, it was all about hometown pitcher Kole Klecker as he put on an outstanding showing against his former team. He recorded seven innings of scoreless baseball while allowing only two hits and striking out seven. When Sean Fitzpatrick took the mound for Klecker, he was also fantastic, tossing a 1-2-3 eighth inning to help the Sun Devils take the series over the Horned Frogs.
The Sun Devils will stay in Phoenix Municipal Stadium for a game against the GCU Lopes, and they will then travel to Manhattan for a three-game faceoff with the Kansas State Wildcats.
The Lopes are coming off a win over Saint Mary's, as they took that one 6-3. ASU and GCU played twice last year, with each team taking home a victory. This will be the first of three meetings between the two teams, starting on Tuesday.
The Wildcats had come off a solid weekend themselves, going 2-1 in their series against Houston. Kansas State recorded 42 total runs in its series against the Cougars. The Wildcats will first head to Waco for a meeting with the Baylor Bears before returning home to Manhattan to take on the Sun Devils.
All games this week can be viewed on ESPN+. All games will also be available to listen to on KDUS AM 1060.
ASU (14-5, 2-1 Big 12) | GCU (8-13, 0-0 Mountain West) | Kansas State (15-5, 2-1 Big 12)
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This week
Tuesday, March 17, 6:35 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Grand Canyon (Phoenix) | WATCH LIVE: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Friday, March 20, 4:00 p.m. | Arizona State at. Kansas State (Manhattan) | WATCH LIVE: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Friday, March 21, 2:00 p.m. | Arizona State at. Kansas State (Manhattan) | WATCH LIVE: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Saturday, March 22, 11:00 a.m. | Arizona State at. Kansas State (Manhattan) | WATCH LIVE: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
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Next week
Monday, March 23, 6:35 p.m. | Arizona State at. UNLV (Las Vegas)
Wednesday, March 25, 4:00 p.m. | Arizona State vs. New Mexico State (Phoenix)
Friday, March 27, 2:00 p.m. | Arizona State vs. West Virginia (Phoenix)
Saturday, March 28, 11:00 a.m. | Arizona State vs. West Virginia (Phoenix)
Sunday, March 28, 11:00 a.m. | Arizona State vs. West Virginia (Phoenix)
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Last week
Tuesday, March 10, 6:35 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Arizona (Phoenix) | W, 10-4
Friday, March 13, 6:35 p.m. | Arizona State vs. TCU (Phoenix) | L, 4-5
Saturday, March 14, 6:35 p.m. | Arizona State vs. TCU (Phoenix) | W, 15-8
Sunday, March 15, 1:05 p.m. | Arizona State vs. TCU (Phoenix) | W, 4-0
All times MST.
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