Inning by inning
First inning
Hairston led off with a single and Roellig and Toigo reached on one-out HBPs. Hairston scored on a wild pitch and Roellig on a Smaldino RBI groundout as ASU took an early 2-0 lead. Barrett worked a scoreless frame with a pair of strikeouts and stranding a two-out single.
Second inning
Longo drew a leadoff walk but ASU picked up two quick outs after that on a Briggs lineout and Zavorek strikeout. ASU put together a monstrous two-out rally from there though, recording four-straight singles from Hairston, Moutzouridis, Roellig and Toigo to plate three runs and male it 5-0. After a one-out walk, Barrett initiated a 5-4-3 double play to face the minimum in the frame.
Third inning
Michel ripped a single to right that went right between the wickets of the right field, allowing him to make it to third. After a Briggs walk, Zavorek laid down a sac bunt and UNLV was unable to make the play at the plate as Michel slid around the tag. Hairston notched his third single of the game to load the bases. Moutzourdis put a charge into one off the wall in dead center to score two and ASU tacked one more on as it lured UNLV into a rundown on what would have been the third out, scoring a run in the process to make it 9-0. Barrett worked a clean 1-2-3 frame, including a pair of strikeouts.
Fourth inning
Smaldino was hit by a pitch and Michel singled but a double play and fielder’s choice led to the first scoreless frame of the game for ASU. UNLV got its first baserunner into scoring position with a single and wild pitch but a pair of strikeouts for Barrett ended the threat and kept it at 9-0.
Fifth inning
Hairston reached for the fourth time with a leadoff walk and Moutzouridis followed with a single. A fielder’s choice led to runners on the corners with one out and Toigo walked to load the bases. Smaldino notched a two-RBI double to give ASU a double digits on the scoreboard and Toigo scored on a Michel RBI groundout to make it 12-0.
Sixth inning
Briggs reached on an error but a flyout and double play made it a quick frame. ASU went to the pen and UNLV immediately took advantage with a walk, single, triple and wild pitch to plate its first three runs of the game and make it 12-3 before Alba settled down to get out of the frame.
Seventh inning
Toigo and Smadino reached on a two-out walk and HBP but Smaldino was thrown out on a backpick to end the two-out threat. Alba settled in and got two quick outs before giving way to Brady Louck, who worked around a double to get ASU out of the inning with no damage done.
Eighth inning
Nu’u Contrades gave one a ride as a pinch hitter but a great leaping stab at the warning track in center robbed him of extra bases. McGary reached on an HBP and stole second with two outs but ASU was able to add to its lead. UNLV took advantage of the lull in the ASU bats as Eli Buxton gave up five consecutive hits and the Rebels plated three runs in the process to make things a little more interesting with a 12-6 score, runners on first and second and no outs. Fitzpatrick hit the first batter he saw to load the bases with no outs. A one-out walk made it a five-run game and put the tying run on deck. Things got even more interesting with a UNLV grand slam to make it a 12-11 game. Taylor Penn was called in to put out the fire, which he did, retiring two batters on a strikeout and a pop out to end the inning.
Ninth inning
Myers reached on an error on a muffed PFP but an incredible double play where the second baseman threw it behind his back to the short stop for the turn at second and a groundout ended the threat. Derek Schaefer came on for the ninth in the save situation, working around two one-out baserunners. He got some help from his defense, who turned a game-ending double play to seal the Sun Devil victory.
