Baseball strikes out 18, bats come alive late in 12-4 win over LMU

Turning point
With Cole Carlon’s pitch count entering triple digits for the first time this season in his 10-strikeout performance, the Sun Devils turned to Colin Linder with one out in the sixth inning. In his first appearance out of the bullpen this season, Linder was locked in from the start as he got two quick outs to keep the game tied at 3-3. The bottom of the sixth looked like it might end inauspiciously with ASU loading the bases with one out but a strikeout put two on the board and Brody Briggs looked to have ground into an inning-ending out to the right side. The Lion failed to execute the pitcher covering first however and Briggs hustled down the line for the go-ahead RBI infield single to make it 4-3. Linder would handle the rest on the pitching side, retiring the next six batters he saw and striking out five in the process as he went eight-up and eight-down to earn the win. 

Big moment
The bats finally came to life in the seventh as the Sun Devils feasted on LMU’s bullpen. The Sun Devils batted around and the team scored six runs and had their ninth half inning of the season plating five or more runs. Garrett Michel (double), Dominic Longo (double) and Ky McGary (single) notched three RBI hits in a row to plate four runs in the decisive frame. ASU also executed a perfect first and third double steal and Briggs adding another RBI on a groundout that was really just a sheer force of speed that is Ky McGary as he first stole second and then was stealing third as Briggs put the ball in play. Instead of settling for third, McGary turned on the burners, rounded third and scored while LMU was slow to field the grounder - making it 10-3. 

Final straw
The Sun Devils left nothing to chance by tacking on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Hairston led off with a double and Matt Polk followed with a one-out double to plate him. Polk would then score on Sam Myers’ first base hit of the season to make it a 12-3 game.

The big number
18 - The Sun Devils struck out 18 batters, a season-best and tied for the third-most for a single game since the 1998 season. The team also struck out 18 in the team’s 2-0 loss to BYU in the Big 12 Tournament last season. Carlon matched his career-high with 10 with Linder adding five and Finn Edwards striking out the side in the ninth.

Inning by inning
First inning
Cole Carlon took the mound for his fourth start of the season, giving up a leadoff triple. However, Carlon was able to settle in and retire the next three hitters on a strikeout, groundout, and flyout. 

The Sun Devils started off the night with some loud contact, but ultimately had three groundouts to go down in order.

Second inning
Carlon began the second by allowing a solo homerun to give LMU the early lead. He settled in once again to take down the next three hitters on two groundouts and a strikeout.

The Sun Devils responded with a single down the left field line by Nu’u Contrades. After reaching second on a groundout from Garrett Michel, Dominic Longo knocked one into shallow right field, allowing Contrades to run home and tie up the game. A strikeout and flyout close out the inning. 

Third inning
After starting the inning with a strikeout, Carlon gave up a single, then a flyout that advanced the runner to second. On the next play, a groundout that should have been the end of the inning turned into an error on Beckett Zavorek, allowing the Lions to score. Carlon was able to limit the damage with his second strikeout of the inning. 

After a ground out from Zavorek, Landon Hairston picked up a one-out single, but was thrown out trying to steal second. PJ Moutzouridis popped out to shallow center to end the inning, with the Devils still trailing, 2-1.

Fourth inning
Carlon started the inning hot with a strikeout and a flyout to centerfield. He then found himself giving up two singles to the Lions before they took an offensive timeout. Following the timeout, Carlon pulled together his fourth strikeout to end the top of the inning.

Dean Toigo started the Sun Devils off with a hit by pitch, followed by a 2-run home run for Nu’u Contrades, giving Arizona State a 3-2 lead. After a groundout, Longo singled down the left field line and advanced to second on an error by the first baseman. The Sun Devils couldn’t capitalize, ending the inning with a strikeout and groundout.

Fifth inning
Carlon continued his start, giving up a leadoff single before issuing two strikeouts. Another single scored a run for LMU, tying up the game, 3-3. However, Carlon picked up his ninth strikeout of the evening to end the inning. 

The Sun Devils couldn’t get anything going in the bottom of the fifth, going down in order.

Sixth inning
Carlon began the inning with a strikeout before being replaced by Colin Linder, who added a strikeout of his own and a flyout for the scoreless frame. 

After another hit by pitch for Toigo, Contrades singled to third base. Michel grounded out to first which allowed the runners to advance to second and third before Longo walked to load the bases. A strikeout from pinch hitter Ky McGary set up Brody Briggs, who singled allowing Toigo to score, putting the Sun Devils back in the lead 4-3. Zavorek flew out to close the inning.

Seventh inning
Linder returned to the mound, retiring the side with a strikeout and two groundouts. 

Hairston led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right center, then moved over to third on a single from Moutzouridis. A double steal moved Moutzouridis into scoring position and scored Hairston, extending ASU’s lead to 5-3. Toigo grounded out, allowing Moutzouridis to move up 90 feet, and a Contrades walk put runners on the corners. Garrett Michel then doubled into the right field corner to make it 7-3. Longo tacked on a double of his own, scoring the fourth run of the inning. McGary continued the hit train with a single to left, making it 9-3. The Sun Devils added one more run on a groundout from Brody Briggs, before a Beckett Zavorek single and pick-off ended the frame.

Eighth inning
Linder delivered three swinging strikeouts to begin the eighth inning. 

Hairston led off again for the Sun Devils with a double to right, followed by a strikeout for Moutzouridis. Matt Polk came in to pinch hit for Toigo, scoring Hairston from second with a double to left field. Contrades grounded out to short, but Polk was able to advance to third on a wild pitch. This set up Sam Myers to single to short, scoring Polk, and advancing to second on a throwing error. Cooper Clouser entered the game to pinch hit for Longo and grounded out to second.

Ninth inning
Finn Edwards took the mound to pitch the ninth, surrendering a leadoff single. After a walk and another single, allowing LMU to score a run, Edwards delivered back-to-back strikeouts before another single loaded the bases. However, Edwards was able to issue his third strikeout to seal the win for the Sun Devils, 12-4.