Baseball homers six times in series sweeping win over LMU

Turning point
After LMU took an early 1-0 lead to kickoff the first frame of the game, ASU wasted no time connecting with the center of the barrel on its way to a five-run first inning. With two runners on base, Nu’u Contrades delivered the equalizer with an RBI-double down the left field line. Garrett Michel followed that up with an RBI groundout, giving the Sun Devils a 2-1 lead with one out remaining. Beckett Zavorek was the next man up and found the sweet spot of the bat, homering a 353-foot, two-run homer to left field. The early statement from Zavorek also marked his first career home run as a Sun Devil. The run party didn’t stop there, as Dean Toigo connected on a 451-foot moonshot to deep right field to extend Arizona State’s lead to 5-1.  

Big moment
In the fourth inning, leading 9-3, the Sun Devils put together a huge inning to firmly put the game out of reach. Sending 13 batters to the plate, Arizona State faced three different LMU pitchers and collected eight hits in the inning. Austen Roellig led off with a double, Garrett Michel singled, and Beckett Zavorek was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Coen Niclai, who singled in two. Sam Myers singled to load the bases again, allowing Landon Hairston to deliver the big blow, a grand slam to left field - his second of the season. The hit parade didn’t stop there, as PJ Moutzouridis doubled and Dominic Longo homered to make it 17-3. 

Final straw
With the game getting out of hand and the Sun Devils continuing to extend their lead every inning, Arizona State was able to get some younger players at-bats. In the seventh inning, freshmen Finn Leach and Ryan Darrah each delivered RBI-singles, marking the first collegiate hit and RBIs for both. Freshman Jaxsyn Durst contributed an RBI-groundout, and Cooper Clouser had an RBI-single in the eighth - the first RBIs on the careers as well. Additionally, Niclai picked up his first home run as a Sun Devil, a solo shot in the fifth inning. 

The big number
29 - The Sun Devils put up 29 runs in a historic offensive showing on Sunday afternoon, tied for the sixth-most in a single game in program history. It was the most since scoring 30 vs. Western Illinois on March 13, 2005. 

• The 25-run margin of victory was tied for the eighth-largest in program history as well. 
• The 29 runs surpassed LMU’s previous program record of runs allowed of 25 set back in 2002. 
• ASU recorded runs in seven of eight innings at the plate and multiple runs in six of those. Barring results from around the country on Sunday, the contest will be tied for the sixth-most runs scored by a team in Division I this season. Of those six other instances, LMU is the only team currently ranked in the Top-150 in D1 RPI. ASU is the first Big 12 team to break 25 runs this season. 

Inning by inning
First inning
Kole Klecker started off the day for the Sun Devils, surrendering a leadoff single. Two stolen bases moved the runner over to third, and another single brought him home to give LMU an early 1-0 lead. However, Klecker was able to get out of the inning, as Coen Niclai threw out a runner trying to steal second. 

PJ Moutzouridis got the hitting going for Arizona State with a one-out single, and after a walk from Dominic Longo, came around to score on a double from Nu’u Contrades, tying the game up at one. An RBI-groundout from Garrett Michel brought home Longo, and Beckett Zavorek cranked his first career home run to put the Sun Devils up 4-1. Dean Toigo followed it up with a home run of his own to deep right field, extending the lead to 5-1. Niclai then popped out to third to end the frame.

Second inning
LMU started off the frame with a bomb to center field, bringing their deficit to within three. Followed by a double down the left field line to put the runner in scoring position. An RBI-single down the right field line brought home the runner, leaving the Sun Devils with a 5-3 lead with zero outs. Klecker remained poised on the mound, as he retired the following batters in order to end the frame.

Landon Hairston took first base after a four-pitch walk and then advanced to third base on a throwing error by the pitcher. The Sun Devils could not take advantage of the scoring opportunity, as a groundout to third base ended the frame with the score remaining at 5-3.

Third inning
After issuing a leadoff single, Klecker was able to get a double play, erasing the runner. A two-out walk put a runner on for LMU, but Klecker was able to keep the Lions off the board with a groundout fielder’s choice. 

Austen Roellig led off the inning with a single to left. After Garrett Michel flew out to center, Beckett Zavorek reached on an error, and Dean Toigo loaded the bases with a fielder’s choice. Coen Niclai was hit by a pitch to drive in a run before LMU made a pitching change. Sam Myers welcomed in the new pitcher with a single through the right side that scored two, and extended ASU’s lead to 8-3. After Hairston was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded once more, and a wild pitch brought home another run. Moutzouridis lined out to third and Longo grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sun Devils up 9-3. 

Fourth inning
Klecker retired the batters in order, picking up a strikeout along the way as well. Two fly-outs followed, leaving the Sun Devils offense in charge with a 9-3 lead.

Roellig started the charge on offense, immediately finding the barrel for a double to left field. Garrett followed that with a single to left field, leaving Roellig in scoring position on third. A hit by pitch followed, leaving all the bases occupied with zero outs. Niclai delivered with a 2-RBI single, extending the Sun Devils lead to 11-3. MU brought in a new pitcher, and Sam Myers followed that with a single to third, leaving the bases occupied once again. Hairston stepped up to the plate and found the barrel for a grand-slam homerun, bringing Arizona State’s lead to 15-3. It didn’t stop there, as Moutzouridis doubled one to left center, followed by a 2-run bomb from Longo to extend the lead to 14. The Sun Devils run stopped there, as a fielder’s choice and line out concluded the impressive frame.

Fifth inning
Jaden Alba was the first man out of the bullpen for Arizona State. After giving up back-to-back singles to open the inning, he picked up three strikeouts, but a passed ball on the third strikeout loaded the bases for LMU. He then struck out the next batter, his fourth of the inning, to keep ASU ahead 17-3. 

Niclai led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run to deep left field, his first of the season, making it 18-3. Moutzouridis reached on a throwing error, then Ky McGary came in the game as a pinch hitter, picking up an RBI-single. Austen Roellig then walked before Cooper Clouser, in the game as a pinch hitter, struck out.

Sixth inning
Freshman Austin Musso took the mound to kick off the bottom of the sixth for the Sun Devils. The Lions managed to sneak a shallow single to left field with one out. Musso stayed the course and struck out the following two batters to close out the frame.

Finn Leach opened the bottom of the frame advancing to first due to a walk. A wild pitch followed, advancing Leach to second in scoring position. With a groundout advancing Leach to third, Myers delivered on an RBI-single to extend the Sun Devils lead to 20-3. A walk and hit by pitch followed, leaving all the bases occupied with two outs. ASU couldn’t convert any more runs, leaving three runners stranded on base to close out the inning.

Seventh inning
Easton Barrett took the helm at the mound and delivered a three-up three-down frame. 

Roellig took a walk to open the seventh before a pitching change brought in the sixth pitcher of the game for LMU. A walk from Clouser and back-to-back RBI-singles from Finn Leach and Ryan Darrah extended the score to 22-3. Niclai was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Jaxsyn Durst had an RBI-groundout to make it a 20-run lead. Dominic Smaldino walked, bringing in the second pitcher of the inning for the Lions. Moutzouridis brought in a run with a sac fly, before McGary grounded out for the third out.

Eighth inning
Brady Louck stepped in on the mound to begin the eighth inning for the Sun Devils. LMU started to get a hold of the barrel, delivering on two singles and a fielding error leading to the bases loaded with one out. A sac-fly single followed, giving the Lions their first run since the second inning. Colby Guy’s name was called out of the bullpen to relieve Louck. Guy finished the job and caught the batter swinging for a strikeout to close out the frame.

Roellig found the sweet spot on the first pitch for a shallow double to right field, followed by an RBI-single from Clouser to extend the Sun Devils lead to 25-4. After Leach delivered on a single through the right side of the infield, Darrah flied one out to right field and advanced both runners in scoring position. An RBI sac-fly followed by Niclai, bringing Arizona State’s lead to 22. With two runners on base, Smaldino connected on a 3-run homer to deep right field, extending the Sun Devils lead to 29-4. A strikeout left one runner stranded on base to close out the inning.

Ninth inning
Guy remained on the mound to start the frame. Following a groundout, Derek Schaefer was called from the bullpen to relieve Guy with two outs remaining. Schaefer retired the following batters with groundouts, leading to a 29-4 win for the Sun Devils. 

Quotables
Head Coach Willie Bloomquist
Opening Statement
“It was a good offensive output, obviously. It was great to get some of these younger guys in the game and get them some opportunities out there. Obviously it came with a big loss with Nu’u (Contrades) going down. So I wasn't celebrating too much as that game was going on, knowing that we were down a big horse here for a little bit. So that's a big blow, but other guys are going to need to step up in the event of him being out here for a little bit. But good to get a lot of those guys in the game and see some offensive production from our guys.”

On the younger guys coming in and being able to produce
“It's great. Those guys work hard and are every bit a part of this as anybody else. They're here scrapping and working every day and putting their time in just like everybody. This is one of the talks that coaches have over a 10-run rule. But for me, this is an opportunity to get those guys in the game and try to get them time on the field and get into the competition. Not only to see what they've got, but also to give them the experience. And to me that's important. I've been on the flip side of this coin where we've gotten down big and it's like, ‘man, this gets embarrassing a little bit’. But on the same token, it's an opportunity to get guys in the game and it's necessary for these guys to develop. We play so many competitive games that are within one pitcher, one pitch, or one play from winning or losing a game. There's not a lot of opportunities to get these guys in. So in a game like this we got out to a big lead and it was great to get those guys in there and get some experience and get them to continue to feel part of this and get that. So I was happy for those guys.”

On the confidence he has with Austen Roellig with Nu’u Contrades getting hurt
“He's going to have to step up. Beckett Zavorek is going to have to step up. Finn Leach, has told him, ‘hey man, you're going to have to get ready. You're going to have to grow up quick. You're a freshman that hasn't gotten a lot of AB's.’ But again, this is a great day to get him in there and start getting him acclimated to the environment a little bit. We're going to have to have guys step up, bottom line, Having him go down, it's going to sting. He's been arguably one of our best players, if not our best player here early on. But part of the roster construction with depth and dogfights over positions and stuff like that is, ‘OK, this is where you're hoping that those moves were right and you have guys to step up and fill in in the event of an injury.’ And like I said, probably couldn't have handpicked a worse guy to get hurt for us. But bottom line, we have to move on. These guys have to step up and we have to pick up the slack until he gets back healthy again.”

On Dominic Longo’s performance thus far
“He's done a great job. Ironically, that's the kid on opening day, he wasn't in there. Sam Meyers kind of won the job there to start the year and Dominic didn't complain. He didn't squawk about it, he just kept waiting for his turn and staying ready. He got his opportunity and just continued to put together solid at bats, and now he's been one of our most consistent guys as far as just plate discipline and being able to put together quality at bats day in and day out. He’s kind of moved positions a little bit to center field. We'll see if that's going to change at all. He's a kid that's flexible, that could come in and play, play on the dirt if we needed him to. We'll see how that pans out, but he's just done a phenomenal job adjusting.”

Infielder Austen Roellig

On Nu’u Contrades helping him out
“Just staying calm. I found myself getting a little antsy the first couple of games. But the second I learned to stick to the present and just flow with it, that’s when I started turning things around a little bit.”

On stepping up when Nu’u Contrades got hurt in the first inning
“Honestly, I was just locked in. It happened early on in the game, so I was pretty locked in.”

Infielder Beckett Zavorek

On his first career home run
“It felt good. I was trying to put a good swing on the ball. I think there were two outs and I was just trying to keep the momentum going so we could extend the lead a little bit. But, I'm not trying to do too much, just trying to stay within myself and hopefully more success comes.”

On getting the offense back on track after struggling last weekend
“No one really panicked after last weekend. We left there knowing we could hang with everyone. We're just playing the same game we're always taught to play and playing hard.”

Catcher Coen Niclai

On what he has made out of the pitching staff so far
“It feels like the rotation's really deep. Will (Bloomquist), he's kind of talked about that. The rotation between different pitchers and the bullpen came in and did a really good job. And Kole (Klecker) was in today. It's a great variety of everybody. We have lefties, we have righties. Everybody that can come in in any situation and just dominate. It's great to just be back there knowing that I've got my guys' back and everybody behind him has his back too.”