Inning by inning
First inning
Just like in game one, the Sun Devils struck first with an early offensive attack. Hairston led off the game with a single and came around to score on a couple of ground outs. ASU was able to add on with a second run in the inning after a pair of walks and a fielder's choice scored Roellig.
Cole Carlon got the start on the mound, the eighth of the season. He showed signs of what was to come, setting down the Wildcats in order highlighted by a pair of strikeouts.
Second inning
After Sam Myers reached base on a one-out single, the Sun Devil outfielder then proceeded to steal second. He would be stranded in scoring position, keeping the game at 2-0.
It was more of the same from Carlon, although he had to work around his first baserunner. That proved to not be a problem, as he struck out the side feautring a power fastball and devastating breaking ball.
Third inning
The Sun Devils went quietly in the top half of the inning as Wildcat starter Smith Bailey began to settle in.
In the bottom half of the inning, Carlon insured that Arizona would not gain any momentum. He struck out the first two batters then worked around a two-out single to keep ASU in front 2-0.
Fourth inning
Arizona State's offense struck quickly in the fourth. A leadoff single by Moutzouridis put Bailey on his heels. Smaldino followed with an RBI double to give ASU a 3-0 lead.
Carlon's dominance on the bump continued. Arguably his best frame of the game came in the fourth, as he struck out the side and set the Wildcats down in order for the second time.
Fifth inning
Back-to-back innings PJ Moutzouridis was involved in scoring a run. This time he knocked in the run, as he drove in Garrett Michel, who got on base with a one-out double.
With the Sun Devils in front 4-0, Carlon continued to provide shutdown innings. Despite giving up a pair of singles that got the home crowd to their feet, Carlon calmly stranded a pair of runners and sent a message to the Wildcat dugout in the process.
Sixth inning
The second triple in as many games for Landon Hairston had the Sun Devils threatening again in the sixth. However, Wildcats' releiver Collin McKinney was able to avoid any damage.
For the second consecutive inning, the Wildcats generated offense with a pair of singles. In similar fashion to the fifth, Carlon showed his poise, working out of the jam. He stranded a pair of runners yet again and finished his outing with six scoreless innings, setting a new career-high with 12 strikeouts.
Seventh inning
A two-out Moutzouridis single was all the offense could muster in the top half of the inning, protecting a 4-0 lead.
The game unraveled for the Sun Devils in the bottom of this frame. Walks, an error, and a pair of two-run singles proved to be the difference. Arizona scored seven runs to take a 7-4 lead.
Eighth inning
Looking for a spark, Willie Bloomquist went to his bench and inserted a pinch hitter. Matt Polk came through with a one-out single, but a double play eliminated the potential rally before it could get started.
Right-hander Austin Musso came through with a 1-2-3 inning to keep the Sun Devils within striking distance.
Ninth inning
Arizona closer Garrett Hicks was able to secure his third save of the season, setting the Sun Devils down in order. The Wildcats came away with a 7-4 win to even the series.
