The second to last midweek game of the season before the Big XII tournament has come and gone, and Sun Devil fans were treated to yet another offensive explosion.
Despite falling into an early first inning hole, the Sun Devils scored in every inning en route to a 17-6 final in 7 innings.
Wyatt Halvorson got the call on the hill to close out this series, and immediately found himself in hot water after a leadoff single by Kyle Ashworth and a HBP to Alex Champagne. After striking out Nathan Cadena, Connor Charpiot put the Dirtbags on the board first with a no-doubter over the Wall of Honor in left center, putting Long Beach up 3-0
The Devils wasted no time pushing across runs of their own in the bottom of the 1st. Kyle Walker grounded out to SS to open the inning, but then the basepaths were put to the test. Landon Hairston was hit by the first pitch he saw, and walks to Matt King and Jacob Tobias loaded the bases for Nu'u Contrades, who delivered a 2-RBI double to left. Kien Vu followed that up with a 2-RBI single, putting the Devils up 4-3.
After another HBP to Jax Ryan, Dirtbags starter Alex Ramos finally recorded the second out of the inning by getting Isaiah Jackson to fly out. A double steal by Vu and Ryan induced a throwing error, bringing Vu home with the 5th run of the inning. Brody Briggs drove Ryan in to bring the game to 6-3, and a single by Walker chased Ramos after just two-thirds of an inning.
Van Larson proceeded to stumble out of the gate with an errant pickoff throw allowing Brody Briggs to score, followed by an RBI double from Hairston to close out the scoring in the first making it 8-3.
The long layoff didn't have any effect on Halvorson, as he struck out the side in order in the top of the 2nd. A single and the second and third stolen bases of the game for Vu (there's a theme coming here tonight) put Jackson at the plate with a runner on 3rd and two out, and he did not disappoint, hooking his 4th home run in the last three games around the right field pole to extend the lead to 10-3.
Trouble struck in the top of the 3rd for Halvorson, as Ashworth and Champagne both reached to open the inning, this time followed by a 3-run home run by Nathan Cadena. Halvorson recovered to strike out Connor Charpiot before getting pulled for Easton Barrett after 2.1 innings. Stop me if you've heard this before, but the bullpen would go on to shut down the Dirtbags offense for the rest of the game, allowing just one hit and two total baserunners over the final 4.2 innings.
The offensive display would only continue in the bottom of the 3rd, as Walker and Hairston reached on back-to-back singles to open the inning. Matt King drove in Walker with a sac fly to make it 11-6 before a single by Tobias to put two on with one out.
Contrades grounded into a fielders choice and stole second, before Vu laced a double to right-center to drive in Hairston and Contrades. Vu wasn't finished yet as he would steal 3rd to tie the ASU record for stolen bases in a game with his 4th swipe. A walk and stolen base by Jax Ryan had the Devil threatening for more, but a groundout to 2nd by Isaiah Jackson wrapped up the 3rd.
The Devils pushed across single runs in the 4th and 5th, with Brody Briggs opening the 4th with a shot that landed on the roof of the Whiteman Family Performance Center beyond the right field wall, then manufactured a run in the 5th thanks in large part to the Kien Vu show.
Vu led off the 5th inning with a walk, and after a fly out to CF from Ryan, stole second for his school-record 5th stolen base of the game. Not to be outdone, he extended his own record later in the at-bat with his 6th and final swipe of the game. Jackson would drive him in on a groundout to 2nd, and the 5th ended with the Devils leading 15-6, and a mercy rule within reach.
After another 1-2-3 top half of the inning, Kyle Walker showed off some speed of his own, racing to a double on an innocent looking base hit through the middle. After advancing to 3rd on Brandon Compton's fly out to CF, Walker was cut down at the plate while attempting an acrobatic dive over the Dirtbag catcher. With Matt King now on 1st and two outs, Jacob Tobias and Nu'u Contrades ripped back-to-back doubles, extending the lead to 17-6 with three outs remaining.
The Dirtbags attempted some life for the first time since the 3rd when Dy Jackson reached on a HBP, but the duo of Max Arlich and Eli Buxton shut the door without any further damage, finishing off the sweep with a third consecutive mercy rule win.
The effort from the bullpen cannot be understated, as Easton Barrett, Jake Neely, Max Arlich and Eli Buxton combined to throw 4.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit and one hit batsman while striking out eight. Barrett received credit for the win, moving his record to 3-2 on the season.
The Devils will have a travel day tomorrow as they head to Waco to take on Baylor in a return to Big XII play. At 14-7 in conference play, the Devils are tied with TCU and in position for a bye to the quarterfinals in the Big XII tournament if this offensive surge can continue. 10 games remain on the schedule and each game is crucial as the Devils continue to push towards a postseason berth.