Ben Jacobs dials in as Sun Devils beat BYU 8-3

Now that's more like it.

After blowing a late lead on Tuesday night to Grand Canyon, Arizona State needed a win to turn things around. They drew an early weekend series against BYU, a team that's been slumping as of late, and could not afford to continue their stumble.

With ace Ben Jacobs on the mound, that didn't happen. The bats came alive for Arizona State and Jacobs dialed in after a rough first inning to deliver a strong 8-3 win in the end.

BYU came out hot to start, though. Jacobs struck out the lead-off batter, but proceeded to give up a double and a single in quick succession. After an RBI single, Jacobs hit the next batter to load the bases. A fielder's choice drove in another run, but Jacobs struck out the next batter to limit the damage to a 2-0 Cougars lead.

Arizona State got one run back in the first thanks to an RBI single from Matt King, at which point Jacobs locked in. He proceeded to throw three consecutive shutout innings, all the while watching his offense build a nice lead for him.

King drove in another run in the third and Jacob Tobias later plated thanks to a fielding error, giving the Sun Devils a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Jax Ryan turned on the jets to round the bases all the way from first before Landon Hairston continued his slugging streak.

The comfortable lead helped Jacobs play relaxed and dominate his matchups. The Cougars got one more run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, but Jacobs was otherwise nails the rest of the game. By the time Willie Bloomquist took him out for the night in the seventh, Jacobs had struck out 11 batters.

Lucas Kelly came in for Jacobs and did not leave the door cracked for a comeback. He struck out both remaining batters to close out the seventh inning, before Arizona State added some insurance in each of the next two innings with Kien Vu stealing home on a throwing error and then another RBI from King.

After another scoreless inning from Kelly, Cole Carlon came in to pitch the ninth inning. The first batter grounded out, and Carlon struck out each of the next two on a combined eight pitches, sealing the deal.

BYU hasn't been a formidable opponent for several weeks now, but the Sun Devils have recently developed a habit of turning anyone into a formidable opponent. Getting this win, and in such dominant fashion, has to feel really good. If they can keep it up and secure the series win on Friday, it will do wonders for the morale in the clubhouse.