(Phoenix, AZ) Luke Keaschall was 5-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and a triple shy of the cycle and ASU pitchers did not allow a hit through 5.1 innings as No.17/12 Sun Devil Baseball secured another midweek victory, 9-1, over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Arizona State (28-12, 12-4 Pac-12) set down the first ten Cal State Fullerton (23-11, 15-3 Big West) batters it faced and never sniffed trouble from the Titans lineup. ASU scored two in the first inning, playing from ahead and never relinquished the lead. Leading 4-1 in the sixth, Luke Hill smashed a three-run homer, making it 7-1.
Timmy Manning got the start on the bump for ASU for the second time in as many midweeks, working through three innings of no-hit baseball in a brisk 35 pitches, preserving availability for the weekend. He struck out four and walked none. Matt Tieding pitched pitched 2.1 innings of one-run baseball, giving way to a trio of one inning firemen out of the Sun Devil bullpen that shut the door on Fullerton.
TURNING POINT
ASU led 2-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning, but Cal State Fullerton put runners on first and second with just one out. Both runners were called out on an interference play at second base after the runner, who was making an advance attempt from first, was called out. By rule both the runner and the batter were out. ASU went into the bottom of the fifth leading 2-0.
BIG MOMENT
In that bottom of the fifth inning, Nick McLain started with a leadoff double and was immediately driven in by Keaschall. Contrades also plated a run on a double play and ASU led 4-0 after five innings.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils plated three runs in the sixth on a jack by Luke Hill to extend the lead out to 7-1. ASU also plated runs in the seventh and eighth innings. The Sun Devil pitching staff was dynamite in relief, allowing just one run in the sixth inning. Nolan Lebamoff, Austin Humphres and Will Rogers combined for 3.2 innings of shutout baseball to close the contest.
INNING-BY-INNING
First Inning
Timmy Manning put up a 1-2-3 first inning on 12 pitches, recording a groundout, strikeout and flyout. The punchout came on a breaking ball on the low, inside corner of the zone against a right hander.
With one out, Luke Hill and Nick McLain rattled off consecutive singles. Then, they both advanced to a base on a wild pitch. Hill scored on an infield hit by Luke Keaschall and Jacob Tobias brought McLain in on a sacrifice fly, 2-0 Sun Devils after a frame.
Second Inning
Manning set down the next three batters on a strikeout, groundout and popout in just nine pitches.
Willie Cano reached base on an E6 with one down, and Trey Newman walked, setting up Kien Vu at the top of the order. Vu walked, loading the bases with one out. The Sun Devils were not able to push a run across as Hill popped up and McLain struck out swinging.
Third Inning
Manning struck out two in the frame, not allowing a baserunner for the third straight inning. Keaschall led off with a double, but the Titans set down the next three batters in order.
Fourth Inning
Matt Tieding entered for Manning and navigated around a one out walk to escape the inning cleanly. Kien Vu doubled with two outs in the bottom half.
Fifth Inning
Cal State Fullerton put a couple runners aboard with one out, but both were called out on an interference call at second base, getting Teiding out of the jam.
In the bottom half, McLain led off with a double to the right center field gap. Keaschall singled and the run came home on a throwing error, 3-0 Sun Devils. Tobias singled and advanced Keaschall to third. After the single, Fullerton went into its bullpen and forced Nu’u Contrades to ground into an RBI double play. Going into the sixth, it was 4-0 Sun Devils.
Sixth Inning
Tieding hit the leadoff batter with a pitch and was followed by a one out single. A walk loaded the bases, forcing ASU to call on Nolan Lebamoff out of the bullpen. He allowed a sacrifice fly, but only the one run crossed and it was 4-1 Arizona State.
Cano flew out to open the bottom of the sixth, but a single by Trey Newman and a walk by Vu. The Titans went into their bullpen and Hill yanked a three-run homer to make it 7-1 Sun Devils. McLain singled and Keaschall doubled, but did not plate another run.
Seventh Inning
Lebamoff got through the seventh unscathed. Isaiah Jackson poked a single through the left side and Cano doubled him over to third. Newman grounded out but the run scored, making it 8-1 Sun Devils heading to the eighth.
Eighth Inning
Austin Humphres entered in the eighth for Lebamoff, facing the minimum on a strikeout and double play.
Luke Keaschall led off the bottom half with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw and Tobias immediately doubled, but nothing more came of it.
Ninth Inning
Will Rogers made his second appearance of the season. He retired the first two batters before giving up two singles and a walk. He ultimately retired the final batter with a strikeout and closed out the game.
ON DECK:
Arizona State will conclude its two-game series against Cal State Fullerton tomorrow at 2 p.m. MST. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Schwam and Sean Lynch
