(Phoenix, AZ) Sun Devil Baseball continued its hot stretch, defeating Seattle University 11-6 on a brisk Tuesday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils (20-9, 7-2 Pac-12) led from the first inning to the final pitch and improved to 3-0 all-time against the Redhawks (7-18, 5-7 WAC).
ASU has now won 14 of its last 16 games and maintained momentum throughout the game, recording at least one hit in all eight innings up to the plate.
Ryan Campos tied his career-high with four hits, going 4-for-4 with a double and three hits. Nu’u Contrades, Luke Keaschall, Isaiah Jackson, and Jacob Tobias each accounted for multiple hits.
TURNING POINT
The Sun Devils capitalized on a shaky start from Seattle University southpaw Kian Hogan, who gave up three runs and three walks on 34 pitches in the first inning. A patient and discipline approach from Arizona State allowed them to grab an early 3-0 lead, one they would not relinquish.
BIG MOMENT
With the game still in the balance, Luke Keaschall hit a one-out double off the left-field wall in the fifth, putting runners on second and third while driving a run in. Two batters later, Luke Hill roped a first-pitch fastball through the left side of the infield, driving in two and giving the Sun Devils a 9-4 lead.
FINAL STRAW
Isaiah Jackson cranked a 399-foot home run over the Whiteman Family Performance Center in the bottom of the eighth to seal the deal for the Sun Devils.
INNING-BY-INNING
First Inning
After a 3-1 count to open the night, Seattle’s first batter hit a flyout to left field. Matt Tiedingthen delivered two strikeouts to bring ASU to the plate.
At the bottom of the inning, Nu’u Contrades started off the hitting with a groundball right over second base to get him on first. He was led to third after Ryan Campos and Luke Keaschall were both walked. With the bases loaded, Jacob Tobias split the first and second basemen to get on first and bring two runners in. Luke Hill was then hit-by-pitch and the bases refilled. Kien Vu took ASU’s third walk and brought another runner home. A strikeout and foul out to first put a close to the opening inning with the Sun Devils up 3-0.
Second Inning
A walk followed up by a line drive double just inside of third base put a runner on second and third for the Redhawks. An ensuing single brought a runner home for Seattle. With runners on first and second, the next three batters flied out to center field to leave the score at 3-1 in favor of ASU. Tieding’s night pitching ended with a statline of 2.0 IP 2H’s 2K’s & 1 BB with 40 pitches.
Two Sun Devils struck out before Ryan Campos hit a line drive single between first and second base and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Keaschall and Tobias both took walks to load the bases. A third strikeout left the runners stranded.
Third Inning
Seattle made up for a flyout to right field with two singles. First baseman Jacob Tobias then caught a line drive straight to his glove and beat the runner back to the plate for a solo double-play. Score remains 3-1. Hansell wrapped up his relieving duties after 1.0 IP 2H’s on 11 pitches.
Kien Vu led off the frame with a triple to the right field wall. He was batted in by Wille Cano, who got thrown out on his way to first. The inning ended after a popout to the catcher and a strikeout with ASU up 4-1.
Fourth Inning
The Redhawks doubled to right center to open the inning. A flyout to left field and a groundout to third base put two outs on the board, but Seattle was able to bring the runner in on a single up the middle. The Sun Devils closed out the frame 4-2 with a fielder’s choice at second.
Nu’u Contrades reached first on a high shot to center field. Ryan Campos doubled down the first base line to put runners on second and third. A line drive by Luke Keaschall glanced off the shortstop’s glove and filled the bases. Jacob Tobias got his third RBI and sprinted to first to avoid a double play by Seattle. He then stole second on a wild pitch. ASU traded another out for a run as Luke Hill flied out to right field to bring Ryan Campos home. A walk and hit-by-pitch let Kien Vu and Willie Cano load the bases yet again. Trey Newman tried to add on to the damage but Seattle’s shortstop got the ground ball to second base a split second before Cano slid into it. ASU left the inning up 6-2.
Fifth Inning
After two walks and a flyout, both runners on base advanced on a wild pitch. A groundout RBI and single through the right side brought two runners home for Seattle, and sparked an ASU pitching change to Nolan Lebamoff. Dylan Gardner ended his night with 1.2 IP 3H 2BB with 24 pitches. The next Redhawk up to the plate flied out to center field and the inning ended with ASU leading 6-4.
With a runner on via walk, Campos singled through the right side to put runners on first and second. Luke Keaschall then doubled deep into left field to bring Contrades home. Luke Hillstepped up to the plate with two outs and a runner on second and third. He hit a quick line drive through the left side to bring both runners home and put himself on first. Hill stole second on the next pitch, but another strikeout left him stranded. The inning ended 9-4.
Sixth Inning
Lebamoff gave up a walk before recording two kills. The runner advanced to second on a passed ball and Seattle was walked again. A fielding error gave Seattle an easy run but the Sun Devils threw the next batter out at first to end the top of the inning. Nolan Lebamoffends his night 1.1 IP 0H 2K’s 2BB’s on 41 pitches. ASU up 9-5.
With two outs, pinch-hitter Isaiah Jackson singled to right field and then was called out on an attempted second base steal. The score remains 9-5.
Seventh Inning
A foul out at the left wall followed by a strikeout and a fly out put a quick lid on the top of the seventh. Jesse Wainscott ends his night 1.0 IP 1 K on 8 pitches.
ASU left runners on first and second stranded in the bottom frame, and the score remains unchanged at 9-5.
Eighth Inning
The Sun Devils got off the mound thanks to a popout, line out, and a groundout in the midst of giving up two walks. Score remains 9-5.
Willie Cano got on first via a walk, and pinch-hitter Isaiah Jackson stepped into a 2-2 pitch with two outs and sent it past the bullpen and out of the park to bring the Sun Devils lead to 11-5. Contrades grounded out on the next pitch and the Sun Devils looked to close out one more inning.
Ninth Inning
Seattle’s bats came alive in the last frame and the Redhawks scored on a deep double to center field. The runner on second stole third with two outs remaining, but Tyler Valdezthrough his second strikeout in a row to close out the game.
ON DECK
The Sun Devils have a day off before hosting Washington State on Thursday at 6 p.m. AZT for the first game of a three-game homestand at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The game will be available through the Pac-12 Live Stream.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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