In a second inning for the ages, the Sun Devils homered a school record six times after recording two in the first inning. The 10-run frame saw something that might very likely never be seen again as Isaiah Jackson and Brody Briggs – ASU’s eight- and nine-hole hitters – went back-to-back jacks TWICE in the same inning.
Matt King also added two home runs and Jacob Tobias and Kien Vu each had one to cap off the monumental day at the plate. ASU had 13 hits in the game and 11 went for extra bases with eight homers, two doubles and a triple.
The previous Sun Devil school record for homers in a game came when ASU logged seven against rival Arizona back in 2000.
Jackson recorded five RBIs – all coming in the 41-minute second inning – with his one-out solo shot followed by a two-out grand slam later in the frame. King added four more to his 12-RBI week over four games. Vu finished a triple short of the cycle in his three hit day.
The Sun Devil pitchers struck out 12 BYU batters to bring their weekend total to 42 strikeouts – the second time this season the staff recorded 40+ strikeouts.
ASU stays at home for two non-conference midweek tilts against Long Beach State on Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to Texas for a three-game Big 12 set at Baylor beginning Friday.
TURNING POINT
For the second straight day, the Sun Devils posted a multi-homer first inning. Matt King notched a two-run shot and Kien Vu followed two batters later with his second first inning homer of the weekend to give ASU an early 3-0 lead and a preview of what was to come in the second inning.
BIG MOMENT
In one of the most prolific frames in Sun Devil Baseball history, ASU uncorked six home runs in the second inning to bring their total to eight for the game and set a new school record in the process. The magnificent frame saw the Sun Devils score 10 runs while also featuring a sight that perhaps no one has witnessed before and might never happen again as two different players went back-to-back twice in the same frame. Isaiah Jackson and Brody Briggs knocked a pair of one-out solo shots to start the barrage before coming back around in the order later in the inning. Jackson launched a 3-2 missile onto the back field for a grand slam before Briggs followed with a no-doubter of his own for his second of the inning – notable as he had just two in his young CAREER entering the game. What made the feat all the more incredible was the fact that Jackson and Briggs were the eight- and nine-hole hitters in the ASU lineup.
FINAL STRAW
Things weren’t nearly as exciting for the ASU offense after that second inning as BYU came right back with a four-run third and made things interesting in the sixth, climbing within 14-6 and having a pair of runners in scoring position to go one hit away from possibly making things interesting again. The Sun Devils took care of business though, adding another run in the seventh and closing the game out early on Nu’u Contrades’“walk-off” RBI triple to force the run rule into effect and complete the sweep.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Easton Barrett got the start to open things up. The Sun Devils defense pulled off a 4-6-3 double play. BYU attempted to steal second but was caught by Brody Briggs to finish the top of the inning.
Kyle Walker was able to get on base on a hit by the pitch, he stole second to set up a two run blast from Matt King as the Sun Devils got the scoring started. Kien Vu sent a solo homer to right center to add to the lead. The Sun Devils headed into the second inning with a 3-0 lead.
Second Inning
Barrett returned to the mound to strike out one before issuing a walk and a double to put runners in scoring position. The final out of the inning came by way of a fly out to right field that stranded the two runners on base.
Isaiah Jackson and Brody Briggs continued the home run hitting adding back-to-back one out solo shots over the fence in right field. Landon Hairston reached second base on a throwing error to first, advanced to third on a wild-pitch as Matt King then cranked a two-run homer to center field. Jacob Tobias immediately followed up with a solo home run of his own. The Sun Devils singled and walked twice on two outs to load the bases when Isaiah Jackson returned to the plate to deliver a grand-slam rocket to right. In a record breaking at-bat, Brody Briggs connected with another home run to right for a program high six in a single inning. Additionally, the eight total home runs was the most in a single outing. The fiery Sun Devil bats stretched the lead to 13-0 through two innings.
Third Inning
Barrett was back on the mound for the Sun Devils. The Cougars got their offense going with a solo home run to begin the inning. With runners on first and second, Jaden Alba took over pitching duties. The Cougars then hit a three run homer to close the gap on the Sun Devil’s lead. Alba was able to get out of the inning with two strikeouts heading into the bottom of the inning.
With runners at first and third, ASU had an opportunity to respond to BYU’s scoring. But an out at second on a fielder’s choice ended the inning with the score still in ASU’s favor, 13-4.
Fourth Inning
Alba saw more action on the mound and made quick work of the batters, going three-up, and three-down, with two strikeouts.
The Sun Devils were unable to add to their lead after grounding out a double play and a scoreless inning held the score at 13-4.
Fifth Inning
Alba came back onto the mound for ASU. He was able to force a groundout and a strikeout before BYU was able to tack on a run off an RBI single. Alba responded by striking out the next batter.
Matt King was caught stealing second, but it allowed Kyle Walker to advance to home plate to bring in a run as the Sun Devils headed into the sixth inning with a 14-5 lead.
Sixth Inning
Josh Butler was brought on in the top of the sixth to replace Alba after a strong 2 innings. The Cougars amassed two doubles in the inning that brought in one runner. A forceout at second separated the hits and two outs to deep outfield bookended the top of sixth.
Vu doubled to lead off the inning, earning his third hit of the game, but were kept from driving runners in. The score stayed in ASU’s favor at 14-6.
Seventh Inning
Butler returned to the mound for the Sun Devils. He put on a clinic by striking out three straight down the order heading into the bottom of the inning.
Following a double from Landon Hairston, he was able to come home off a dropped fly that was hit by Matt King to add a run for ASU with a commanding 15-6 lead heading into the eighth inning.
Eighth Inning
Lucas Kelly took over in the top of the eighth for Bulter. He sliced through the opposing bats, dealing two fly outs and striked out the side in order.
Vu drew a four-pitch walk to open the bottom half of the inning, and a misread ball that rolled to the left field wall on a Contrades triple brought him home, securing a 16–6 run-rule win to sweep the series.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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