Landon Hairston’s go-ahead homer in the eighth and Derek Schaefer’s four-out save led the Sun Devils to a come-from-behind victory in Manhattan
(Manhattan, KS) Sun Devil Baseball took the first round in a heavyweight Big 12 matchup, heading on the road to Kansas State and riding Landon Hairston’s eighth-inning homer and Derek Schaefer’s four-out save to a 5-4 victory on Friday in Manhattan, Kansas.
In a game filled with significant momentum shifts, it was Arizona State (16-5, 3-1 Big 12) that issued the knockout blow on Hairston’s go-ahead solo shot with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to take a one-run lead. The team turned to Schaefer from there, who retired all four batters he saw – the two through five batters in the potent Kansas State (16-6, 2-2 Big 12) order – to seal the victory.
Twice the Sun Devils fell behind in the contest, each time responding by immediately reclaiming a lead in the next half inning.
On paper the game appeared to be a battle of offensive juggernauts, but it was the pitching staffs that carried the load through most of the contest in the low-scoring affair. The two teams ranked 17th (KSU) and 23rd (ASU) in the nation in scoring entering the night, both averaging over nine runs per game before scoring just nine runs total on Friday evening. The Wildcats entered the contest ranked in the Perfect Game Top-25 with Arizona State also earning a Top-25 nod from Baseball America.
Sun Devil pitchers struck out 13 Wildcats and, more importantly, stranded ten K-State runners on the basepath – continuously finding ways to get out of jams. Cole Carlon struck out eight over 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.
Brody Briggs paced the offensive with a 3-for-3 day, scoring a run and driving in another. Dominic Smaldino added a two-hit day of his own while Hairston and PJ Moutzouridis went yard.
Inning by inning
First inning
The Sun Devils smoked two balls at over 105 off the bat but right at infielders as the Sun Devils went down in order. Carlon flashed 99 on the radar gun a couple times as he responded in kind with a 1-2-3 inning of his own.
Second inning
Roellig reached on a leadoff error and ASU put a pair in scoring position with one out on Smaldino’s double with Briggs walking to load the bases but an infield fly and strikeout left them all stranded. Carlon faced a jam of his own in the bottom half of the frame with a pair of walks to lead off the inning. Carlon got a strikeout and Briggs hosed the speedy Dee Kennedy (13-for-14 on stolen bases this season) on a double steal at third. Carlon got a groundout to escape unharmed.
Third inning
Moutzouridis drew a one out walk but was caught stealing himself as ASU only brought the minimum to the plate. Kansas State drew first blood with a one-out full count opposite field shot down the right field line but Carlon tacked on a pair of strikeouts to keep it at a matchstick.
Fourth inning
Roellig reached on a leadoff walk and Michel doubled to put runners in scoring position with no outs and Smaldino drove in the run with an RBI groundout. Briggs followed with an RBI single through the left side to give ASU its first lead at 2-1. Carlon struck out the heart of the K-State order to give him five punchouts in a row.
Fifth inning
Moutzouridis got a hold of one for his second homer of the season with one out in the fifth – his second consecutive homer against a Friday-night ace – to make it 3-1. Carlon issued a pair of leadoff walks for the second time and a sac bunt moved both into scoring position and a one-out walk loaded the bases. Carlon again escaped the jam with another strikeout and a full-count groundout to keep the Sun Devils on top.
Sixth inning
Michel reached on a leadoff walk and a successful one-out hit and run by Briggs put runners on the corners and an HBP loaded them. That would chase the K-State starter from the game but a flyout and groundout stranded the bases loaded again. K-State led off with a single for just its second hit of the game and a two-run homer tied things at three. Another single chased Carlon from the game and K-State loaded the bases again with a single and a walk with two outs to keep the pressure on but Penn was able to strand the bases loaded for the Devils to keep things even at 3-3.
Seventh inning
Toigo reached on a one-out single and Michel notched a two-out walk and the runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch by the new KSU pitcher but a strikeout stranded them there. K-State put the go-ahead runs on the basepath on a pair of two-out HBPs – one coming on an 0-2 count – and the Wildcats made ASU pay, beating the shift on a single through the right side to bring one across and a 4-3 lead.
Eighth inning
Briggs beat the shift himself for a leadoff single and took second on an E5 to put the tying run in scoring position and an indecision on a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with no outs. Briggs would score on a tough double play turn by the Wildcats but Hairston made up for it with the go-ahead solo shot with two outs to make it 5-4. K-State notched a two-out single in the bottom of the inning with the pinch runner stealing second to move into scoring position. Schaefer was unfazed, picking up a strikeout out of the pen to keep ASU on top.
Ninth inning
Smaldino notched a two-out single and Briggs a walk but ASU was unable to add any insurance. Schaefer didn’t need it as he calmly sat down the heart of the K-State order with a 1-2-3 frame to seal the four-out save.
Notables
Hairston has homered six times in ASU’s last eight games.
In his last 54 games, Hairston has 34 extra-base hits. He had just one in his first 27 games as a Sun Devil. He has just five games this season WITHOUT an extra base hit
ASU has trailed at some point in five of its victories this season – with four of those coming in the last six wins.
This marked ASU’s fourth win this season in which it logged the go-ahead run in the sixth inning or later.
The Sun Devils have won three consecutive games while scoring five runs or less (4-0, 4-3, 5-4) – a feat not achieved since its three-game sweep over Utah in 2021 (4-3, 4-1, 5-0).
ASU has scored multiple runs in 39 of its 72 half-innings with runs this season.
Friday night conference games have been unkind to ASU of late prior to tonight, with the Sun Devils having lost four-straight Big 12 Friday night games dating back to last season entering the evening. ASU was 4-6 in Big 12 series openers last season and won just a single Friday road game in conference play (at Utah).
K-State was averaging 12.6 hits per game over its previous nine games prior to posting just seven Friday.
The Wildcats’ 13 strikeouts were a season high.
Up next
The Sun Devils will look to claim a key series victory tomorrow in Manhattan with the game scheduled for 2 p.m. AZT (4 p.m. local). The game will be streamed live via ESPN+.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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