Landon Hairston hit his record breaking 28th home run as the Sun Devils took care of business against Cincinnati to move on.
(Surprise, AZ) No. 21 Sun Devil Baseball applied pressure out the gates and never took its foot off the pedal, advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament presented by Allstate behind a 10-2 rout over No. 25 Cincinnati late Thursday evening at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz.
Landon Hairston became Arizona State’s all-time single season home run leader with his 28th of the season to break the game open in the fourth inning as the Sun Devils (37-18) will take part in their first conference semifinal in program history against ninth-ranked West Virginia tomorrow at 8 p.m AZT.
Dominic Smaldino and Matt Polk also homered for an ASU offense that recorded 12 hits and didn’t let the Bearcats (37-20) off the hook for their four errors and poor fielding throughout the game. ASU recorded four two-out RBIs, had the leadoff runner reach in four of eight innings and successfully advanced runners at a .522 clip. In addition to taking advantage of the four errors, ASU stole three bags and struck out just five times as it never gave Cincinnati a chance to get back into the game.
After the start time to the game was delayed nearly 45 minutes due to the earlier games in the day, Kole Klecker battled through 4.0 tough innings and allowed just one run despite walking six and striking out five – twice stranding the bases loaded. Taylor Penn moved to 6-0 on the season as he came out of the bullpen and dominated the potent Bearcat line, allowing just one hit and striking out five – the second-lowest total of its season – with no walks in his scoreless outing. The two runs scored by UC were tied for the fourth-lowest of the season and lowest since April 17 at UCF (L, 1-7).
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Notables
ASU has scored multiple runs in 102 of its 181 half-innings with runs this season. ASU has 56 innings with at least three runs scored, 30 with at least four and 23 with at least five.
Landon Hairston extended his reached base streak to 38 consecutive games with his record-breaking 28th home run of the season in the fourth inning.
Hairston made history with that homer as he is now in sole possession of ASU’s single season home run record, which was previously 27 by Mitch Jones in 2000.
Hairston recorded the homer as the second batter that UC reliever Adam Brouwer faced. In doing so, his 12 home runs as one of the first three batters an opponent reliever has faced upon entering a game are tops in the country. He would add another base hit off new pitcher Brenden Garula in the eighth inning.
Entering the weekend, he had 25 hits and 32 RBIs in that scenario, ranking first in both categories and only added to that tonight. He was batting .510 off new pitchers that face him within their first three batters faced – ninth-best in the country. His absurd 1.966 OPS off those new pitchers was first in the country. In fact, it was the highest of any player in the country since AT LEAST 2019.
Since starting the game on the bench in ASU’s series finale at BYU (April 18). Dominic Smaldino has hits in 13 of the 14 games since with seven homers. He notched his 30th career homer tonight.
Entering the weekend, his 15 extra base hits in that span were ninth in the country and his nine homers were ninth as well. He had 24 RBIs in that stretch, which were 24th in the nation.
Cincinnati starting pitcher Nathan Taylor had struck out six or more batters in 12 consecutive starts this season entering tonight before managing just one on Thursday.
ASU moved to 25-7 when homering at least twice in a game this season.
The Big 12 leader in stolen bases and Top-35 nationally in the category, the Bearcats managed just two on Thursday.
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Inning by inning
First inning
Kole Klecker got things started on the mound for the Sun Devils, striking out the first batter he faced. A one-out double gave the Bearcats an early baserunner, followed by a stolen base. A walk put runners on the corners, and an RBI-groundout gave Cincinnati an early 1-0 lead. A wild pitch and back-to-back walks loaded the bases, but Klecker was able to limit the damage to just one run on a pop up.
Landon Hairston reached on an error to lead off the game, but was quickly thrown out on a double play. With two outs, Dean Toigo singled through the left side, and Dominic Smaldino got Arizona State on the board with a two-run blast to left center. Austen Roellig struck out to end the inning with ASU up 2-1.
Second inning
Despite giving up a one-out walk. Klecker was able to keep the Bearcats from scoring, getting two strikeouts and a flyout.
With one out, Matt Polk singled over the shortstop’s head, and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. A groundout moved him over to third, and a walk from PJ Moutzouridisbrought Hairston up with two outs and runners on the corners. Hairston reached on an error for the second time in as many innings, allowing Polk to score to make it 3-1, and Moutzouridis to move to third. Hairston advanced to second on wild pitch, but both were left stranded as Contrades grounded out.
Third inning
After a leadoff single, Klecker was able to get a double play. However, two consecutive walks put traffic on the basepaths, and a bunt single loaded the bases. Klecker was able to escape the jam with an inning-ending strikeout.
Toigo led off the inning, reaching on an error, and Smaldino reached on another error to follow. A sac bunt from Austen Roellig moved both runners into scoring position, and an RBI-groundout from Garrett Michel brought in a run. Polk singled past the diving shortstop for an RBI, making it 5-1, Sun Devils. A groundout ended the frame.
Fourth inning
Klecker delivered a 1-2-3 inning, complete with a flyout, strikeout, and groundout.
Moutzouridis led off with a triple off the left center wall (that would have likely been a home run at Muni). Hairston then delivered the big swing, a two-run shot into the visitor bullpen in right field, extending the Sun Devils lead to 7-1. A hit by pitch for Contrades followed, but two popouts and a strikeout closed out the fourth.
Fifth inning
Taylor Penn was the first guy out of the Sun Devil bullpen, and he delivered back-to-back strikeouts before a hit by pitch gave Cincinnati a two-out baserunner. A pop out to third finished off the scoreless frame.
With two outs, Brody Briggs singled into center and Moutzouridis walked. Hairston grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
Sixth inning
Penn returned to the mound and gave the Sun Devils a three-up, three-down frame.
Arizona State couldn’t get anything going in sixth, going down in order.
Seventh inning
Penn worked around a one-out single to deliver a scoreless frame, capped off with back-to-back strikeouts.
Polk cranked a solo home run to left with two outs to extend ASU’s lead to 8-1. Briggs then singled into center field, but was left stranded as a flyout ended the inning.
Eighth inning
Alex Overbay was the next pitcher for Arizona State, sending down the first two hitters on a strikeout and a groundout. A single and an RBI-double cut the lead to 8-2, but Overbay was able to close out the frame with another strikeout.
Hairston led off with a single and Contrades followed up with one of his own- both were smoked at over 100 mph right at defenders that were unable to corral. Toigo ripped a double in the left center gap that scored both runners to make it 10-2. A groundout moved Toigo to third, where he was left as a strikeout and groundout ended the frame.
Ninth inning
Sean Fitzpatrick was called on for the ninth, striking out the first batter before allowing a baserunner on an error. Eli Buxton was then brought in, striking out both batters he faced to seal the 10-2 Sun Devil victory.
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Up next
The Sun Devils move on to the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament, which continues Friday at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz. The No. 3 seeded Sun Devils will face the No. 2 seeded West Virginia Mountaineers. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. MST, but delays are expected with ASU’s game being the second game of the day. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
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