In Arizona State baseball’s (15-7, 3-1 Big 12) inaugural Big 12 Conference home game, 5,834 fans packed into Phoenix Municipal Stadium to watch the Sun Devils defeat the Kansas Jayhawks (17-5, 2-2 Big 12) by a final score of 9-2 in Game 1.
“That was awesome. I have envisioned this place being like this since I got the job,” ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist said of the environment. “Hopefully, they keep coming because it adds a lot of energy. Not only in the environment, but our guys just have an extra gear and motivation … It’s just a heck of a lot more fun atmosphere when we have a packed house.”
Batting seventh in the Sun Devil lineup, graduate student catcher Josiah Cromwick hit two home runs in Arizona State’s win over Kansas.
“He’s done a good job on making some adjustments to off-speed pitches, which has given him more of a competitive repertoire when he’s going to bat,” Bloomquist said of Cromwick. “He’s not just a one-trick pony that can only hit a fastball.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder delivered ‘Crom bombs’ in the second and fourth innings. His first long ball landed in the ASU bullpen.
Give it a poke, Crom!
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Oppo taco for his seventh of the year.
2-0, Devils, in the second.
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Two frames later, Cromwick sent a ball to dead-center field for a two-run shot, putting his side up 4-0.
No need to adjust your monitors. You're seeing this right.
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Crom goes yard for the second time in the first four innings.
Two-run shot makes it 4-0, Devils, in the 4th.
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However, the Sun Devil offense wasn’t the only contributing factor to the win. After walking the first three hitters of the game, junior left-handed pitcher Ben Jacobs worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam.
“I obviously didn’t have my best stuff tonight, but pretty proud of myself for how I was able to bounce back,” Jacobs said. “And that’s really all that matters at the end of the day, is putting zeros up and helping us win.”
Junior third baseman Nu’u Contrades helped Jacobs start to evade trouble early, as he zipped a throw home to beat out a Jayhawk trying to score the first run of the game on a weak chopper up the third baseline. ASU’s ace then set down the other two Kansas batters on strikes to end the first inning.
Bloomquist’s bullpen bounced back from allowing six runs in the team’s Tuesday night loss to the USC Trojans. The Jayhawk offense came into the series leading the Big 12 in runs (207), home runs (46) and RBI (193).
“It was electric. It was really fun,” redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Jonah Giblin said, who allowed the relievers’ only earned run. “I’m glad we’re bringing them out now and they’re showing up. I mean, it means a lot to us. Really helps us with the energy and intensity.”
Jacobs said the pitching staff’s competitive level gave his team the edge against the Jayhawks’ dangerous offense.
Arizona State opened the floodgates in the sixth inning, bringing three runners across the plate. The Sun Devils’ two-out rally began with redshirt junior second baseman Kyle Walker dunking an RBI single into center field. The leadoff hitter’s third knock of the night ended Jayhawk sophomore right-handed pitcher Dominic Voegele’s outing.
“I believe this team is fully capable of going to Omaha,” Walker said after his fourth consecutive game with at least two hits. “I think we could be the best in the country.”
A walk from redshirt sophomore outfielder Brandon Compton led to a two-run single from Contrades, making the score 7-1 in favor of the Maroon and Gold.
ASU sophomore left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon pitched the final two innings and struck out five batters. Overall, Arizona State limited Kansas to four hits while punching out 16 Jayhawks in a dominant showing on the bump.
The Maroon and Gold will look to take Game 2 of the series on Saturday with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. PST.
“I never played in front of a crowd that big here at this place,” Bloomquist said. “I think hopefully that just is proof that man, we love having them out that it’s, it’s a much better environment. It’s a lot more fun, and it’s pretty good baseball too.”
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