UNLV baseball (14-10, 2-4) used a seven-run eighth inning to defeat Arizona State (16-9, 4-2) by a final tally of 11-6 at Las Vegas Ballpark on Tuesday night. With the win, the teams split the season series, after ASU defeated the Rebels 7-0 in early March.
The Sun Devils needed four pitchers to finish the tumultuous eighth. UNLV loaded the bases three separate times while scoring seven runs in the frame. Sophomore right-handed relief pitcher Josh Butler surrendered three hits and four earned runs but didn’t record an out. Additionally, sophomore right-hander Derek Schaefer and junior left-hander Sean Fitzpatrick combined to hit three Rebels hitters.
Overall, UNLV scored seven runs on three hits, two errors and three hit batters.
ASU heavily relied on its bullpen during its weekend series against Kansas — the program’s first Big 12 Conference home series win. The bullpen tossed 16 innings during the three-game set and only allowed five earned runs against one of the best offenses in the Big 12.
Arizona State’s potent offense started the night strong in its first few frames. The Sun Devils plated two runs on two hits in the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Brandon Compton drove in freshman infielder Landon Hairston for his 23rd RBI of the season.
ASU scored its third run of the game in the second inning on sophomore catcher Brody Briggs’ second double of the season.
Meanwhile, on the bump, freshman left-handed starting pitcher Easton Barrett made his fourth start of the season on Tuesday. His three-inning start and 58 pitches were the most among any of his appearances this season. He surrendered four hits, two earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts against the Rebels.
In the seventh, ASU snatched the lead back in an inning that saw no hits, but two Sun Devils come around to score by virtue of multiple walks and a Rebels error.
After they tallied three hits through the first two innings Tuesday, the Devils’ bats were mostly held quiet the rest of the night. The only other hit came off senior infielder Matt King’s bat — a leadoff triple in the eighth inning. King eventually scored on a wild pitch.
ASU will return to the diamond on Friday night in a Big 12 matchup against the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City, Utah. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST.
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