PHOENIX – After Sunday’s 29-4 victory against LMU, where the three-hour and 55-minute long ballgame felt longer than its runtime, Tuesday was shorter, as fifth-year outfielder Dean Toigo took the batter’s box in a 1-1 tie after a quick first three and a half innings.
On a 1-2 pitch, Toigo got a pitch in the top of the strike zone and pounced on it.
The result? A fly ball that cleared the “Mayo Clinic” sign on the right-center wall, leading Toigo on a trot around the bases after giving his team the lead.
That wouldn’t be the only home run of the inning, as Toigo’s homer was the foundation of a five-run offensive frame, as Arizona State (12-4) barrelled its way to a 10-4 win at home against in-state rival Arizona (6-10) in front of a rowdy crowd at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Tuesday. After a three-run home run cut the lead to two, the Sun Devils picked up insurance runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to put away their rivals from down south.
Last season, ASU went 1-3 against Arizona, losing a midweek game in Tucson and then dropping two of three at home.
Tuesday’s showdown was the first of five times the rival schools play each other: two midweek games in Phoenix, and a weekend series at Hi Corbett Field.
“It’s more than just a win, even though it counts as just one in the win column. It’s nice to jump out and get the first one against those guys,” ASU coach Willie Bloomquist said. “They’re a solid team, and for us to come away with the win. Obviously, we played pretty well on most facets of the game tonight, and it’s a big, big step for us to get that win tonight.”
“Yeah, I think anytime we go out, we want to win,” senior right-handed pitcher Sean Fitzpatrick said. “This one means a little bit more obviously, because (of) the rivalry, but yeah, anytime we take the field, we’re hunting to win. And today, we played really well, and I’m super proud of the team.”
One of the questions heading into Tuesday’s duel in the desert was how the Maroon and Gold would fare without junior infielder Nu’u Contrades. The Hawaii product exited Sunday’s game on what appeared to be a hamstring injury while running on a base hit.
However, at least for Tuesday night, the Sun Devils proved that his absence may not be a problem, as seven of the nine starters recorded at least one hit.
However, the biggest contributor was sophomore infielder Landon Hairston. He went 2-of-3 on the night, with his biggest hit being a two-run bomb he crushed.
Hairston knew as well as he flipped his bat and screamed at his dugout, fired up to give what was a 6-1 lead to ASU.
“Just getting them (the dugout) hyped up,” Hairston said. “It’s a big game for everyone that’s an Arizona State fan, so getting the crowd hyped, getting the bench hyped.”
Phoenix Municipal Stadium was packed out, as the Sun Devil faithful coated the seats in maroon and gold. After the game, Bloomquist had a message for the fans.
“Thank you for coming out,” Bloomquist said. “This is what makes this atmosphere awesome and fun. Fun for these kids to play in on a Tuesday night. I mean, this is a midweek game, and we had the biggest crowd of the year. It’s so much of a different atmosphere when the fans show up like that, and we are very appreciative.”
With the Sun Devils shuffling their starting rotation compared to a month ago, Tuesday was a bullpen game for Bloomquist’s squad.
Junior right-handed pitcher Colin Linder got the start, going two innings before handing things off to sophomore right-handed pitcher Taylor Penn.
Penn went three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and giving his coach some length.
“Just went out there (with) confidence. Knew my guys had my back,” Penn said. “Got a good staff, Jeremy (Accardo) calling pitches, just competing like it’s another game. Can’t make it too big.”
Fitzpatrick came in the sixth inning after junior right-handed pitcher Jaden Alba allowed a three-run home run to cut the Sun Devil lead to 6-4.
But the Texas native delivered his own outing of three scoreless innings for four strikeouts. And by the time he was relieved by junior right-handed pitcher Derek Schaefer, ASU had already extended its lead up to six.
“We faced someone that had more than two or three lefties in the lineup, so it was nice to see five or so,” Fitzpatrick said. “So I knew I had a chance to get extended just from their amount of lefties, but yeah, didn’t expect to go three innings.”
The Sun Devils will open up Big 12 play with a weekend series against No. 17 TCU. They’ll face off in game one of a three-game series Friday at 6:35 p.m. MST.
As it gets set to play its first ranked opponent since the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series, Sparky hopes to continue its success, not just from its main producers, but also from other hitters in the lineup.
“We’re going to need those guys to be productive,” Bloomquist said. “Obviously, it’s just great to have been productive anyway, but with the absence of Nu’u, we’re going to need those guys to step up.”
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