TEMPE – Behind a dominant showing on the mound, Arizona State (31-14, 14-7 Big 12) propelled its way past conference rival Baylor (22-21, 9-12 Big 12) in the concluding game of the weekend series, 11-4.
Senior right-handed starting pitcher Kole Klecker got right to business from the start of the game, with 5 of his 8 punch-outs coming in the first four innings. Klecker’s eight punch-outs mark a season-high and are the second-most strikeouts he’s recorded in a game.
A lone solo home run in the first and second innings from senior first baseman Tyce Armstrong and junior catcher JJ Kennett‘s RBI double in the fourth were the only runs Klecker allowed.
“Just putting together a good one, especially on a Sunday where we were going for a sweep,” Klecker said. “I feel like I am getting back on the right track.”
Through six innings, Klecker allowed two runs, five hits and one walk on 92 pitches. The former all-conference pitcher reached a career high in strikeouts for Arizona State and recording over eight or more strikeouts for the first time since his freshman season with Texas Christian University.
“Something I tried to focus on today, especially, was kind of like a different intensity,” Klecker said. “I kind of changed some things with the delivery we were working on this past week, just being a little more up-tempo, a little quicker.”
The Sun Devil bats, sparingly, were able to get runners back to home plate in the early innings, picking their spots well. With runners at the corner in the first inning, a pickoff attempt from Baylor senior left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder got past Armstrong at first, scoring sophomore infielder Landon Hairston from third.
In the bottom of the third inning, Arizona State put two runners on the corners early after sophomore catcher Brody Briggs’ pinch hit and a single from junior infielder P.J. Moutziridis. A sacrifice fly from Hairston scored Briggs from third. Moutziridis scored from third on junior designated hitter Nu’u Contrades’ RBI single.
The Maroon and Gold, clinging to a one-run 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning, maximized their circumstances with runners on base against the Bears. A four-hit inning produced four runs. Freshman third baseman Austin Roellig hit a two-run towering shot to left field, scoring Contrades, who had walked to start off the inning. A sequence of base hits from graduate outfielder Matt Polk, sophomore shortstop Beckett Zavorek, and Briggs with runners on base put two more runs on the board, moving the lead up 7-2.
“We work a lot with the coaches and talking about approach, timing, and all that,” Roellig said. “I think it’s all coming together at the right time.”
Two more runs were tallied for the Sun Devils in the bottom of the sixth when junior first baseman Dominic Smaldino hit a single, scoring Contrades and senior left fielder Dean Toigo, pushing the lead to 10-2. Smaldino scored the last run two innings later with a leadoff solo home run in the eighth.
“There are contributors up and down the lineup,” Bloomquist said. “Contrades had a phenomenal weekend … Austin Roellig put together a bunch of hits, including a homer today. Smaldino had a good weekend. Beckett Zavorek, great weekend, Brigsy (Briggs) got a big knock today.”
Coach Bloomquist decided to put the junior right-handed pitcher on the bump at the top of the seventh to take over for Klecker. Alba was able to display good command from the mound, putting down five batters on 52 pitches, only giving up two more runs in the bottom of the ninth after giving up a two-run home run to Armstrong.
“Kleck (Klecker) got us off to a really great start today and Jaden threw the ball really well,” Bloomquist said.
ASU found its groove this weekend, sweeping Baylor. The sweep marked ASU’s first home sweep in Big 12 play this season.
“I’m glad they’re coming together; we just have to continue playing winning baseball,” Bloomquist said. “Nice to get three this weekend and that’s a good start.”
The Sun Devils next game will be on the road to take on Big 12 rival University of Central Florida (25-15, Big 12 14-7) in a three-game series on Friday at 3 p.m. MST at John Euliano Park.
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