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Sophomore pitcher Ryan Burr quickly figured out how to close games for ASU last season and now he's learning how to start them.
Burr threw a career-high six innings, allowing just two runs while striking out two, to push the Sun Devils (5-4) to a 10-5 victory over Gonzaga and his first career win as a starter.
It was a stark contrast from last week's start against Long Beach State, when Burr gave up seven runs and couldn't make it out of the third inning.
Burr had his offense behind him this week, too.
Sophomore infielder and team RBI leader Dalton DiNatale doubled down the right-field line in the sixth, scoring two runs to give the Sun Devils a 3-2 lead over the Bulldogs (2-8).
The Sun Devil offense wouldn't surrender the lead for Burr and added three more runs in the seventh courtesy of RBI singles from sophomore outfielder Johnny Sewald and freshman catcher Brian Serven and a double play ground out from DiNatale.
The Bulldogs scored three in the top of the eighth off freshman reliever Nick Diamond but redshirt junior outfielder Trever Allen sealed Burr's victory in the bottom of the inning with a grand slam, his second home run of the season.
The win was the Sun Devils' third consecutive and second straight at the Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic.
ASU returns to action tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. versus Oklahoma.