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It wasn't the prettiest game, but ASU baseball will take it.
The Sun Devils (10-8) used contributions from a pair of freshmen to end their two-game losing streak, knocking off Wichita State 9-5 Tuesday night.
Freshman catcher Brian Serven led the way offensively, driving in a career-high three runs, including two in the first inning with a single to left field.
"There were guys on base every time I came up," Serven said. "Other guys were doing good things."
Six Sun Devil hitters had multi-hit nights and the early offense was a nice bonus for freshman pitcher Seth Martinez, who made his first career appearance and start in the maroon and gold.
Martinez (1-0) kept the Shockers (11-7) at bay, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out six in four innings to earn his first career victory.
"Seth, for his first college outing, was tremendous," Serven said. "He was really disciplined on the mound throwing strikes and getting people out, especially with his slider."
Serven extended the lead to 6-1 in the fourth with another single to left following a two-RBI single off the bat of junior first baseman Nate Causey.
The Shockers cut into the Sun Devil lead in the sixth inning with three runs off sophomore reliever Eric Melbostad following a throwing error by freshman shortstop Colby Woodmansee and an RBI triple, but it wasn't enough.
Melbostad shut the door, allowing just the three unearned runs in 3 2/3 innings to cement the victory.
"He (Melbostad) always comes in and has a good night and he had his slider working," Serven said.
The Sun Devils added three insurance runs in the eighth, including junior second baseman Drew Stankiewicz's first home run of the season, a two-run shot.
Serven was happy to pick up the victory, the Sun Devils' second consecutive in mid-week play, regardless of how pretty it was.
"We just lost two games so it's always nice to win one, whether it's sloppy or not," Serven said.
The Sun Devils and Shockers finish their two-game mid-week series tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m.