ASU baseball: Wichita State powers past Sun Devils in mid-week finale

For as well as ASU baseball pitched last night, tonight was just the opposite.

The Sun Devil pitching staff was barraged early, allowing 11 runs in the first five innings enroute to a 12-9 loss to Wichita State.

Redshirt junior Zak Miller started for the Sun Devils (10-9) but didn't make it out of the third inning, allowing nine hits and six runs to the Shockers (12-7) in 2 1/3 innings.

Miller's replacement, redshirt freshman Nick Diamond, didn't fare any better.

Diamond (0-2) gave up five runs in two innings of work and walked four batters, two of which were with the bases loaded.

Esmay said he needed more from his pitchers, especially Miller.

"We needed Zak Miller to go five," Esmay said. "We really had to try and piece that together."

The offense showed up, scoring three runs apiece in the first and fourth innings.

Two Sun Devil hitters led the team with two hits apiece and sophomore third baseman Dalton DiNatale drove in his team-leading 14th and 15 RBIs.

The Sun Devils added a run in the sixth and two in the seventh, but it wasn't enough.

"11 hits and nine runs is a lot better than 10 hits and three runs," Esmay said.

The Sun Devils are back in action this weekend on the road against No. 4 Oregon State and Esmay said his team his team will be ready.

"Every weekend is a big weekend but you're right," Esmay said. "This is a response weekend for us."