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Like the sky opening up in a torrential downpour following a drought, the Arizona State bats have officially woken up.
Following a Saturday doubleheader in which the Sun Devils (5-2) scored six and nine runs, the team used a late onslaught of offense to thump visiting Nevada (4-4) 13-4 Tuesday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Here Come the Runs
While the final score was lopsided, the majority of the contest was competitive, with Nevada avoiding the knockout blow until the home half of the sixth.
Redshirt junior Hunter Jump, who has seemingly broken out of his early season slump, notched his second and third RBIs of the game with his second double, putting the Sun Devils up 6-3. They would not look back.
In the seventh, Nick Cheema laced a single to lead off the frame, and advanced to third on a Sean McClain double.
After Drew Swift worked a two out walk, his second in as many innings, freshman Hunter Haas stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. His bases clearing three-run double into the right center field gap busted the game open, and added to what has ben a stellar start to his ASU career.
The Sun Devils would add some insurance in the eighth. Kade Higgins launched his first collegiate home run into the ASU bullpen beyond right field. The two-run shot scored fellow freshman Blake Pivaroff, who singled to start the inning.
Cruise Control on the Mound
Coach Tracy Smith gave Justin Fall the starting nod, and Fall did not disappoint his skipper. In his three innings of work, he allowed just two hits and one run, including an impressive three-batter stretch in the first inning when he set down the side after allowing a leadoff double.
The ASU pitching staff shouldered the load for the remainder of the contest, with freshman Jared Glenn picking up the win in his two innings. In total, Smith used seven arms, which may become a theme for this season’s midweek games.
The Sun Devils are back in action this weekend as they host Utah for a three-game series. Game one is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m.