ASU Baseball: Sun Devils use big fourth inning to rout Washington, clinch series

If ASU was tired from its 16-inning marathon victory on Friday night, they sure didn’t show it. The Sun Devils jumped all over Washington on Saturday, riding a big fourth inning and strong pitching to a series clinching 8-1 victory over the Huskies in Seattle.

Trailing by one run in the fourth inning, the ASU bats came alive. Freshman Jack Moss got the party started, continuing his successful inaugural campaign by blasting a two-run homer to right field and giving his team the lead.

The Sun Devils did not look back.

Later in the same inning, a Joe Lampe double and two walks brought up Drew Swift with the bases loaded. Swift cashed in, smacking a bases clearing three-RBI double into right center.

Not yet satisfied, Hunter Haas laced an RBI double, scoring Swift. ASU put up six runs in the frame, and brought 10 batters to the plate. A game that had the same tight feel as the series opener was quickly blown wide open.

On the mound, Justin Fall was dominant in his six innings of work. The junior southpaw struck out seven while allowing one run on six hits and stranding nine Huskies on base.

Between Fall and last night’s effort from starter Tyler Thornton, ASU’s starting pitching has been stellar in Seattle.

Over the game’s final three innings, Christian Bodlovich and Brock peery were nearly flawless to close out the game. Bodlovich was used to close the game once ASU took the lead in the 16th on Friday, and bounced back effectively Saturday.

He tossed two scoreless innings while giving up one hit, and Peery shut the door, throwing a perfect ninth inning. While the pitching staff kept Washington at bay for the game’s final seven innings, the ASU bats added to their lead in the latter frames.

In the fifth and seventh innings, Kai Murphy drove in ASU’s final two runs with a sac fly and an RBI single, his 11th and 12th of the season.

The offensive outburst was a welcome sight for a group that went nearly four hours without scoring a run on Friday night. Six of nine ASU batters recorded hits, while Lampe, Moss and Hunter Jump each collected two.

The Sun Devils will look to record their first conference sweep of the season on Sunday in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. local time.