Sun Devils' Offensive Surge Overwhelms St. John's
The early innings of the matchup between the Sun Devils and St. John's were anything but smooth sailing.
Both teams struggled with fielding errors and pitching control, making for a rocky start. St.
John's capitalized first, taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning thanks to a sacrifice fly and a fielding miscue. However, the Sun Devils quickly responded, leveling the score with a run driven in by a groundout and a wild pitch.
Nu’u Contrades and Dominic Smaldino then stepped up with key hits, driving in the first RBIs from actual base hits, and sparking a five-run rally to put ASU ahead 5-2.
By the sixth inning, the Sun Devils were clinging to a 5-3 lead, but they were just getting warmed up. They launched into a hitting spree, stringing together four singles and a double. Combined with sharp base running, they batted around the order, tacking on six more runs and turning a tight contest into an 11-3 blowout.
Not content with two explosive innings, the Sun Devils added another five runs in the eighth. Cooper Clouser notched his first hit, while McGary continued his stellar performance with his third hit and run of the game.
This offensive onslaught extended ASU's lead to 16-3, rendering St. John's late rally in the ninth inconsequential.
It was a commanding display by the Sun Devils, showcasing their offensive depth and resilience.