TEMPE, AZ - A third-inning explosion propelled Arizona State to a commanding 15-8 victory over TCU, leveling the series on Saturday night.
The Sun Devils ignited the scoreboard with a nine-run burst in the third inning, turning the game on its head. Seven singles set the stage, chasing TCU's Lance Davis from the mound and flipping a 1-0 deficit into a 5-1 lead. Landon Hairston then delivered the knockout punch with his eighth homer of the season, a grand slam that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
But TCU wasn't going down without a fight. The Frogs clawed back in the fourth, plating five runs.
Jack Arthur and Rob Liddington came through with key RBI hits, while Sawyer Strosnider earned an RBI with a bases-loaded walk. A double play added another run, narrowing the gap to 9-6.
Arizona State responded with authority, tacking on three more in the sixth. Garrett Michel's two-run homer and Dean Toigo's solo shot extended the lead. PJ Moutzouridis added a sacrifice fly in the seventh, and Brody Briggs followed suit in the eighth, pushing the score to 15-6.
TCU's Jack Bell launched his first homer of the season in the eighth, and Strosnider chipped in with an RBI single, marking TCU's final run of the night.
Enter Arizona State's closer, Dereck Schaefer, who took the mound in the eighth after Strosnider's RBI. Schaefer efficiently sealed the deal, needing just 26 pitches to secure the final four outs.
TCU's Pitching Struggles Continue
Lance Davis had a tough outing, falling to 0-3 on the season after just 2.1 innings. He allowed six earned runs on eight hits, failing to record a strikeout or walk.
This marks the third time in five starts that Davis hasn't made it past the fourth inning. Ethan Thomas took over, providing three innings of relief but allowing five earned runs on four hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.
Relievers Cade Nelson and Kade Durnin each surrendered a run, but Nolan Johnson shined in the eighth, escaping a bases-loaded jam with three consecutive outs.
Up Next
The series finale promises to be an exciting showdown as both teams look to claim the series. Keep an eye on how the pitching staffs adjust and whether Arizona State can maintain their offensive momentum.