Hairston slams, Penn throws four-strong in 15-8 victory

PHOENIX– Just 24 hours after one of the slower offensive performances of the season, Arizona State (13-5 overall, 1-1 Big 12) exploded offensively for a 15-8 victory over the No. 17 TCU Horned Frogs (11-7, 1-1). It was ASU’s second win over a ranked opponent of the season.

9-run third paves the way

TCU’s sophomore left-hander Mason Brassfield held the Sun Devils to just six base runners through his six innings of work Friday night. Saturday, on the other hand, saw ASU hit three homers and put up nine runs in the third inning alone. 

“We did a good job sticking to the plan today,” ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “We’ve kind of gotten away from that at times…we did hit our home runs today, which was great…but we wore them down with a lot of singles and first-to-thirds…keep the lines moving, which was outstanding…just one good at bat after another.”

Sophomore utility Landon Hairston did a significant chunk of the damage in the third on what was his third grand slam of the season.

Hairston’s approach to the grand slam? “Hit the ball hard.”

He now sits eight RBIs ahead of any other ASU hitter. He remains tied with fifth-year outfielder Dean Toigo, who also homered Saturday, for the team lead in homers at seven. 

Penn picks up Overbay’s rough outing

Junior right-hander Alex Overbay entered the game with a 0.69 ERA, the lowest among the starting rotation. An ERA that low is bound to regress, and it did as six runs crossed the plate during his three innings of work, four of those being earned. 

He struggled with control, walking four batters and throwing just 54% of his pitches for strikes. Three of those walks came in the fourth inning alone. The ninth-run inning likely played a factor, as Overbay was forced to sit longer than he likely ever had before to go back out and pitch. 

“He’s just kind of getting started on becoming a starter,” Bloomquist said. “He’ll learn from this, he’ll grow and learn from it, and I imagine the next time we have a long offensive inning when he’s pitching, he’ll be better.”

In addition to the 15 runs, sophomore right-hander Taylor Penn aided in throwing Overbay’s rough outing by the wayside. 

“I don’t have to do it all,” Penn said. “It’s kind of a lot less pressure on you. Just go out there and have fun.”

Penn delivered four innings of near-perfect work, allowing just two base runners while striking out four on just 48 pitches. His season ERA now sits at 2.20 through 16 ⅓ innings. 

The rubber match of this conference-opening series will see its first pitch thrown at 1:05 p.m. MST. Senior right-hander Kole Klecker is the projected starter for the Sun Devils, facing off against his former team for the first time.

“He already knows,’ Bloomquist said. “At the end of the day, he’s just going to go out and compete. When Kleck competes the way he’s capable of, he can beat anybody and be very effective.”