Hairston, ASU bounce back against SDSU with 6-2 victory

TEMPE, Ariz.- No. 25 Arizona State (21-8) comes out on top against San Diego State (15-15) on a beautiful Monday night with a final score of 6-2. 

Consistency is key

Staying consistent for the Sun Devils has been the main issue so far this season. Last week, ASU faced West Virginia for a three-game series. Despite winning and dominating the first game, the Sun Devils couldn’t find the sweep in the last two games. 

“We threw the ball really well tonight,” ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “Offensively, we can talk about the same guy we have been talking about as of recently.”

It’s safe to say that there is around half the season remaining, with still plenty of time for maroon and gold to make the game-changing adjustments. Winning against SDSU was exactly what they needed to prepare for the road series against Big 12 rival, Arizona. 

The top of the first was SDSU’s inning, with senior infielder Tyce Peterson hitting a deep ball towards right of the field, which resulted in an easy home run. They continued to lead the game through the bottom of the second, until ASU found the perfect opportunity. 

Sophomore catcher Brody Briggs recorded a 2-run knock to score two to regain the lead for ASU. 

Hairston continues tear

One of the most popular collegiate baseball players is sitting pretty on the Sun Devils roster. Sophomore infielder Landon Hairston has been making history left and right, with it being his second season. Hairston was recently named the Golden Spikes national player of the week. The impressive stats include a .563 batting average, nine hits, 12 RBI’s, five home runs, and nine runs. 

Hairston said, “It’s great to be honored like that on the national level; it’s a blessing.”

By the start of the fifth inning, it was a tied game after Peterson scored his second home run of the night, tying the game (2-2). 

ASU found themselves winning during the bottom of the fifth after Hairston hit his sixteenth home run of the season. 

The left-handed batter and thrower has hit at least one home run for five games straight. Making it the longest active streak for the Sun Devils 2026 roster. 

“It’s incredible, it really is. People who go through four or five stretches of being in the zone. I have personally never seen anything like this,” Bloomquist said.

It wasn’t the end for the left-handed star. At bat, in the bottom of the seventh. Hairston launches a bomb to the left of center field to secure his second home run of the night. 

“Natural ability just happens, you know,” Bloomquist said. “But this being my fifth year here, I have never seen a college baseball player hit the way he’s hitting.”

Taking the at home win, ASU will begin to look ahead at the rest of the season. 

“The best of their best is going to show up when we play them, because that’s what we get when we play UofA. I hope we can do the same on our end and match the intensity level,” Bloomquist said.