(Photo: Rebecca Striffler/WCSN)
A four-run first inning and a six-and-two-thirds inning shutout performance by freshman right-handed pitcher Brock Peery sparked Arizona State Baseball to a 10-0 victory on Friday night against Washington State.
“It was one of the most complete performances of the season,” ASU Head Coach Tracy Smith said. “Defensively we made some nice plays, offense was great and we did a good job running the bases.”
A double by ASU redshirt freshman outfielder Joe Lampe started things off. Lampe was batting in the leadoff spot for the first time all year due to redshirt junior outfielder Hunter Jump’s absence. Redshirt junior infielder Drew Swift singled Lampe home, and redshirt freshman infielder Sean McLain executed a perfect hit-and-run to bring home Swift.
Finishing it off was freshman infielder Ethan Long, who had an RBI single just past the dive of WSU’s third baseman to make it 3-0 Sun Devils just 14 pitches into the game.
Washington State junior right-handed pitcher Brandon White got a pair of groundouts following the Sun Devils’ rally and appeared to get a third straight out on the ground hit by redshirt senior catcher Sam Ferri, but Cougars’ senior first baseman Tristan Peterson dropped the throw from freshman second baseman Gunner Gouldsmith allowing Long to score ASU’s fourth run of the inning.
“Them [ASU] throwing up four runs took stress off and I was able to go off that and keep going,” Peery said.
McLain made sure to share the love for the offensive explosion.
“That first inning was huge and it started with Joe [Lampe]. [Hitting Coach Michael] Earley does a great job of putting us in a good position to be prepared,” McLain said.
Smith said Peery blew the doors off of what his staff’s original plan was.
“We actually just wanted to get 6-9 outs out of [Peery] but he was throwing so well that we left him in there,” he said. “The four run lead was the perfect medicine to get him to settle in and relax.”
Peery was indeed calm, as he turned in a very efficient performance. In his 6.2 innings of work, he faced 25 batters while allowing six hits and striking out five batters on 70 pitches.
Peery received a standing ovation from the 1,776 fans in attendance as he left the mound.
“That felt amazing,” Peery said. “It was great to feel the crowd like that as I came off the mound.”
Smith added: “We’ve been hit with injuries and it creates opportunities for guys and they’ve taken advantage of that. Brock gave his team a chance to win tonight and I’m very proud of his performance.”
The Sun Devils would put up a single run in the second and third innings. McLain drove in his second run of the night in the second with a single up the middle, while freshman infielder Jack Moss’ sacrifice fly brought in freshman infielder Hunter Haas after he doubled to lead off the third.
After a quiet fourth inning, ASU would put up two more runs both on productive outs in the fifth. Ferri grounded out and brought in Haas, who scored his second of three runs on the night. Lampe then grounded out to first base, which scored redshirt freshman outfielder Kai Murphy and made it 8-0 ASU.
Murphy would be the one doing the damage himself the very next inning, blasting a first pitch two-run home run over the Sun Devils’ bullpen in right field and extending ASU’s lead to an even 10-0 in the sixth.
“I was ready for a first pitch fastball since he was doing it all game and I knew it was gone off the bat,” Murphy said.
Smith was satisfied that ASU was able to tack on runs after the first inning, which is something the Sun Devils have struggled with early in the season.
“That’s growth,” Smith said. “We tell them to not be caught up in the score and keep grinding out good at-bats. We did a really good job of not giving at-bats away and I liked how we stayed locked in.”
Swift, McLain and Murphy would each record multi-hit games, while McLain and Murphy would also drive in two runs each. Haas also scored three runs in the win.
“Friday’s are about setting the tone for the weekend,” Murphy said. “Kudos to our guys staying on it. We kept our foot on the gas pedal and everyone was firing all night.”
