ASU run rules Houston to take 5th consecutive series win

(Photo: Joshua Eaton/WCSN)

PHOENIX — On senior weekend and with his parents in attendance, Arizona State graduate righty Chance Daquila got to pitch for the first time this season. Daquila sat out the 2024 season with a shoulder injury that had him receive two surgeries, a major one after the 2023 season and one in the fall of 2024. His appearance meant a lot to the team as multiple players hugged him and the entire bullpen came down to the dugout to watch.

ASU (34-18, 18-9 Big 12) won by the run rule over Houston (28-22, 11-15 Big 12) in seven innings by a score of 13-1, ending ASU’s home Big 12 play in its first season with a record of 10-5 at home against Big 12 teams. With the win, ASU claims its fifth consecutive Big 12 series and is 7-2 in home weekend series.

“It’s one of those things that you’re pulling so hard for a kid who’s been through so much,” ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “He’s worked to dang hard to get back.”

Daquila had multiple teammates emotional in the dugout as they watched him pitch. Bloomquist hugged him as he exited the game, as he is loved in the clubhouse by everyone. 

Daquila has shown off-the-charts leadership. He is a guy who keeps the good energy going, setting an example for the freshman to look up to by keeping his chin up and not complaining if he does not get playing time.

“I couldn’t do it without these guys,” Daquila said. “(The support) means a lot.”

The Sun Devil pitching staff shut down the Houston offense  with the only run coming off of a home run early off of freshman lefty Easton Barrett. Barrett pitched well shutting down the Cougar offense only limiting two three hits. In his third consecutive weekend series finale start, Barrett threw his career high innings at five and a third.

Barrett has a 2.08 ERA in his last two starts, with three hits in each game. His ERA has dropped 0.62 in that stretch. The Utah native came into the game with a 10.23 strikeouts per nine innings, but he pitched to contact instead of trying to blow by everyone only recording three strikeouts on the day.

“That’s a huge adjustment for me instead of trying to strike a guy out on a 0-0 count,” Barrett said. “I got ahead in the counts.”

Barrett exited to a crowd of 2,409 strong that included some friends and family with nobody in their seats. He only threw 73 pitches in his outing, making a very efficient day.

“I got a taste myself a little bit,” Barrett said.

After Barrett, sophomore righty Josh Butler, Daquila, and sophomore left hander Cole Carlon all pitched great. The trio’s lone base runner was a walk from Daquila in a combined one and two thirds innings. 

This was Butler’s second outing in the month of May, with both of them being scoreless lowering his ERA to 4.94. Carlon has struggled lately as has given up runs his last two times out. His ERA sits at 2.42.

Offensively, Arizona State had a successful day, with all nine starters reaching base. Freshman left fielder Landon Hairston led the charge by going three-for-three with a walk, tying his career high in hits. Hairston drove in two and scored two.

“It felt like today I settled in,” Hairston said. “I saw the ball pretty well today.”

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Brandon Compton clubbed his second homer in as many days, his eighth of the year. Compton recorded another hit as scored twice and drove in two. If he keeps a pace like this, one of Arizona State’s most dangerous hitters could return to form at a crucial time in the season.

Junior centerfielder Isaiah Jackson slugged his seventh home run in nine games, making his season total a team-leading 13. Jackson had two RBIs and two runs scored on the day. In his last four games, he has raised his average 14 points to .311, his highest in two months. 

Redshirt junior second baseman Kyle Walker continues to be a thorn against opposing pitchers as he had a hit and a pair of walks from the leadoff spot. He scored twice and drove in two runs. The highlight of his day was after he drew a walk in the third inning, he stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch all before two-hole hitter Hairston could finish his plate appearance. 

Graduate catcher Josiah Cromwick had a solid day, collecting two hits, two runs and two RBI’s. Cromwick and sophomore catcher Brody Briggs are a 1A and 1B duo and they both continue to have great games late into the season.

Junior right fielder Kien Vu had two hits extending his on-base streak to 16 games. Vu scored twice and drove in one as he has now scored in 10 of his last 11. Senior first baseman Jacob Tobias has an on-base streak of twelve and today he knocked two hits and scored a run as well.

In the last four home games where the run rule was in play, the Sun Devils have won all four by the run rule. With five straight series wins, they enter a pivotal four-game stretch that includes a midweek against Grand Canyon and weekend series against Oklahoma State. ASU, who sits at second in its conference, needs two wins over the Cowboys to clinch a first-round bye in the Big 12 Baseball Tournament, which begins in nine days.

“These guys have taken what I’ve said to heart and what the coaching staff have said to heart,” Bloomquist said. “(They’ve) been playing with a pretty good chip on their shoulder for the past month plus, hopefully we can keep that.”

With it being Mother’s Day, all of the moms threw the first pitch to their sons — a good memory for all of the players’ families.

“It was great to have my mom throw it to me and bring me back to the old days,” Barrett said.

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