King Shines as ASU Gets Offensive Outpour

(Photo: Nickolas Montei/WCSN)

PHOENIX – After being down for the first time all day, the red hot bat of senior shortstop Matt King slugged his third home run in five plate appearances, putting Arizona State baseball ahead in a game that they would continue to dominate.

Arizona State’s (22-11, 8-4 Big 12) offense was as gold as its jerseys as the team scored 20 runs in a 20-11 victory over Cal State Northridge (7-21, 3-12 Big West). It was clear that the ASU approach was swing with a clear head and get the ball up today, and it worked as the team slugged four home runs.

King continued his dominant stretch at the plate by going 4-5 with a walk on the day, tying his career high in hits. He hit two home runs in his first two at-bats and followed that up with two singles in his next two plate appearances. King collected six RBIs and scored four runs on the day, both career highs.

“He’s been just been really carrying us offensively for a little while now,” ASU manager Willie Bloomquist said.

In the last ten games, King has done well, going 20-for-41 with 15 runs and 14 RBIs. He has increased his season average from .288 to a team-leading .393. In this stretch, King has hit nine of his 14 extra base hits this season, including hitting all three home runs he has hit this season, in the last two games.

“I was seeing a beach ball,” King said.

Redshirt sophomore left fielder Brandon Compton had a much-needed good hitting day as he went three-for-four, as his numbers have been a tad below expected after winning numerous awards last year. Compton set career highs in stolen bases with two and runs scored with four. He also had three RBIs and two walks.

“Every time I look up, it feels like (Compton’s) on base,” King said.

Junior third baseman Nu’u Contrades extended his streak of reaching base safely to 41 games he has played in, going back to his freshman year. Contrades went one-for-three on the day with two walks. Contrades has swung a hot bat as of late, hitting over .400 in the last ten games.

Contrades stole a base, tying junior outfielder Kien Vu for a team-leading ten. Contrades knocked three in and scored two, adding to his team-high 37 runs.

“When you see them start to see them start to get it and have success, it’s extremely gratifying,” Bloomquist said. “The big challenge is for them to continually do it day in and day out.”

Freshman right fielder Landon Hairston had a great day. Hairston set his career high in hits today, going three-for-five and walking. Hairston scored three times today, tying his career high. His .349 batting average is as high as it has been since he first saw action against Oral Roberts.

Redshirt junior second baseman Kyle Walker had a productive day at the top of the lineup, reaching base three times with two walks, extending his on-base streak to 22 games. In the last ten games, Walker has a .368 average, all from the leadoff spot.

“They are probably feeling the same thing I’m feeling,” King said. “We’ve really talked a lot about approach and getting our pitch, not the pitcher’s pitch.”

Freshman infielder Beckett Zavorek and outfielder Ky McGary each reached base and scored in their lone plate appearance. Zavorek singled and McGary walked. In the five games Zavorek has played in, he has scored four times and holds a .455 batting average.

Graduate student catcher Josiah Cromwick slugged a home run, adding to his team-leading nine homers on the year. The home run was his only hit, but he reached base on a hit by pitch as well.

Senior first baseman Jacob Tobias had a relatively quiet day at the plate as he went 1-5. However, Tobias slugged his first home run since March 1 against Minnesota. Tobias drove in three, adding to his team-leading 36 RBIs.

Junior center fielder Isaiah Jackson went one-for-four on the day with an RBI and a walk. Vu went 0-3 with a walk from the designated hitter role as he is batting .267 since his ankle injury; before that, Vu was hitting .333. Sophomore utility Camden Bates and redshirt junior outfielder Jonathon Hernandez both struck out in their lone plate appearance off the bench.

“We still have a little room to go,” Bloomquist said. “They’re starting hopefully to understand what we’re preaching.”

In a bullpen game, ASU pitching had a few bumpy innings, with some of the bullpen firing on all cylinders.

“There were some innings there, where we gave away runs that were pretty fundamental mistakes,” Bloomquist said. “We have a lot to improve upon.”

The bumpiest outing was freshman right-hander Eli Buxton, where he only recorded one out on six batters in the eighth inning. He gave up four runs and allowed three hits, including a homer and two walks. Walks have been an issue for Buxton, as he has walked eight in 5.2 innings. Buxton has had an inconsistent year where he has allowed runs scored in half of his outings with a season ERA of 12.71.

Freshman lefty Easton Barrett started the game and cruised through the first two innings, only allowing a walk and two hits and recording a strikeout. Things went awry in the third for Barrett, allowing three singles before recording an out. He then walked in a run, allowing a single before being pulled with the bases loaded.

Barrett has had mostly poor performances this year, as in 16 innings, he has allowed 16 runs, but only 10 earned, with an ERA of 5.63. This was the most runs and hits he allowed in an outing. Barrett has 13 walks on the year, the most of the bullpen pitchers.

“Some of those young guys didn’t do what they’re supposed to do,” Bloomquist said. “We got to hold them to the standard we expect.”

Redshirt senior right-hander Jonah Giblin allowed his inherited runners from Barrett to score in unusual ways. One scored on a dropped third strike and the other scored on a balk. He recorded two strikeouts on a day where he was under the weather. He allowed a walk third and a single in the fourth, but none scored. Giblin has been a good option from the bullpen for ASU with a 2.96 ERA on the year.

Senior right-hander Will Koger had an okay day. Koger allowed a hit that scored after he was pulled before recording two strikeouts in the 0.2 innings he pitched in the ninth. Koger has 6.17 ERA on the year and has been iffy at times, but has pitched well of late. In his last four appearances before this game, he has not allowed a run.

Redshirt senior righty Tyler Meyer recorded the final out in his first appearance of the year, but not before recording a walk and a double that scored two, including the inherited runner from Koger in the ninth.

Sophomore righty Derek Schaefer pitched a clean two innings. He only allowed a hit and recorded three strikeouts. Schaefer has emerged as a solid option for ASU’s bullpen as he has a 3.31 ERA on the year.

“He’s been great for us all year,” Bloomquist said. “He’ll continue to pitch big innings.”

Freshman southpaw Max Arlich pitched a clean seventh. He only allowed a hit and a walk. He has looked well in his limited work, with a 1.59 ERA in five appearances.

Sophomore righty Wyatt Halvorson cleaned up the aforementioned messy eighth from Buxton, only allowing a single in the 0.2 innings he pitched, recording a strikeout. Halvorson needed a clean game after having his worst game in his last appearance against Arizona on Apr. 8, where he gave up three runs. His performance lowers ERA to 3.60, making him a solid option from the bullpen.

After a disappointing series loss to Arizona, where ASU had its lowest offensive output in a three-game series, ASU bounced back with an offensive statement.

“We pride ourselves on being resilient and bouncing back after we face adversity,” Meyer said. “ That says a lot about our team.”