Sun Devils sizzle in win over Bulldogs

STARKVILLE – It may have been cooler than the Arizona State Sun Devils are used to as far as the weather conditions on Friday afternoon in Starkville.

The offense for the Sun Devils was pretty hot.

Arizona State used 12 hits and took advantage of some miscues from the Mississippi State Bulldogs to take a 13-4 victory in game one of a weekend series at Dudy Noble Field.

Luke Keaschall hit a solo home run to get Arizona State going in the first inning and it jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings.

MSU starting pitcher Cade Smith issued six walks that didn't help his cause.

“We've just got to be able to throw strikes and Cade has been so good for us as a starter over the last two years,” Bulldog head coach Chris Lemonis said. “It's the first not quality start that he's given us. Tough time to get it, but he just didn't have his stuff tonight.”

After getting the five early runs, the Sun Devils went on to score two more runs in the fourth and broke the game open with six runs in the fifth.

MSU got three runs back in the sixth inning when Ross Highfill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for a RBI, then a two-run single by Lane Forsythe scored Hunter Hines and Dakota Jordan.

An RBI double by Slate

Alford scored Hancock in the seventh and the Bulldogs closed the gap to 13-4.

“We just fell behind,” Lemonis said about trying to rally. “I don't think we competed well enough in the first four or five innings.”

Hines had a double and single to lead MSU at the plate.

Smith was followed to the mound by KC Hunt, Brock Tapper and Cole Cheatham.

Game two of the series starts at 5 p.m. today at Dudy Noble Field.