Arizona State eliminates South Dakota State in grand fashion

Starting pitcher Kole Klecker tossed a dominant game to save the bullpen in an elimination game. Photo: Tom Hardon/Echo From The Buttes

Less than 12 hours after a grueling 14 inning loss to Ole Miss, the Sun Devils took to the field in an elimination game against South Dakota State, looking to extend the season at least one more day.

After the bats went ice cold from the 8th inning on last night, the offense needed a short memory to move on in the tournament. Dean Toigo got things rolling in the bottom of the 1st with his 19th home run of the season, but that would be the only hit the Sun Devils would record until the 5th inning, as South Dakota State starter Drew McDowell stymied the offense in the early going.

Kole Klecker meanwhile started out on fire on the mound for the Sun Devils, recording two strikeouts in each of the first 5 innings to establish a new career high, allowing just one hit in the second inning.

Opening the 5th inning, the Sun Devil offense decided that enough was enough. Small ball was the name of the game, loading the bases and pushing across runs on a bases loaded walk to PJ Moutzouridis, followed immediately by an RBI single by Landon Hairston, keeping the bases loaded for Nu’u Contrades, who came through with his third home run of the regional, this one a grand slam to blow the game open at 7-0.

The scoring would not stop there, as the Sun Devils sent the first 12 batters to the plate before an out was recorded, putting up 11 runs on 6 hits in the frame, and taking 6 free passes as five different Jackrabbits pitchers appeared in the inning. The scoring didn’t stop there, as the. 6th inning saw a second grand slam in the game, this one off the bat of Austen Roellig, en route to a 5 run inning to push the score to 17-0.

The long stretches in the dugout didn’t give any ill effects for Klecker, as he pitched the game of his life. Saving the bullpen with 8 innings and throwing a career-high 118 pitches, he finished the game with a career-high 13 strikeouts, allowing just 3 hits and issuing 2 walks, allowing only one Jackrabbit to advance beyond first base. Josh Butler came on and retired the side in order in the 9th to preserve the shutout.

The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for the Sun Devils, as they await the loser of Saturday’s late game between Ole Miss and Nebraska for a chance to advance to the regional final. Sunday’s game will start at 12pm Arizona Time, streaming on ESPN+.