Arizona State bounced back from a heartbreaking extra-inning loss with a dominant 17-0 victory over South Dakota State on Saturday in an elimination game at the Lincoln Regional in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Less than 13 hours after falling in 14 innings Friday, the Sun Devils (38-20) stayed alive behind a career performance from right-hander Kole Klecker and a historic offensive eruption.
Klecker worked a career-high eight innings and struck out 13, allowing just two hits while retiring hitters in bunches. The senior struck out at least two batters in each of the first five innings and finished his outing by striking out the side in the eighth.
Arizona State managed only one hit through four innings, a solo homer by Dean Toigo in the first, before erupting for 11 runs in the fifth inning. Nu’u Contrades highlighted the rally with a grand slam, his third homer of the regional.
The Sun Devils added another grand slam in the sixth from Austen Roellig as they capitalized on nine walks and three South Dakota State errors.
Photo courtesy Kyler Adams, Baseball Prospect Journal. 
Photo courtesy Kyler Adams, Baseball Prospect Journal. 
Photo courtesy Kyler Adams, Baseball Prospect Journal. 
Photo courtesy Kyler Adams, Baseball Prospect Journal. 
Photo courtesy Kyler Adams, Baseball Prospect Journal. 
Photo courtesy Kyler Adams, Baseball Prospect Journal.
