Arizona State Baseball Advances to Big 12 Tournament Semifinals Arizona State advanced to the Big 12 tournament semifinals after defeating Cincinnati 10-2 in the quarterfinals on May 21. The Sun Devils’ victory was highlighted by sophomore Landon Hairston’s record-breaking home run, which broke the school’s single-season mark of 27 set by Mitch Jones in 2000. Hairston, who had struggled earlier in the season, tied the record during the regular-season finale and then surpassed it in the fourth inning against Cincinnati. His 349-foot home run gave Arizona State a 7-1 lead and secured the win. The game, played at Surprise Stadium, featured multiple home runs from Arizona State. Junior Dominic Smaldino started the scoring in the first inning with a two-run home run, giving the Sun Devils a 2-1 lead. Hairston added a run in the second inning on an infield error, and the offense continued to dominate. By the third inning, Arizona State had extended its lead to 5-1 after Matt Polk singled up the middle to drive in Smaldino. The Sun Devils added another run in the fourth, and Hairston’s record-breaking home run was followed by a solo home run from Polk in the seventh inning. A two-run double from Dean Toigo in the eighth inning sealed the victory. Arizona State’s pitching staff held Cincinnati in check, with sophomore Taylor Penn earning the win in relief. Penn pitched three scoreless innings, striking out five batters with no walks. The Sun Devils totaled 10 runs on 12 hits, scoring in six different innings. Coach Willie Bloomquist praised the team’s offensive output and ability to capitalize on defensive errors. “We did a really good job on the bases,” Bloomquist said. “We swung the bats decent as well.” The win set up a semifinal matchup between Arizona State and No.#big_12_tournament #arizona_state #willie_bloomquist #landon_hairston #surprise_stadium
