Texas Tech and ASU carried nearly identical stats in eight offensive categories into Tuesday night's game, but when the two teams met on the field at Packard Stadium, they were anything but equal.
Led by freshman Ike Davis, the ASU baseball team coasted to a 13-5 victory over the visiting Red Raiders.
"This was a good Texas Tech team, as good as they've had in a while," ASU coach Pat Murphy said. "They're another Big 12 team like Baylor and we're playing much better."
Davis started the game on the mound for the Sun Devils, striking out three in 4 1/3 innings and earning his second win of the season.
"I pitched alright because I didn't really have the off -speed pitch, but my fastball was better than most days," Davis said.
After pulling him from the mound, Murphy decided to leave Davis in as the designated hitter for the remainder of the game.
Davis didn't disappoint. The lefty belted a high inside fastball to deep center field for his first career grand slam -- also his first career home run -- in the sixth inning, putting ASU comfortably ahead by eight runs.
"It was awesome because it was actually my first grand slam of my entire life," Davis said. "I've hit a lot of home runs, but it's cool to get the first one out of the way."
Texas Tech started the scoring early in the first inning when senior outfielder Brian Capps reached first on a fielding error by senior shortstop Frank Mesa. Designated hitter Tyler Reves came up next and blasted a 1-0 pitch for a home run, giving his team the early lead.
When the Sun Devils had their first opportunity at the plate they wasted no time showing off their power as leadoff batter Ryan Sontag pulled a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right-center field.
"If we score a run in the first inning we know we're on," Davis said.
Freshman catcher Preston Paramore grounded out with the bases loaded later in the inning, but was ruled safe on a catcher's interference call. Meanwhile junior outfielder Colin Curtis scored on the play knotting the game at 2-2.
Mesa would make amends for his error in the top half of the inning when he gave his team the lead after reaching base on a throwing error by shortstop Martin. Two runs crossed the plate on the play, giving ASU the lead for good.
Reach the reporter at thomas.j.kelley@asu.edu.
