After announcing Thursday two starting pitchers — redshirt freshman Cooper Benson and redshirt junior Boyd Vander Kooi — were done for the season, ASU's coaching staff wanted to use as many pitchers as possible Sunday.
Eight different ASU pitchers took the mound and combined for a five-hit shut out of Utah for a 5-0 victory to sweep the series.
Five of the eight pitchers used in the game made season debuts.
"The order was not predetermined, but we knew that we were going to try to use everybody," said pitching coach Jason Kelly. "Our offense scored runs early, and that makes that process easier for us."
Redshirt freshman pitcher Seth Tomczak got the start and threw 2.1 innings. He was replaced by redshirt sophomore pitcher Will Levine, who tossed a team-high 2.2 innings and retired seven consecutive hitters.
ASU also threw redshirt junior Brady Corrigan, freshman Joe Hauser as well as redshirt freshmen Nick Wallerstedt and Bryce Barnett.
"Having those guys do what they did today shows how much depth we have on our pitching staff," said freshman designated hitter Ethan Long. "You don't want to see anybody go down, but having guys to back them up is awesome to have."
The Sun Devils scored four runs in the fifth inning, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to see more pitchers down the stretch with a comfortable lead.
Utah recorded just two hits after the second inning, both of which came off of Wallerstedt in the eighth. The Utes loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but redshirt freshman pitcher Cam Dennie came in and forced a ground ball to end the inning.
ASU's runs once again came from aggressive base running and moving players over. In the fifth inning, ASU stole two bases, advanced on two wild pitches and hit five singles to score four runs.
Long, freshman third baseman Hunter Haas and freshman first baseman Jack Moss each drove in a run in the fifth inning.
Kelly, the team's pitching coach, said he is not sure who will start games moving forward.
Benson, Tomczak, redshirt junior Justin Fall and redshirt sophomores Tyler Thornton and Erik Tolman are the only pitchers who have started at least one game this season. Fall was unavailable Sunday due to strep throat, Kelly said.
Kelly was pleased with his pitching staff's performance throughout the series. Fourteen different Sun Devils pitched in the series, and the Utes scored just four runs over the three games.
"I think we have the group to handle it," Kelly said. "However we line them up, we'll do our best to put them in the order that is the most beneficial for their skills."
ASU will play another home series next against Cal State Fullerton starting on March 12 at 6:35 p.m. MST.
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