PHOENIX (Interstat) — A dominant relief performance by Colin Linder and a seven-run seventh inning explosion propelled the Arizona State Sun Devils to a 12-4 victory over the Loyola Marymount Lions on Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The game, which began as a pitchers’ duel, turned decisively in the bottom of the seventh when the Sun Devils sent 12 batters to the plate. Trailing 4-3 entering the frame, Arizona State quickly erased the deficit and took control.

Landon Hairston led off with a single and, after a single by Jacob Moutzouridis, executed a double steal with Moutzouridis. Hairston stole home to tie the game at 4. Following a walk to Nu’u Contrades, Garrett Michel delivered the key blow, a two-run double to right field that scored two and was compounded by a Loyola Marymount fielding error, allowing Michel to reach third. Pinch-runner Ryan Myers scored on an RBI double by Dominic Longo II, who later scored on an RBI single by pinch-hitter Kien Vu. Brody Briggs capped the inning with an RBI groundout, staking Arizona State to a 10-4 lead.

The offensive outburst made a winner of Linder, who was brilliant in relief of starter Cole Carlon. Linder entered with one out in the sixth and proceeded to retire all eight batters he faced, striking out five. His performance stifled any chance of a Lions rally after they had built an early lead.

Loyola Marymount struck first, plating four runs in the opening two innings off Carlon. Khadim Diaw tripled in a run in the first, and Sam Wadas hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot, in the second. The Lions added another run in the third on an error and one more in the fifth on an RBI single by Diego Mhoon.

Carlon, despite the early trouble, settled in to strike out 10 batters over 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. He kept the Sun Devils within striking distance until the offense awoke.

Arizona State began chipping away in the second on an RBI single by Longo. Contrades then launched a two-run homer, his fifth, in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Sun Devils tied it in the sixth on an RBI infield single by Briggs before unleashing their game-breaking rally an inning later.

Contrades finished 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Longo went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, and Hairston was 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Loyola Marymount’s Jonah Johnson took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits over six innings.

The Lions collected 10 hits but left nine runners on base, striking out 18 times as a team against three Arizona State pitchers. The Sun Devils amassed 16 hits.

With the win, Arizona State improved to 9-4 on the season, while Loyola Marymount fell to 5-11. The two teams continue their three-game series Saturday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.