PHOENIX (Interstat) — Landon Hairston launched two home runs, driving in three runs, and Colin Linder delivered four dominant innings of relief to lead the Arizona State Sun Devils to a 6-2 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs on Monday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The game turned decisively in the middle innings after a strong start from San Diego State’s Tyce Peterson was neutralized by Arizona State’s bullpen and a relentless offensive response.

Peterson provided all the offense for the Aztecs (15-15), staking them to an early lead with a solo home run to deep left field in the top of the first inning. He struck again in the fourth, following a successful San Diego State challenge that overturned a foul ball call, by crushing his seventh homer of the season to right field to tie the game 2-2.

That second blast answered a two-run double by Arizona State’s Brody Briggs in the second inning, which had erased the initial deficit. From that point, the Sun Devils (21-8) seized control on the mound and at the plate.

The most important sequence of the game began in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the score still tied, Arizona State’ Ryan Zavorek led off with an infield single. Hairston then stepped in and powered a two-run homer to deep right field, his 16th of the season, to give the Sun Devils a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Hairston, the clear top star for Arizona State, was not finished. He added an insurance run in the seventh inning with his second solo shot of the night and 17th of the year, capping a recent power surge that has seen him hit six home runs in his last five games.

While Hairston provided the fireworks, Linder provided the shutdown relief that stifled the Aztecs’ offense. Entering the game to start the fifth inning, Linder retired the first 10 batters he faced. Over four innings, he allowed just one hit, no runs, and struck out six, effectively silencing San Diego State after Peterson’s second homer.

San Diego State threatened in the ninth against reliever Finn Edwards, putting runners on second and third with one out, but Edwards struck out Irvin Magpoc and got Cade Farrell to pop out to shortstop to end the game.

Arizona State’s Easton Barrett started and allowed two runs on two hits over four innings to earn the win. San Diego State used seven pitchers, with starter Jake Frohn giving up two runs in two innings. The loss went to reliever Jack Lemke, who surrendered Hairston’s go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth.

The Sun Devils outhit the Aztecs 10-5. The victory improved Arizona State to 21-8, while San Diego State fell back to .500 at 15-15.

Arizona State next travels to face rival Arizona in a three-game series starting Thursday. San Diego State returns home to begin a three-game set against Air Force on Thursday.