PHOENIX (Interstat) — Nu’u Contrades homered and drove in two runs as Arizona State defeated Baylor 4-2 on Saturday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in a Big 12 series.

Contrades, the Sun Devils’ designated hitter, went 2 for 4 with a double and his 13th home run of the season. His solo shot in the third inning broke a 2-2 tie and gave Arizona State the lead for good. The victory improved the Sun Devils to 30-14 overall, while Baylor fell to 22-20.

Arizona State took an early lead in the first inning. After Baylor jumped ahead on a throwing error by shortstop Moutzouridis, Contrades doubled to left-center to score Hairston, and Roellig followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-2.

Baylor answered in the top of the second when catcher JJ Kennett connected for his second home run of the season, a solo shot to deep left field that tied the game.

Contrades put Arizona State back in front in the bottom of the third, launching a solo homer to deep right field. The Bears responded again in the fourth when right fielder Brady Janusek hit his 10th homer of the season, a solo blast to left, but Baylor could not complete the comeback.

Arizona State added an insurance run in the sixth. With runners at the corners, Zavorek lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Smaldino and pushing the Sun Devils’ lead to 4-2.

Baylor managed only three hits in the game, two of which were solo home runs. The Bears grounded into two double plays and struck out 14 times. Arizona State collected eight hits and executed two sacrifice flies.

Starting pitcher Zack Wallace took the loss for Baylor. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out four. He did not allow a hit in that span, but issued several walks and benefited from defensive miscues. RJ Ruais and Grayson Murry combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

For Arizona State, reliever Colin Linder earned the win after throwing four innings of one-run ball, scattering one hit and striking out five. Taylor Penn started and pitched three innings, allowing one earned run on one hit with five strikeouts. Derek Schaefer and Alex Overbay closed out the game with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, combining for four strikeouts.

The Bears had a chance to rally in the eighth inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, Kennett flied out to center to end the threat. In the ninth, pinch hitter Youens singled but was stranded when Sanders struck out swinging.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the third when Contrades’ home run gave Arizona State a lead it never relinquished. The Sun Devils’ bullpen then held Baylor without a run over the final 5 1/3 innings.

Baylor and Arizona State conclude the three-game series Sunday. The Bears return home Tuesday to face Texas-Arlington. The Sun Devils travel to UCF for a series beginning Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Arizona State 6, Baylor 5, and the ELO system gave Arizona State a 64.80 percent probability to win.