Sun Devils beat Knights 6‑3 to take series finale

ORLANDO (Interstat) — Colin Linder pitched four innings of one-hit ball and Nu’u Contrades hit a two-run homer to lead Arizona State to a 6-3 win over UCF on Sunday at Jay Bergman Field.

Linder allowed one earned run and struck out four. Contrades finished 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Dean Toigo doubled and drove in a run, and Derek Schaefer, Sean Fitzpatrick and Colby Guy combined for five scoreless innings of relief for the Sun Devils.

Arizona State scored first in the top of the first when Contrades homered, his 14th of the season. UCF cut the lead to 6-1 on a wild pitch in the third. The Knights added a run in the sixth on Andrew Ross’ RBI double and another in the seventh on a sacrifice fly.

The Sun Devils answered with three runs in the ninth, highlighted by Toigo’s RBI double and Roellig’s sacrifice fly. Jordan Lodise went 3-for-4 for UCF.

Anthony Lariz threw three scoreless innings with four strikeouts for the Knights. Kaniel Rosado allowed two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

The win improved Arizona State’s record to 33-15 overall, 15-5 Big 12. UCF fell to 27-17, 12-8.