LINCOLN, Neb. (Interstat) — Arizona State’s explosive fifth inning turned a tight playoff game into a runaway as the Sun Devils routed South Dakota State 17-0 on Saturday evening at Haymarket Park.

The Sun Devils, who improved to 38-20, broke open a 1-0 game with a 12-run fifth inning that featured two home runs and a series of walks and errors. The Jackrabbits fell to 20-33 and were eliminated from the postseason.

Arizona State starter Kole Klecker set the tone early, working four scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while striking out five. The right-hander kept South Dakota State’s batters off balance, retiring the side in order in the first and third innings and working around a single in the second.

The game remained a pitcher’s duel until the bottom of the fifth. Arizona State’s Dean Toigo had given the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a solo home run to right field, but both teams went quietly until the breakthrough.

With one out in the fifth, Austen Roellig singled to right field to begin the rally. After a pitching change, the Sun Devils loaded the bases on walks. Kaden Moutzouridi drew a walk to force in the first run of the inning. Landon Hairston then singled through the left side to drive in another run, chasing South Dakota State starter Drew McDowell.

Nu’u Contrades followed with a grand slam to right field, his second home run of the game, extending the lead to 7-0. The Sun Devils were not finished. Toigo reached on a throwing error by the pitcher and later scored on a single by Nick Smaldino that was misplayed in right field for another error.

The inning continued with walks and hit batters. Roellig walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, and Briggs walked to push across another. By the time the inning ended, Arizona State had sent 15 batters to the plate, scored 12 runs and collected six hits. The Sun Devils added five more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Roellig’s grand slam to right field that made it 17-0.

Roellig finished with two home runs and seven RBIs, both career highs. Contrades homered twice and drove in five runs. Toigo had two hits, including the first-inning solo shot, and scored three times. Hairston had two hits and two RBIs.

South Dakota State managed only three hits in the game. Logan Jones singled in the second inning, Nic Werk singled in the sixth and Jace Jirschele doubled in the eighth. The Jackrabbits used six pitchers, including McDowell, Matt Rylance, Drew Augedahl, Austin Henry, Matthew Werk and Jacob Sjuts. The bullpen allowed 16 runs, 11 earned, over the final four innings.

Arizona State’s Josh Butler closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one.

The Sun Devils outhit South Dakota State 11-3 and took advantage of four walks, two hit batters and three South Dakota State errors.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Arizona State 6, South Dakota State 5, while Interstat’s ELO system gave the Sun Devils an 85.90 percent probability to win.