Landon Hairston’s – Landon Hairston broke Arizona State’s single-season home run record with a 349-foot shot as the No. 3 Sun Devils routed No. 6 Cincinnati 10-2, advancing to the Big 12 tournament semifinals against No. 2 West Virginia on Friday, May 22 at 8 p.m. MST.
When Landon Hairston connected—when the ball left the bat—he didn’t just add another homer to his season. He broke Arizona State’s single-season home run record.
In the bottom of the fourth inning against Cincinnati in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament in Surprise on May 21. Hairston launched a 349-foot home run to take a 7-1 lead and put the school record out of reach. The No. 3 Sun Devils would go on to rout No. 6 Cincinnati 10-2, advancing to the Big 12 semifinals against No. 2 West Virginia.
For Hairston, it came after a stretch when the record felt suddenly far. He had been chasing the school record for most home runs in a single season this year. A late-season snag—by his standards—put some pressure on the sophomore, Queen Creek Casteel product. Then he woke up in the regular-season finale, tying the record of 27 set by Mitch Jones in 2000. By the time he took his swing in Surprise on May 21, he was ready to go past it.
“It feels amazing to be a part of something in such a storied program,” Hairston said. “It means the world to me. No words to describe it. It was a big weight off my shoulders. I knew right when it left the bat. There’s no better feeling in the world when you square up a ball like that.”
The record was the headline, but it wasn’t the only reason the night turned one-sided for Arizona State. The Sun Devils’ offense produced 10 runs on 12 hits, including three home runs. They scored in six different innings, and early momentum came immediately in the bottom of the first.
Junior Dominic Smaldino got things started while Arizona State trailed, launching a two-run home run to take back the lead 2-1. After that, the margin expanded inning by inning. Hairston made it 3-1 in the bottom of the second, driving in a run on an infield error.
Cincinnati’s defense kept unraveling. The errors continued for the Bearcats, second in the Big 12 in that category. In the next inning, consecutive errors led to junior Garrett Michel knocking in Dean Toigo on an infield groundout. Matt Polk. the next batter. singled up the middle to drive in Smaldino and extend the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third.
After a one-two-three inning from starting pitcher Kole Klecker, Hairston’s record-breaking home run changed the game’s shape. Arizona State added another home run in the bottom of the seventh when Polk hit a solo shot to make it 8-1. and a two-run double from Toigo in the bottom of the eighth capped off the night.
On the mound, sophomore Taylor Penn finished the job by pitching three scoreless innings in relief. Penn struck out five with no walks to get the win. Penn’s role this season has included all three positions—starter, reliever and closer—yet he’s now settling in as a dependable reliever.
“Knowing whenever Willie puts me in the game, just contribute, fill it up,” Penn said. “Let your defense work. I feel like when the defense is in the game, it affects the offense as well. Whenever I get a chance to pitch, it’s a blessing any time, starting or relieving.”
Arizona State coach Willie Bloomquist pointed to more than just the long ball. Smaldino’s early punch and the team’s base-running were part of what clicked.
“We all know the history at Arizona State and the amount of players that have come through here, with 118 major leaguers, and a lot of them are storied, household names. For this young man to be on top of that mountain, that’s pretty damn special,” Bloomquist said.
He also stayed focused on what Arizona State did well during the game. Bloomquist said Smaldino has produced like a clean-up hitter should and noted that Smaldino was on a heater right now. He added that the Sun Devils took advantage of defensive miscues. did a really good job on the bases. and swung the bats decent as well.
The win set up the next test. Arizona State (37-18) will face West Virginia in the semifinals on Friday, May 22 at 8 p.m. MST at Surprise Stadium. The winner will advance to the Big 12 tournament championship on Saturday, May 23.
It’s not the first time these teams have bumped into each other this season. Arizona State and West Virginia met in late March at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, with the Mountaineers taking two of three games.
“We had a dogfight at our place earlier in the year,” Bloomquist said. “They’re extremely talented. Good team. Two heavyweights going at it our place earlier in the year, they got us in that series. I anticipate it being a tough one again.”
For Hairston, the record-breaking swing did more than change the stat sheet. It gave Arizona State momentum it can carry into a semifinal where the margin will tighten—where one big at-bat, like the one that went 349 feet in Surprise, can still swing everything.
Arizona State baseball Big 12 tournament Landon Hairston Big 12 semifinals Cincinnati West Virginia Surprise Stadium 349-foot home run
349 feet?? that’s like video game distance.
So he broke a home run record and they still acted like it was stressful? Baseball dudes are built different lol. I didn’t even know ASU was in the Big 12 semis.
Wait, 27 is the record and it was set in 2000 by Mitch Jones, but then it says he tied it in the regular-season finale? Kinda sounds like the record was broken twice or I’m reading it wrong. Either way 10-2 sounds dominant.
Cincinnati losing 10-2 in a tournament game feels like the pitching was just awful. Also “Queen Creek Casteel product” like… is that a high school? I guess that’s where he’s from though. Congrats to him but why does it feel like AZ teams always do this kind of stuff when people aren’t watching.