Arizona State baseball, ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in preseason polls, didn't unload on Villanova in its season opener Friday night.
Instead, the Sun Devils showed maturity in a tougher than expected first ever meeting vs. the Wildcats, putting up three runs in the seventh inning for a 4-1 win at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
"I don't think there was a doubt for any second of the game," said Nick Cheema, who drove in the winning run with a pinch hit single. "We know we have one of the best offenses, defenses pitching staffs in the country.