(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
Opening Day was supposed to be a celebration and fresh start, yet found Arizona State struggling in more ways than one.
Not only did the returners fall to some of the usual stumbles as they did a year ago, but the highly-touted freshman class was inefficient.
After arriving late to Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Friday evening, the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks took down ASU 4-2 in game one of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
One of the largest problems last season was fielding blunders, and that seemed to resurface today. The Sun Devils made several blunders in the field, committing three errors, as the play overall looked sloppy.
Sophomore Carter Aldrete accounted for two of those errors at third base and could not find his swing when the team needed it most. He struck out swinging with runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth down 4-2, in an at-bat that could have tied or provided the go-ahead run.
Miami did play a solid game, though. Junior right-handed pitcher Nick Ernst’s six innings controlled the pace and play of the game, as the Redhawks’ starter gave up just one earned run. He received some help from Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Texidor’s highlight reel of stunning defensive plays, that crushed every ounce of momentum ASU seemed able to muster.
The freshman class that attained lots of high praise and attention in the offseason failed to meet the high expectations in game one. They went 2-11 at the plate, with both hits coming on Drew Swift singles. Swift followed both singles by getting caught stealing by junior catcher Hayden Senger.
Designated hitter Spencer Torkelson left four men in scoring position, including the two in the bottom half of the eighth as he went 0-for-4 at the plate.
Swift and Alika Williams were inconsistent in the field as well, as they were unable to turn their lone double play opportunity.
Swift also whiffed on a tag during a rundown, allowing senior right fielder Brooks Urich to advance to second base late in the game.
ASU’s sophomore ace Spencer Van Scoyoc had a hard time finding the strike zone in his first start of the season, walking six Redhawks and striking out just two.
Miami’s timely hits gave the team a three-run lead at the halfway mark of the game. Powered behind Ernst on the mound, Texidor in the field and capitalizing on ASU’s mistakes the Redhawks were able to ruin ASU’s home opener.
At Tuesday’s practice, ASU head coach Tracy Smith spoke on how he was unsure about how the team would respond to adversity when it presented itself.
“I’m kind of waiting to see how we handle all of that,” he said.
The Sun Devils will now have to handle that quickly and handle it well, as they have another game tonight and two more tomorrow.
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