(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)
The 2016 season finally kicked off Friday night for Arizona State baseball, and while a win was secured in the end, there will be plenty of room for improvement moving forward.
The Sun Devils (1-0) defeated the Xavier Musketeers (0-1) 5-2 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium thanks in large part to a big first inning from the top of their lineup.
Leadoff walks to Daniel Williams and Andrew Shaps set the table for an RBI double from David Greer to get the scoring started. Then Colby Woodmansee followed up with a two-run single to make the score 3-0 early.
In the first start of what could be a productive season for junior Hever Bueno, the 3-0 cushion would prove to be enough support for him, though his night ended prematurely.
With one out in the sixth inning and in control with a 4-0 lead, Bueno walked Xavier’s right fielder Joe Gellenbeck and then proceeded to be taken out of the game by head coach Tracy Smith.
Part of his departure was due to an apparent arm injury during the sixth. It derailed what was an effective start, but Smith does not see any cause for concern moving forward.
“We don’t think it’s anything major, nor does [Bueno],” Smith said. “At this point we’ll be cautious with it and we’ll just see as we move forward,” Smith said.
Bueno gave way to freshman right-hander James Ryan, who inherited runners on first and third and did give up a single to Andre Jernigan leading to Xavier’s first run of the night. Ryan proceeded to strike out the next two Musketeer batters to end the threat and maintain a three run lead for Arizona State.
Ryan finished his collegiate debut throwing 1.1 innings with one hit and three strikeouts.
Smith was very impressed with Ryan, but he wasn’t taken by surprise with the performance.
“For a kid who hasn’t pitched a lot, he’s earned the opportunity to be one of the guys out of the pen, and he’s shown us all early spring that he’s throwing strikes and competing in the zone,” Smith said. “I thought he did that again tonight so that was a lot of fun to see.”
Junior Eder Erives succeeded Ryan, and got through the final 2.1 innings, striking out 5 and giving up just two hits to pick up the save.
Smith believes that seeing multiple innings from Erives in close games is something that could become a regular occurrence this season.
“I would say the way we’re going to have to be this year is if we get to that sixth or seventh inning and we have a lead, we’re going to have to go after every single win we can,” Smith said. ” With his role, yes he can start, but our hope is that he does what he does tonight and then can bounce back on Sunday and impact another game on Sunday.”
As for the offense, the Devils got big contributions from players besides their obvious threats of Greer, Woodmansee and catcher Brian Serven.
Shaps was not retired all night, going 2-2 with a double, single, two walks and an RBI.
Jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning is big in any game, but it was vitally important to Shaps on this night.
“I was pretty nervous, honestly. I’ve never started Opening Day, and obviously I’m a sophomore and didn’t play last year, so I didn’t really know what to expect,” Shaps said. “I basically told myself to pretend it was just another scrimmage and I calmed down a little bit.”
Filling in one of the three large holes in the outfield vacated by the departure of Johnny Sewald, Jake Peevyhouse and Trever Allen, Shaps along with Gage Canning and Williams collectively delivered a solid performance both offensively and defensively.
Williams went 1-3 with a walk and a double, Canning picked up his first collegiate RBI in the eighth inning, and the unit played solid defense as a whole.
Greer believes that there are good things to come from this group moving forward.
“The outfield really works as one unit if you watch them out there,” Greer said. “They’re backing each other up at all times, it’s nice to see.”
The Sun Devils will be back on the field Saturday for a double header against the Musketeers, with junior Seth Martinez taking the hill in game one.
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