ASU Baseball: BYU pitching could cause problems in 3-game set

(Photo: Joey Plishka/WCSN)

It was 303 days the last time Arizona State Baseball (3-1) played BYU (2-2), and 3,951 days since the last time it beat the Cougars.

The two programs have faced off six times in their history, splitting the series 3-3. However, the Sun Devils are on a three-game losing streak against the Cougars.

A new ASU coaching staff, a retooled pitching rotation and a change in philosophy makes this three-game series disconnected from last year’s single-game matchup. While ASU had a facelift, BYU came back into this season with 14 returning key pieces from a mediocre 2021 23-27 campaign.

BYU was four games under .500 but ended the season on an 11-4 stretch that started against ASU. During that stretch, the bats began to match the quality of their pitching, improving its runs per game average from 5.1 to 7.8. That was all the team needed to improve, as they lost 14 games by two runs or less.

The 2022 BYU offense has been stagnant though, only averaging 4.1 runs per game, but with a nine-run performance against a quality Ohio State team on Tuesday, it could spell trouble for ASU that has had bullpen questions to start the year. Plus, many of the Cougars’ offensive contributors in 2022 were a part of the club a year ago, notably sophomore infielder Andrew Pintar.

Coming off his freshman campaign, Pintar shined bright, earning All-WCC Baseball First Team and leading the team with a .333 batting average and 63 hits. Junior outfielder Cole Gambill joined him on All-WCC honors, earning Second Team, and was the leading slugger for the team with 11 home runs, which was a top-five mark in all of the WCC.

However, both have failed to come out the gates as strong as last year and have had BYU’s supporting cast carry some weight. Senior outfielder Hayden Leatherman, who hit .196 last year with eight RBIs in 48 games, has improved his average to .313 and leads the team with five RBIs in only four games. Another welcoming surprise is junior outfielder Joshua Cowden, who leads the team with a .364 batting average after hitting only .239 last year.

The last notable offensive weapon for the Cougars is senior outfielder Mitch McIntyre. He used his extra year of eligibility to try to lead BYU to greater success than his previous four seasons. Last year, he made his second All-WCC Second-Team honors. This year, however, he seems to be making a push for a first-team spot as he leads the team with five hits and an OBP of .444.

The Sun Devils’ bullpen problem dates back to last year and has reared its ugly head this year in crucial moments. BYU possess a roster that could take advantage of potential late-game bullpen mistakes and could swing the series.

BYU has a solid batting lineup, but its marquee-worthy attribute is its pitching. The Cougars bullpen is a dangerous entity headlined by junior right-hander Reid McLaughlin. The Scottsdale-native was the closer last year and has continued that role this year, already going two for two in save opportunities.

Last year, McLaughlin appeared in 35.1 innings and allowed a 2.04 ERA with 32 strikeouts and only six walks. He appeared against ASU last year and allowed one hit in 1.2 innings.

The starter for that game was sophomore right-hander Bryce Robinson, another critical piece returning for BYU. With a 7-2 record and an ERA of 3.78 in 2021, Robinson has experience against the Sun Devils and should be able to make an impact in the series.

Despite those key pieces, they have not been the main storyline for the BYU bullpen. That honor goes to two freshmen who have emerged onto the scene red hot. Left-hander Justis Reiser and right-hander Janzen Keisel have made their mark in their short time as Cougars. In two relief appearances, Reiser has pitched five innings, not allowing a hit and striking out eight batters.

Keisel started a six-inning masterclass against Marshall University, where he allowed zero runs, one hit and fanned ten batters in dominating fashion. That performance earned him WCC Pitcher of the Week. Keisel was the No. 1 ranked prospect in the state of Utah by Prep Baseball Report and has lived up to that in his first start.

The Sun Devils have struggled in late-game situational hitting so far in 2022 and have tended to go on multiple-inning stretches of not recording a hit. ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist has talked about how the club needs to be a better offensive team instead of offensive individuals who go for simply power swings instead of contact.

The Cougars’ pitchers tend to thrive off those types of mistakes, and if ASU repeats, it could open up an opportunity for BYU bats to come back late against a weaker Sun Devils bullpen.

The other noteworthy BYU pitchers are Opening Day starter and sophomore right-hander Jack Sterner, who started 14 games last year.

Another pitcher ASU will be facing is junior right-hander Nate Dahle. The Sun Devils hit against Jake Dahle in their series with Dixie State, where they dominated, scoring six runs in 2.2 innings on him. Nate will likely be seeking payback for his sibling heading into Phoenix Municipal Stadium this weekend.

While coming off losses, both Dahle and Sterner are experienced and talented pitchers who play a significant role in the overall success of the club. The BYU matchup for ASU could be a perfect learning opportunity to fight bad habits against a deep and talented bullpen.

ASU’s offense has been good so far, but it faces its first real test against BYU. If the Sun Devils are not complacent at the plate and are consistent with their relief pitching, then they likely should have no problem snapping that 3,951-day streak.