(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
Trevor Hauver’s go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning against Pepperdine on Tuesday saw him run around the bases with immense intensity and adrenaline. The Devils’ leadoff hitter was so fired up after his home run that he made the home run “trot” look more like a sprint as he pumped his arms in the air while flying around the bases. It’s hard to blame him though. The crucial home run helped preserve the Devils perfect start to the season at 8-0. ASU is just one of 14 teams that remain undefeated so far this season.
After starting the season with many blowout victories over Notre Dame, San Diego, and UC Davis, the Pepperdine game tested ASU’s ability to clutch out tough victories, something that will further be tested once conference play hits.
For the Devils, in addition to the usual contributors such as Spencer Torkelson and Lyle Lin, it has been the contributions of players like Hauver as well as up and coming bullpen workhorses Brady Corrigan and Blake Burzell that have made the season what it is right now.
Corrigan has come in tight spots as well as long relief spots so far and limited the damage to opposing offenses while Burzell and his hard-throwing fastball has helped make his case as the team’s closer.
Hauver’s impact cannot be emphasized enough with his team-leading on-base percentage and is tied for the team lead in runs scored. These types of players for ASU, not just the usual suspects, are a big reason why the Devils are undefeated to this point.
But before the Devils head to Cal State Fullerton for its first road games in what should be the Devils’ first true test against one of the nation’s best, ASU plays one more weekend homestand at Phoenix Muni against the Michigan State Spartans.
Michigan State enters the series with a 1-6 record and have lost six in a row. After winning its first game of the season against New Orleans, nothing else has gone the Spartans way. MSU struggled last season as well, finishing the 2018 season with a record of 20-32 while going 11-12 in conference play. The Spartans finished eighth in the Big 10 standings.
In what is supposed to be an improvement year for the Spartans as eight starting position players return, that has not seemed to be the case so far. The team has endured blowout losses to No. 22 Coastal Carolina and Kent State while also being shut out by No. 23 North Carolina State. The tough schedule is likely what is contributing to Michigan State’s slow start, but now traveling to face a red-hot ASU team, this weekend might not improve those struggles.
The Spartans will likely not make any changes to their starting rotation against the Sun Devils this weekend, with redshirt-sophomore Mason Erla slated to start on Friday, junior Mike Mokma on Saturday, and junior Indigo Diaz on Sunday.
Erla and Diaz have had rough starts to this season. In each of their first two starts, Erla and Diaz have given up 10 and 12 earned runs, respectively. Meanwhile, Mokma has been more steady, posting a 2.45 ERA in two starts while only giving up three earned runs.
For ASU, the usual rotation of Alec Marsh, Boyd Vander Kooi, and RJ Dabovich are all probable starters for this weekend. However, it will be interesting to see how much head coach Tracy Smith uses each pitcher as ASU will have a short turnaround for next Tuesday and Wednesday against a good Cal State Fullerton team.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m MST for Friday and Saturday night while first pitch Sunday will begin at 12:30 p.m MST at Phoenix Municipal Stadium
