(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
Looking to clinch a series win, Arizona State baseball welcomed back the Washington Huskies for the second game of their three-game set Saturday night.
Despite Sam Romero being ASU’s Saturday starter as of recent, Brady Corrigan started the series’ second game, making his fourth start of the season. Corrigan did not last long, however, as Tracy Smith pulled him after 2.2 innings in favor of Connor Higgins. Higgins didn’t last long either, pitching to the end of the fourth inning, at which point the score was 6-0. Both allowed three earned runs, but Higgins gave up five hits compared to Corrigan’s three.
It was a long night for Smith’s bullpen, as Grant Schneider pitched a scoreless fifth, then Spencer Van Scoyoc pitched a scoreless seventh, before giving way to Romero after walking a batter. For Romero, it was his fifth relief appearance in his 15th game of the season.
The junior righty struggled, walking threee batters and allowing one of them to score on a wild pitch that gave Washington a five-run lead, 7-2.
Colby Davis pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Chaz Montoya produced a similar inning, issuing a walk but preventing the Huskies from scoring.
ASU’s offense tried to keep pace with Washington, and in some regards, they did, notching 10 hits in the game, including a two-run homer from Hunter Jump in the fourth, the first of his career. At the time, it broke the shutout for ASU and moved the score at the time to 6-2.
The Sun Devils added a run in the seventh on a Gage Canning sac fly that scored Hunter Bishop, ending the day for Washington starter Joe DeMerrs, who pitched 6.1 innings, giving up three runs.
Three runs was all the Sun Devils would be able to score, as they fell to Washington 7-3, to even the series at one game each.
Player of the Game: Washington DH Joe Wainhouse went 2-3 on the day, with a double, home run and four RBIs.
Unsung Hero: While Joe DeMers allowed 11 hits, he managed to only let three runs cross the plate, which against an offense like ASU’s, one that has been clicking as of late, was crucial to limit.
Stat of the Night: In his first 18 games of the season, Hunter Jump collected seven hits, going 7-27. Since he started against Utah, the freshman has hits in 17 of his 34 at-bats, good for a .500 batting average. He had another two hits Saturday, including his first collegiate home run. So he’s not exactly slowing down.
You Knew It Was Over When: The eighth inning ended. Hunter Jump singled, then Alika Williams lined into a double play. Gage Workman and Taylor Lane both walked, so the Devils seemingly had a second chance to add on and close the gap of the score, but Hunter Bishop struck out swinging and for the second time in the inning, killed the offense’s momentum.
Biggest Concern: The Sun Devils had 11 hits, they actually outhit Washington 12-8. When you outhit your opponent, you should probably win the game. ASU did not, in fact, win the game. Also, ASU used *seven* pitchers. Unlike most of the season, the bullpen wasn’t bad, but seven pitchers is still less than ideal, ASU will be counting on Eli Lingos to go deep Sunday afternoon.
What’s Up Next?: The Devils host the Huskies once more, as the two teams square off Sunday afternoon and each look for the series win, first pitch is at 12:30 p.m.
