(Photo: Karli Matthias/WCSN)
The Arizona State put forth a much better effort in their second game against the Saint Mary’s Gaels, but faltered in the late innings as they lost their third straight game, 6-5.
It was another inauspicious start for ASU after senior Eli Lingos surrendered three runs in the top of the first inning against the Gaels on a pair of doubles from Edward Haus and Austin Chauvin, the Sun Devils appeared to be headed for another uphill climb against right-hander Kevin Milam.
First baseman Spencer Torkelson woke his team up in the bottom of the second, launching his fourth home run of the season to make the score 3-1. He then watched his teammates put up four more runs, all with two outs, with RBI singles from Trevor Hauver, Alika Williams, an RBI triple by Gage Canning and an RBI bunt placed down beautifully by Drew Swift.
Lingos settled down nicely after the first inning, stranding runners on second and third in the second inning then retired the next eleven batters as he pitched effectively into the sixth. Lingos earned a no-decision, finishing the day with 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs, walking one and striking out five.
Head coach Tracy Smith brought on junior transfer Sam Romero to record the final out of the sixth, who stranded two inherited runners from Lingos on a ground ball to Williams at second base.
Romero tossed a scoreless seventh inning, but opened the door for the Gaels in the eighth as he gave up a two-out, two-run home run to Dylan Robertson that tied the game at five.
Things got out of hand quickly in the top of the ninth for ASU, as Connor Higgins gave up a lead-off single to Joey Fiske, then failed to record an out on a sacrifice bunt attempt from Brett Rasso as he threw the ball into center field trying to get Fiske at second base.
An infield single from Milam, followed by a wild pitch from Higgins put Saint Mary’s back on top 6-5. Chaz Montoya was brought on and recorded the final two outs to stop the bleeding for Arizona State.
Player of the Game: Dylan Robertson. The Saint Mary’s third baseman pulled the Gaels back even in the top of the eighth by taking Romero deep, and recorded the final out of the game with the winning runs on base for ASU. He finished the day 2-4.
Unsung Hero: Trevor Hauver. Hauver’s RBI single in the second inning that cut the deficit to 3-2 was massive, coming immediately after Gage Workman was gunned down trying to go first-to-third on a Bishop single. The base hit clearly energized the Sun Devil dugout and kept the inning alive
You Knew It Was Over When: Michael Hobbs got Drew Swift to nub a grounder to Robertson with two on and two out in the ninth, who stepped on the third base bag to force Hauver out.
Stat of the Day: Gage Canning’s RBI triple in the second inning was the 17th of his career. That leads all active NCAA players, and leaves him three shy of being the fifth player in ASU history to reach 20 career triples, the first since Willie Bloomquist.
Biggest Concern: Late-inning relief pitching. Smith has mentioned previously that the bullpen staff is still a bit of a question mark trying to get to Connor Higgins, although in today’s game Higgins surrendered the lead while recording only one out in the top of the ninth.
What’s Next?: The final game of the series on Sunday afternoon, expected to be a matchup of Boyd Vander Kooi (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for Arizona State and Ken Waldichuk (1-1, 1.80 ERA) for Saint Mary’s. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 PM.
