(Photo: Rebecca Striffler/WCSN)
Arizona State Baseball (20-12, 8-7 Pac-12) used 12 pitchers during Wednesday night’s game at Grand Canyon but couldn’t string together enough hits as it fell to the Lopes 4-1 to split the mid-week series.
“Pitching was a challenge going into the mid-week, and we wanted to make sure guys were fresh going into the weekend,” ASU head coach Tracy Smith said. “I think we’re in pretty good shape in that regard because guys did their job, and we had a chance to win the game.”
GCU’s (23-15-1, 16-4 WAC) three-run third inning was the difference as freshman outfielder Cade Verdusco singled home a pair of runs to give the Lopes a 2-0 lead. Senior outfielder Brock Burton then extended the lead with a single, scoring redshirt junior utilityman Juan Colato to make it 3-0.
The Sun Devils responded promptly with a run of their own in the fourth inning. Freshman infielder Hunter Haas led off the frame with a double but was thrown out on a fielder’s choice by redshirt freshman infielder Joe Lampe.
Sandwiched in between was redshirt senior catcher Nick Cheema being hit by a pitch. A few batters later, redshirt junior outfielder Hunter Jump singled home Cheema for ASU’s only run of the night.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Joe Hauser got the start for the Sun Devils and turned in a short but gritty performance. In 2.1 innings of work, he allowed just one hit, two runs and struck out two while walking three batters and hitting one more.
Hauser gave the mound to redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Blake Burzell, who made just his second appearance of the season. Burzell gave up three hits and a run while recording just one out. Burzell’s earned run came off Burton’s RBI single in the third inning.
Pitching in his seventh-straight game, freshman right-handed pitcher Brock Peery gave ASU exactly what it needed on Wednesday. In two innings of work he allowed just one hit and a HBP in eight batters faced.
After Peery’s appearance, it was a merry-go-round of pitchers for the Sun Devils. It started with redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher and Boise State transfer Jay Baggs making his first appearance of the season. He faced just one batter and allowed one hit.
After Baggs’ appearance, ASU would turn to eight different pitchers. Among those included redshirt freshman left-handed pitcher Graham Osman, who pitched the seventh inning and allowed one run on one hit – an RBI single by sophomore catcher Josh Buckley. Freshman infielder Blake Pivaroff and redshirt freshman outfielder Kai Murphy each made their collegiate pitching debuts in the contest. Each recorded just one out with Pivaroff allowing a walk and Murphy giving up a hit.
“I thought Pivaroff showed a good changeup, and it was his plus pitch tonight,” Smith said. “It could be something that could help us moving forward in any game down the stretch.”
The 12th and final pitcher of the night for ASU – freshman right-handed pitcher Jared Glenn – got the third out in the eighth inning via a strikeout of Verdusco.
The Sun Devils will continue their 10 games in 12 days stretch as they travel to Salt Lake City for a three-game set at Utah this weekend.
“We’re playing,” Smith said. “It’s gonna be a challenge, fatigue is not an option. We’re young, we’re healthy, we need to compete and we gotta play. These are opportunities.”
