(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)
Wednesday evening the Arizona State Sun Devils looked to take the second and final game of their midweek series against Cal State Fullerton.
The Sun Devils suffered a crushing 7-6 loss Tuesday night after allowing a five-run ninth inning, and were unable to respond Wednesday night, dropping another to the Titans by a final score of 2-1.
Freshman right-hander Brady Corrigan, making his first start since Opening Weekend, was touched up early on by the Titans as Nick Ciandro’s sacrifice fly scored Jake Pavletich in the top of the second inning. Pavletich reached courtesy of a Gage Workman throwing error.
Gage Canning continued his red-hot junior season in the third inning, taking Fullerton starter Timothy Josten’s payoff pitch deep to even the game at 1.
Corrigan turned in a brilliant performance overall, allowing just two hits and the lone unearned run over six innings.
Senior Jake Godfrey was the first man out of the bullpen for Tracy Smith and tossed a clean seventh, before giving way to Chaz Montoya, pitching for the second consecutive game.
Montoya recorded two outs but left two men on base, one via intentional walk, and was pulled in favor of junior southpaw Connor Higgins.
Following a Higgins walk, Sahid Valenzuela squibbed a short grounder to the left side of the infield that Lyle Lin was unable to make a play on, and the Titans took a 2-1 lead in the eighth.
Brett Conine closed things out again for CSF with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, cementing the 2-1 victory and the midweek sweep.
Player of the Game: Brady Corrigan. The freshman right-hander put up his best outing of the season so far, tossing six strong and not allowing an earned run.
Unsung Hero: Hank LoForte went 3-4 on the day, scoring the game-winning run for Cal State Fullerton on Valenzuela’s single
You Knew It Was Over When: Lyle Lin slipped, allowing LoForte to score in the eighth.
Biggest Concern: The Sun Devil bats went quiet tonight, an uncommon thing to say, but for them to win in conference play they will have to swing it.
Stat of the Day: 2. Tracy Smith used two relief pitchers tonight who also pitched last night in Montoya and Higgins.
What’s Next?: The Sun Devils will jump back into conference play this weekend, as they will host the 14-11 USC Trojans.
