Photo: Blaine McCormick/WCSN
For the second-straight weekend ASU baseball started off on a positive note, only to have a sour taste in its mouth by the end of the series. In the rubber match of a three-game set against the Loyola Marymount Lions, the Sun Devils came close but lost 8-5 to lose the series.
The day started off well for head coach Tracy Smith and Co., with a pair of runs through the first two innings, highlighted by a solo home run from freshman Carter Aldrete in the bottom of the second to stake ASU to a 2-0 lead.
Loyola Marymount came alive in the fourth inning against junior Jake Godfrey, in his first start as a Sun Devil, as they plated five runs before Godfrey was pulled. The Lions added another run off sophomore James Ryan before the inning was over for a 6-2 advantage.
Godfrey (1-1) finished the day with a line of 3.2 IP, five hits, five runs, three walks and three strikeouts
From there the Sun Devils slowly attempted to chip away, as an Andrew Shaps home run in the fifth, along with a Lyle Lin single and Tyler Williams double in the seventh got the Sun Devils within 6-5.
The Lions answered right back in the top of the eighth, with right fielder Niko Decolati taking Eder Erives deep for a solo home run and a 7-5 cushion.
LMU tacked on one more run in the top of the ninth inning, and ASU went quietly in the bottom half of the frame.
Player of the Game:
LMU’s Phil Caulfield. The senior second baseman went 3-5 with a double and an RBI out of the lead-off spot.
Unsung Hero: Lyle Lin. The Sun Devil freshman continued the torrid start of his collegiate career, going 2-4 with two RBI to raise his batting average to .435.
You Knew It Was Over When: Nike Decolati took Eder Erives deep to left-center field in the eighth. The Sun Devils had been able to pull themselves back into the game the previous inning, but the Lions getting one of the runs back proved to be too much to overcome.
Biggest Concern:
Eder Erives. The senior right-hander saw his first action since Opening Day, when he lasted a third of an inning while walking two and allowing a run. His line for this game was exactly the same. While he wasn’t expected to exclusively shoulder the closer workload this season with the arrival of freshman Chaz Montoya, he’ll need to return to form for ASU to have a chance at firing on all cylinders.
What’s Next?: Arizona State will continue its eight-game spring break home stand when it welcomes Big West Conference juggernauts Cal State Fullerton to Phoenix Municipal Stadium on March 7th and 8th. First pitch for both games is scheduled for 6:30 PM.
