(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
Coming into their final non-conference series before Pac-12 play begins, the Arizona State Sun Devils were looking to build on their recent success, having won three of their last four games.
Head coach Tracy Smith and Co. welcomed the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks to Phoenix Municipal Stadium for the first of three games Friday night, cruising to a 9-4 win.
The Sun Devils jumped on the Seahawks early, plating four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Gage Canning came around to score following an error by Seahawk catcher Ryan Jeffers, followed by an RBI double from Carter Aldrete and a two-run single off the bat of Hunter Bishop.
Bishop extended the ASU lead to 5-0 his next time up in the third with an RBI single, scoring Trevor Hauver.
Junior Sam Romero, making his second consecutive Friday night start for Smith, started out strong but faded in the middle innings. After allowing just one hit through three innings, Romero allowed two runs in the fourth inning to trim ASU’s lead to 5-2.
A two-run single by Aldrete pushed the Sun Devil lead back to five in the bottom of the fourth inning, but after Romero surrendered solo home runs to Greg Jones and Jeffers, he was pulled in favor of sophomore Alec Marsh with one out in the fifth inning.
Marsh stranded the runners and ended the frame, keeping the Sun Devil lead at three. Romero finished the night with a line of 4.1 innings pitched, scattering eight hits and allowing four runs while striking out five.
The Sun Devils brought across one run in the bottom of the seventh, when Taylor Lane came in to score on a fielder’s choice by Canning. Lane pinch-ran for Bishop after Bishop appeared to come up lame advancing to third base on another error by Jeffers.
Marsh continued his stellar start to 2018, tossing 3.1 innings, allowing only one hit and striking out four. The sophomore has yet to allow a run in 12.1 innings this season.
Marsh was relieved in the eighth inning with two men on and two outs as Smith brought on Chaz Montoya, who got Levi Gesell to fly out to Canning ending the Seahawk threat.
The Sun Devils pushed their lead to 9-4 in the eighth on a Hunter Jump RBI single and from there it was smooth sailing as Montoya took care of the Seahawks in the top of the ninth to nail down the victory for the Sun Devils.
Player of the Game: Alec Marsh. The sophomore inherited two runners from Romero in the fifth and held UNC-Wilmington at bay, closing the door on any potential
Unsung Hero: Gage Canning. With a 2-4 night including a double and an RBI, Canning’s average sits at an even .500, as he extended his hitting streak to 14 games. The junior has been a constant in the ASU lineup since first arriving on campus, and his production out of the lead-off spot can’t be overstated.
Stat of the Night: Five Sun Devils recorded two or more hits, a welcome sight for an offense that has scored 44 runs in its last five games, including tonight.
You Knew It Was Over When: Montoya worked around a lead-off single and walk in the ninth inning to secure the win for ASU, their fourth in the last five games.
Biggest Concern: Bishop’s potential injury. Any time missed for the sophomore could be detrimental, as his bat seemed to be coming around in the last week.
What’s Up Next?: Game two of the series from Phoenix Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
