Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN
The Arizona State baseball team resumed its Pac-12 schedule on Friday night when they welcomed the USC Trojans to Phoenix, trying to erase the memory of two heartbreaking losses to Cal State Fullerton earlier in the week.
A brilliant starting pitching performance and timely hitting paved the way for ASU as they took game one against the Trojans 5-1.
After sophomore starter Alec Marsh escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam in the top of the second unscathed, the Sun Devils were able to jump out to the early lead in their half of the frame, when Carter Aldrete doubled and later scored on a Hunter Bishop sacrifice bunt.
Center fielder Gage Canning would double the lead to 2-0 next inning as he sent the first pitch of the frame from Kyle Hurt over the scoreboard in right-center field.
The Sun Devils stretched their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning via a Canning RBI ground out and an RBI single from Spencer Torkelson.
From there it was all about Marsh, who continued his stellar play on the mound in 2018 as he delivered 8.1 dominant innings, allowing just three hits and no runs while striking out seven.
Pinch-hitter Taylor Lane would add an insurance run for the Sun Devils in the home half of the eighth inning with an RBI single, while the Trojans scraped across their only run in the top of the ninth, when Jake Godfrey walked Jamal O’Guinn with the bases loaded after he inherited a 1-0 count from Connor Higgins.
Player of the Game: Alec Marsh. After two straight games that were blown in the late innings by Arizona State, Marsh took matters into his own hands by dealing the complete game shutout against the Trojans, lowering his season ERA to “2.21”
Unsung Hero: Carter Aldrete. The sophomore has taken his adjusted role with the team this season in stride, and ended the night going 2-3 with two doubles and a run.
You Knew It Was Over When: The 27th out was recorded. Following the two games against Fullerton, these Sun Devils know more than ever that a team is never beaten until the game is officially over.
Stat of the Night: Following their bases-loaded threat in the second inning, the Trojans only managed seven base runners for the remainder of the game.
Biggest Concern: For Arizona State, stringing together consistent games will be the biggest concern for the rest of the season from here on out. Friday night was as good a start to the home stretch as they could have hoped for.
What’s Next?: Game two of the series against the Trojans on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 PM.
