(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
The Arizona State baseball team picked up its second-consecutive win against the Utah Utes Saturday night in a back and forth slug-fest, coming out on top 15-7.
The Utes jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the second courtesy of a Wade Gulden RBI ground out following a lead-off triple from Erick Migueles off Sun Devil starter Sam Romero.
Arizona State answered with authority in their half of the second, with Hunter Jump and Alika Williams both registering two-run singles against Utah starter Tanner Thomas.
Utah matched Arizona State’s four-spot with one of their own in the top of the third as Rykker Tom, Oliver Dunn, and Wade Gulden recorded RBI. The fourth and final run of the frame came via a Chaz Montoya balk, scoring Davis Delorefice.
Drew Swift’s second error of the game in the top of the fourth plated an unearned run to make the score 6-4 Utah, but the Sun Devil offense struck again in the bottom half. A two-run double from Carter Aldrete was followed by an RBI triple from Gage Workman after Thomas was relieved by Josh Lapiana, making the score 7-6 Sun Devils.
Arizona State blew the game open one inning later, as home runs from Spencer Torkelson and Gage Canning, followed by an RBI double from Lyle Lin ballooned the lead to 11-6. RBI doubles from Canning and Swift along with a wild pitch scored three more runs for Arizona State in the sixth, extending the margin to 14-6.
An infield single by Tom in the top of the seventh pulled Utah to within 14-7, but that was matched in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single off the bat of Williams.
Sophomore left-hander Spencer Van Scoyoc, attempting to find the Friday night stuff that head coach Tracy Smith and the coaching staff have been looking for all season, recorded the final eight outs for Arizona State en route to the win.
Player of the Game: Chaz Montoya. The sophomore shook off his ineffectiveness from previous outings and kept the Utah bats at bay long enough to allow his offense to build a lead.
Unsung Hero: Hunter Jump. Making just his fifth start of the season, the freshman went 3-4 with two RBI before being lifted for pinch-runner Hunter Bishop in the sixth inning.
Stat of the Night: Eight of the nine Sun Devil starters recorded at least one RBI
You Knew It Was Over When: Spencer Van Scoyoc came on in relief of Montoya in the seventh and stranded Tom at second base. From there it was smooth sailing for the Sun Devils as they picked up their 8th Pac-12 victory of the season.
Biggest Concern: For the second consecutive night Arizona State was unable to get length out of its starter, after Alec Marsh lasted only four innings in his outing on Friday night. Tracy Smith will likely turn to senior Eli Lingos on Sunday afternoon to change that trend in the series.
What’s Up Next?: The Devils will go for their second sweep of conference play against the Utes on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:30 PM.
