(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
The Sun Devils played third and final game of the series with Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon as they tried to record their first sweep of the season, but fell just short as they lost 3-2 in extra innings.
The Sun Devils kicked off the scoring in the third inning after third baseman freshman Gage Workman singled to right field with two outs to score freshman Drew Swift from second.
Trying to stay in the game, the Cowboys did not hesitate to remove starting pitcher, C.J. Varela, in favor left-handed junior Carson Teel, who was able to get sophomore Carter Aldrete out to end the inning.
ASU sophomore Alec Marsh got the starting nod for the first time this season and just the second time in his young Sun Devil career. Marsh was solid, allowing zero runs, three hits and two strikeouts in three innings, but he was removed in the fourth inning for left-handed redshirt freshman Dellan Raish, who immediately struggled.
Raish walked a Cowboy and allowed two singles to his first three batters to put the Cowboys on the board. The RBI single came from senior outfielder Jon Littell. After a bunt from Cowboys’ outfielder Cade Cabbiness to advance OSU’s runners to second and third, freshman catcher Jake Taylor singled to right field to score first baseman Christian Funk from third base and give the Cowboys a 2-1 lead.
Raish was taken out after the two earned runs in favor of senior Grant Schneider, who was able to get the next two outs without allowing a run.
Freshman first baseman Spencer Torkelson continued his hot bat as he hit his seventh home run of the season for the Sun Devils to tie the game 2-2.
The game stayed tied until it went to extra innings and OSU second baseman Ryan Cash singled with two outs in the 10th inning to score right fielder Cody Milligan from second base on a close play at home.
The Sun Devils started the bottom of the 10th with a single from Gage Canning, who advanced to second by a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Drew Swift, but were not able to execute as OSU reliever Carson Teel was able to finish off Lyle Lin and Gage Workman to end the game.
Player of the game: Ryan Cash. He was the one who gave the Cowboys a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the 10th inning.
Unsung Hero: Carson Teel. He was the only reliever for the Cowboys and gave seven productive innings, striking out five and allowing only one run on 105 pitches.
You knew it was over when: The final out of the game was recorded. It was close and it was anyone’s game until the very end.
Biggest Concern: The Sun Devils were 1-10 with runners in scoring position and 1-16 with runners on base today.
Stat of the Day: Freshman Spencer Torkelson recorded his seventh home run of the season in just 12 games played.
What’s next: The Sun Devils will play one game away against Pepperdine Tuesday before coming back home to begin their three game series against North Carolina-Wilmington Friday night.
