ASU Baseball: Opening Day Instant Recap vs. Miami (Ohio) University

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

With the first pitch of the 2018 season comes a fresh slate for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team.

ASU hosted Miami (Ohio) Saturday afternoon in the first game of the regular season.

Spencer Van Scoyoc took the mound as the Opening Day starter, with a flurry of Sun Devils around him. Van Scoyoc struggled to find the zone early, walking six Redhawks in the first four innings.

As a booming double by Hayden Senger in the second paired with a two out two run single by Grant Hartwig in the fifth gave the Redhawks a 3-0 lead halfway through the ballgame.

Van Scoyoc was relieved after five innings, finishing with two strikeouts six walks and one earned run.

The ASU bats were extremely quiet early as Miami (Ohio) pitcher Nick Ernst worked fast and efficient through the first several frames.

They were able to answer the call in the bottom half of the fifth. Lyle Lin’s leadoff double, followed by an error forced by Jeremy McCuin brought the Sun Devils within two.

Both Alec Marsh and Grant Schneider came in and pitched scoreless innings for the Sun Devils, holding the score to 3-1 at the seventh inning stretch.

Lyle Lin led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, advanced to third off a wild pitch, and brought the game within one after a deep sacrifice fly from Jeremy McCuin.

A two out gap shot by Dallas Hall scored another Redhawk run and gave them a 4-2 lead going into the eighth.

ASU had a great chance to come back though, with runners on second and third in the bottom half of the eighth and just one out. Michael Hendricks struck out Carter Aldrete and Jack Corbell forced Torkelson to fly out to right.

The game concluded with Corbell closing things out, as the Redhawks defeated ASU 4-2.

Player of the Game: Nick Ernst pitched six innings for the Redhawks, allowing just one run, four hits and walked none. Simply put, he shut down the Sun Devil offense.

Unsung Hero: Lyle Lin kept the game close for ASU, scoring the team’s only two runs.

You knew it was over when: Torkelson and Aldrete, the team’s strongest hitters, were unable to capitalize in the eighth inning.

Biggest Concern: The freshman had an inauspicious opener in every area of the game. They combined for just two hits in eleven appearances, Drew Swift was caught stealing twice and missed an easy tag, and Alika Williams made a costly throwing error.

Stat of the Day: Designated Hitter Torkelson left four Sun Devils in scoring position, proving to be the difference maker.

What’s Next: Game two of today’s doubleheader will begin approximately 45 minutes after game one’s conclusion.

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