(Photo: Karli Matthias/WCSN)
The No. 9 Arizona State Sun Devils entered the season eager to make a statement as to why they are one of the most feared programs in the nation, opening up the season against the Villanova Wildcats on Friday night in Tempe.
Preseason All-Americans Spencer Torkelson, Gage Workman, and Alika Williams were looking to help provide the same kind of offensive firepower from last season for junior starting pitcher Justin Fall.
Instead of the offense firing on all cylinders, it was the pitching that stood out for both clubs as Fall and Jimmy Kingsbury dialed in for the first game of the season. Both squads struggled to muster anything in the early stages, as both Fall and Kingsbury settled into an early grove.
Kingsbury looked sharp through his first three innings of work, striking out the side in the first and working his way out of a jam in the second. Kingsbury continued to shine until Torkelson broke the ice for the Devils, hitting his first home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth.
“It felt really good,” said Torkelson, “Hanging slider I think it was.”
Meanwhile, Fall turned in an impressive first outing going six innings without allowing a run and striking out six. He got an abundance of help from his infield, particularly the up-the-middle duo of Williams and Drew Swift.
“I prepared really well this week,” said Fall, “It felt really good to be out there for our team.”
The junior from Toms River, New Jersey gave an early preview as to what the pitching staff can do this season especially after a 2019 campaign where pitching was lackluster.
“Early in the season you’re trying to learn about your team,” said Head Coach Tracy Smith, “I thought that was a pretty good move for him (Fall).”
Fall would be replaced by Will Levine in the top of the seventh.
The Wildcats capitalized upon Levine’s entrance as designated hitter Tim Lilly drove in Will Reiner on an RBI single to tie the game up at one.
The ASU offense responded right back in the bottom half of the seventh inning, scoring three runs and knocking Kingsbury out of the game. Kingsbury left the game after going 6.1 innings while giving up four runs on five hits and striking out five.
The Devils’ big seventh inning was sparked by Swift, who successfully executed a hit-and-run, advancing Williams to third before Nick Cheema drove him home on a pinch hit RBI single. Sam Ferri drove in another on an infield single and junior transfer Hunter Jump capped off the big inning with an RBI groundout making it 4-1 ASU.
The Devils were able to keep Nova off the scoreboard the rest of the game, including when fireballing closer RJ Dabovich came in and shut the door, retiring all three Wildcat batters he faced and picking up the save all while finalizing a 4-1 ASU win.
“I thought he looked really mature tonight,” said Smith, “He’ll be ready tomorrow.”
Dabovich will likely see more innings of work before the end of the weekend as the Devils still have three more games on the ledger for the rest of the weekend including tomorrow’s doubleheader against Nova in the afternoon and the Michigan Wolverines at night.
