(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)
In-state rival Arizona (27-14, 11-8) defeated Arizona State (23-15, 9-10) 8-0, ending a three-game winning streak for the Sun Devils.
It was a night where nothing went right for Arizona State – the team was held hitless until an Andrew Snow single in the seventh inning and the six pitchers deployed by head coach Tracy Smith yielded a combined 16 hits and eight runs.
The defensive woes were present also, as the team made three errors, and all three helped plate Arizona runners.
Reagan Todd got the nod for the Sun Devils and was chased after 3.1 innings. While he struck out three, Todd yielded five hits and three runs.
For Arizona State, it was the team’s second conference loss in seven games. Next weekend the Devils will take a break from conference play in a non-conference series with New Mexico at home.
Player of the Game: P Kevin Ginkel, Arizona
Kevin Ginkel went the distance for the Wildcats and the Devils didn’t have an answer. Ginkel yielded just two hits and struck out seven — he didn’t issue any walks.
Unsung Hero: 1B Ryan Aguilar, Arizona
Aguilar ate up the Sun Devil pitching, compiling three hits and walk. He also knocked-in one of the Wildcats’ eight runs.
You knew it was over when:
Bobby Dalbec launched a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth inning. At that point, the Wildcats went up by five and with the way Ginkel was pitching, any hope of a comeback went out the window.
Biggest concern:
Fielding was an issue all night, as the Devils conceded three runs off of errors. Brian Serven committed two errors behind the plate, and given the fact that he had only committed one error coming on the season entering Tuesday night’s game, it seems as though tonight was an outlier.
What’s Next?
The Sun Devils will stay in Tempe to take on the University of New Mexico (30-13) in a tough non-conference test this weekend.
You can contact Colton Dodgson via e-mail or on Twitter @DodgsonColton
