(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
In a season full of ups and downs for the Arizona State baseball team, the team wrapped up its final series of 2017 on a down note against the Utah Utes, getting swept in three straight games while allowing 20 runs over the weekend.
Having already lost their chance at extending their 54-year 30-win streak and their chance at a winning season overall, the Sun Devils headed into Salt Lake City playing for pride.
GAME ONE
In his final appearance in a Sun Devil uniform on Friday, senior Eder Erives pitched brilliantly, lasting seven innings, giving up four hits, two runs (one earned) while walking just two and striking out six.
The Arizona State bats just couldn’t figure out Utah starter Jayson Rose, who stymied them for eight shutout innings allowing only three hits, before closer Dylan Drachler pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to secure game one by the score of 2-0.
GAME TWO
The next night junior Eli Lingos, potentially making his final start in a Sun Devil uniform as well pending the upcoming MLB Draft, did not fare as well as Erives. The junior failed to make it out of the fifth inning, lasting 4.1 and allowing six hits, five runs, (four earned) to go along with three walks.
On the offensive side, second baseman Taylor Lane had the most success for ASU, going 1-3 with a three-run double in the top of the first to catapult the team into a 3-0 lead.
The lead wouldn’t hold and the team wouldn’t score again until the ninth inning when Hunter Bishop came home on a wild pitch, the fourth and final run charged against Riley Ottesen, as Utah clinched the series with a 9-4 victory.
GAME THREE
The series finale on Sunday took on an emotional feel almost immediately, as Utes center fielder DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. was taken from the field in an ambulance after crashing into the outfield wall in the first inning.
Following the near 15-minute delay ASU proceeded to jump out to a 7-0 lead after the top of the third, highlighted by home runs from Bishop and fellow freshman Nick Cheema, the first of his collegiate career.
Utah came roaring back in their half of the third, chasing starter Ryan Hingst with a seven-run frame, punctuated by sophomore catcher Nick Moeller’s grand slam to pull Utah within one run.
The back-and-forth affair would continue all the way to the bottom of the ninth, with ASU clinging to a 10-9 lead trying to salvage the final game of the season.
Reagan Todd allowed an RBI double to Ellis Kelley that tied the game at 10, before freshman Tanner West was brought in and promptly gave up an RBI single to Kyle Hoffman giving Utah the series sweep.
The Utes sweep allowed them to finish conference play in 2017 with a 15-15 record, one year after winning the conference with a 19-11 record. They finished the season with a 27-24 record overall.
The Sun Devils finished the 2017 season with a mark of 23-32, (8-22 Pac-12) having lost their last six games of the year after being swept by Arizona last weekend in Phoenix.
According to Utah Baseball’s twitter account, Keirsey, Jr. was alert and responsive at a local hospital following his injury.
Bobby Kraus is a baseball beat reporter for the Walter Cronkite Sports Network. You can follow him on Twitter @bobbykraus22.
