(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
Coming off a series win against in-state rival Arizona and gaining an inside track to the Territorial Cup, ASU now travels to Seattle to face the Washington Huskies for its third road series of the season.
Despite the series win, ASU suffered a brutal loss in the series finale that could have demoralized the team but instead added some fire in its bellies for the upcoming series.
“I feel bad for the Huskies because they have a bunch of pissed off kids coming towards them,” Ryan Burr, who blew the save in the 9th, said after the game.
A Burr blown save is a rarity, and the Sun Devils haven’t suffered a devastating loss in a fashion quite like they did on Monday night, so a response against the Huskies is expected.
ASU was able to win the first two games of the series against UA with its bats, which were unable to get going in game three. Jake Peevyhouse starred in game one, with a walk-off single and go-ahead home run, and ASU rode six doubles to victory to claim the series win on Sunday.
The Sun Devils sit in second in the Pac-12 and carry an 11-4 conference record, with their sights set on hosting a regional–something that looks more and more likely by the week.
Conversely, Washington recently lost a series to Washington State, but beat Seattle at home in a midweek duel.
The Huskies flashed power in the series against the Cougars, homering four times in three games. They also added three long balls in the win over the Pilots. Branden Berry and Alex Schmidt have each homered twice over the last four games. The duo lead UW in home runs, while sophomore Chris Baker leads the team in batting average.
Stability has been an issue for the Huskies pitching rotation, but their two most consistent starters have done very well. Friday starter Noah Bremer has made nine starts and carries a 1.80 ERA into the upcoming series.
Veteran Tyler Davis, one of just five seniors on the Huskies roster, has shouldered the load on Saturdays. Even though he allowed five earned runs in five innings last time out, he still carries a tidy 2.38 ERA.
UW currently sits in the middle of the Pac-12 in 6th place, and is 20-14 overall despite just a 6-9 conference record. It is 9-7 at home.
The series opens on Friday and will feature the Sun Devils sending Seth Martinez to the mound.
