ASU Baseball: Sun Devils welcome Pac-12 rival USC to Tempe

Photo: (Brady Klain/WCSN)

After suffering two tough non-conference losses earlier this week, the Sun Devils will return to Pac-12 action on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. against USC, beginning a three-game weekend set.

The Trojans have had the better first half of the season holding a 14-11 overall record while ASU has a 13-16 record. However, the Sun Devils currently hold the higher ground in the conference standings with a 5-4 record to the Trojans’ 3-6 record.

For ASU fans, the team’s last series was a disappointing one to say the least, the Sun Devils lost their first game against Cal State Fullerton, 7-6, after holding a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning and lost the second game 2-1 in in a pitching duel where the ASUS offense did not show up and only produced two base runners after the fifth inning.

USC is coming off of an impressive offensive display against UC Santa Barbara winning by a score of 9-3. USC’s 15 hits in the game were the most since Feb. 24 against Villanova.

USC however, has the lowest batting average in the Pac-12 this season while ASU has the fourth best.

Players like junior outfielder, Gage Canning, and breakout freshman, Spencer Torkelson should have no problem against the Trojans who have a Pac-12 ERA of 4.79 this year.

ASU would certainly welcome a series win against the Trojans as Tracy Smith and Co. will go up against a tough Stanford team that currently sits as first place in the Pac-12. That series will take place beginning on Friday, April 13.

The Sun Devils have struggled all year with consistency, and have not been able to put up a good stretch of high quality games this season.

USC will be looking to have success similar to how the team did in the non-conference slate against a Sun Devils team that has struggled as of late, losing four of its past five contests.

Right-handed pitcher Kyle Hurt (2-1, 2.60 ERA) is expected to start for USC Friday night while right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh (2-1, 2.93 ERA) will take the mound for the Sun Devils.