ASU-Long Beach State series preview

Starting Friday, the No. 19 Sun Devils (7-2-1) will play host to the Long Beach State University Dirtbags (6-7). LBSU is coming off a tough loss to UCLA while ASU is coming off a 3-0-1 weekend where they beat then-No. 2 Arkansas twice.

On the mound, look for ASU’s freshmen to continue their dominance. Ryan Burr ranks fourth in the NCAA with 2.7 hits per nine innings, while also ranking 10th in WHIP. Southpaw Ryan Kellogg is 16th in the NCAA with 0.6 walks per nine innings and 11th with a 13.0 strike-out-to-walk ratio.

Fellow freshman Brett Lilek got his first career start and win during the Coca-Cola Classic in Surprise against Arkansas. Lilek struck out six and walked none while one run was scored on seven hits in five innings of work.

Junior ace Trevor Williams pitched his first complete game of the season against Pacific, where he struck out nine and walked none, giving up five hits and a lone earned run.

As a staff, Sun Devil pitching is ranked 15th in the NCAA in hits per nine innings, allowing only 6.5 hits per nine.

LBSU’s starting pitchers are much older and anchored by Shane Carle. The junior has a 1.00 ERA and a 1-1 record in 18 innings.

Ryan Millison and Jon Maciel, also juniors, and Landon Hunt, a senior, have also started. Millison has the lowest ERA of the group at 4.96, followed by Maciel at 5.00 and Hunt at 6.08. They have combined to give up 34 total runs on 52 hits in 47.2 innings of work.

ASU will be looking to bring their bats to this series. Trever Allen and James McDonald lead all Sun Devils with nine RBIs apiece. Allen also has a team-leading three home runs on the season.

Kasey Coffman, Max Rossiter, and Michael Benjamin are all hitting over .300 in over 30 at bats.

The Dirtbags’s offense has yet to be shut out this season. LBSU’s offensive highlight came in a 13-9 win at then-No. 2 Vanderbilt in the opening series.

Michael Hill has the best batting average at .412 and also has three triples, but outfielder Richard Prigatano leads the team in with ten RBIs and a home run.

If the Sun Devil’s starting pitching can continue to dominate like it did in Surprise, ASU should win the series as they have the offense to exploit LBSU’s pitching woes.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Madison Romine

Recent Posts

Skinner’s career night propels ASU to narrow victory in season opener

(Photo credit: Aishling Cavanaugh/WCSN) TEMPE — With Desert Financial Arena buzzing, Arizona State found itself…

8 hours ago

Sun Devils prepare for Big 12 debut in Adair’s third year

(Photo credit: Marina Willams/WCSN) Excitement is brewing for Arizona State women’s basketball as the Sun…

20 hours ago

Sun Devils put up complete performance in fall exhibition against GCU

(Photo: Maya Diaz/WCSN) As warmup music echoed throughout GCU ballpark, baseball bats pinged and cleats…

2 days ago

Takeaways: Sun Devils Clinch Bowl Eligibility With Win Over Oklahoma State

With 22 seconds remaining in the first half Arizona State football found itself a single…

3 days ago

No. 13 Sun Devils Extend Win Streak to 10, Earn Season Sweep Over No. 22 Utah

(Photo: Katherine Gore/WCSN) In a match one month ago, No. 13 Arizona State Volleyball won…

3 days ago

Sun Devil arms against pros in exhibition against USA Baseball

(Photo: Austin Hurst/WCSN) PHOENIX - Senior right-handed pitcher Jack Martinez walked off the mound in…

3 days ago