PHOENIX – A fourth consecutive strong performance from the team’s starting pitcher and another balanced offensive attack powered Sun Devil Baseball to 5-1 win against Xavier on Sunday and a four-game, season-opening sweep at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils (4-0) never trailed in 36 innings against Xavier and all four Arizona State starting pitchers earned a win in their respective outings during the series.
Starting left-hander Reagan Todd (1-0), as a redshirt freshman in his first career appearance, threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings to set the tone early. He struck out five and allowed just one base runner to reach second on three hits and a walk.
Second baseman Andrew Snow put together his best offensive performance of the young season with three hits, including a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored. Three others added a pair of hits, including designated hitter Sebastian Zawada, who put together his second consecutive multi-hit game.
Right-hander Eder Erives (2) picked up his second save of the series as he allowed just one base runner across the final nine outs of the game. He struck out four and stranded three runners in scoring position, including a pair at third base.
Erives took over for left-hander Tucker Baca with runners on first and second and no outs in the seventh, and held XU to just one run as he limited the Mustketeers (0-4) to a sacrifice bunt, a groundout and a swinging strikeout.
Xavier threatened again in the eighth as it loaded the bases on an error, a single and dropped third strike, but Erives once again issued an inning-ending strikeout to quell the potential game-changing situation.
First baseman David Greer led off the fourth with a single, and after Zawada added a two-out base hit, right fielder Gage Canning drove Greer home with a RBI single and Snow followed with a two-run double down the left-field line to clear the bases and stake the Devils a three-run lead.
Left fielder Daniel Williams opened the following inning with a ground-rule double to left-center field and moved to third on a fly ball to center field in the next at-bat. XU intentionally walked Greer to put runners on the corners and shortstop Colby Woodmansee plated them both two batters later with a two-run double.
Snow and third baseman Jordan Aboites added a double and a base hit, respectively, with two outs to tack on an insurance run in the eighth.
Notes: ASU swept its season-opening series for the first time since 2012…Greer has reached base in 11 of his 16 plate appearances and has made just four outs this season via seven hits, four walks and a sacrifice fly...Baca his made his first appearance of the season…Chris Beall made his first appearance of the season in left field.
Up Next
The Devils host Nevada on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m., before heading to California for a three-game set with Long Beach State Feb. 26-28. First pitch on Friday is set for 7 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday slated for 3 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. All times AZ/MT. Tuesday’s game will be live streamed via thesundevils.com.
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