PHOENIX – Sophomore pitchers James Ryan and Reagan Todd combined to retire the final 16 batters of the game and the ASU offense delivered a four-run eighth inning to give the Sun Devils the 6-2 victory and a three-game sweep of Northwestern Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The game was a continuation of Saturday afternoon's game, which was postponed due to inclement weather.
Ryan retired all nine batters he saw in the effort, throwing just 22 pitches and striking out the final batter of the game to earn his first career victory.
The Sun Devil offense was held largely in check through the majority of Sunday afternoon before breaking through in the bottom of the eighth.
Junior outfielder Ryan Lillard led off the inning with a single followed by a patient at-bat by junior infielder Taylor Lane, drawing a walk to put a pair of runners on. Sophomore Jeremy McCuin delivered the biggest hit of the night, drilling the first pitch he saw from senior right-hander Pete Hofman into the left-center gap, driving in a pair with a double to give the Sun Devils a 4-2 lead. Freshman catcher Sam Ferri would add some insurance with a pinch-hit two-RBI double for his first career RBIs to push the ASU lead to 6-2.
McCuin finishes the game 2-of-4 with two RBIs, a double, a triple and two runs scored. Lyle Lin continued his opening weekend tear, going 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI. In his first series ever donning the Maroon and Gold, Lin went a combined 7-for-13 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Fellow freshman Myles Denson was 2-of-2 with his first career hit – and RBI single – and two walks.
With the victory, ASU improved to 19-3 in the past 12 season in series played in the month of February and increased its regular season winning streak over teams currently in the Big Ten to 16 games.
On Saturday, Northwestern (0-3) broke open the scoring early on, connecting on a single up the middle to make the score 1-0 in the visitor's half of the first. The Devils (3-0) would respond an inning later when Denson scored McCuin, who muscled a two-out triple to left center field in the previous at bat.
Lefty Spencer Van Scoyoc had solid innings his first career start with three strikeouts. The Iowa-native became the first true freshman to start on opening weekend since Adam McCreery achieved the feat in 2012.
Northwestern led off the top of the third with a leadoff walk, at which point the game was delayed and the tarp was pulled. After approaching two hours of rain delay time, the game was officially postponed to Sunday.
After picking up the game tied at one in the third inning, freshman right-hander Zane Strand made his first career appearance, taking over for Van Scoyoc. He had one strikeout in 0.2 innings of work before having to leave the game due to injury.
The Sun Devils would threaten to break the 1-1 tie in the bottom half of the third. Freshman first baseman Lyle Lin delivered one of his three hits of game, a one-out single that scored junior outfielder Gage Canning as ASU gained their first lead of the game, 2-1.
Northwestern would proceed to tie the game at 2 thanks to a two-out single from junior outfielder Grant Peikert scoring junior designated hitter Jack Claeys. Sophomore left-hander Reagan Todd, who came on in relief of Strand, prevented any more Wildcats runs with a strikeout of Northwestern lead-off hitter shortstop Jack Dunn stranding runners on the corner.
Todd settled into a grove, giving the Sun Devils three scoreless innings, striking out five and retiring the final seven batters he faced.
Up Next: The Sun Devils will host a mid-week contest on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium against a Top-25 squad in Oklahoma State, a 2016 College World Series competitor. The game will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks with Daron Sutton on the call alongside Scott Erickson. The game will also be aired live through Sun Devil Sports Network on 100.7 KSLX with the Voice of the Sun Devils, Tim Healey on the call.
Notes: ASU now has two wins this season when trailing after six innings after having seven all of last season…ASU baseball moves to 19-3 in the last 12 seasons in February series…The three victories over Northwestern moves the Devils regular-season winning streak over opponents that are current members of the Big Ten conference to 16 consecutive games ...ASU has not lost to a current Big Ten conference foe in the regular season since 1974…Lyle Lin is the first true freshman to have three hits in a game on Opening Weekend since Colin Curtis in 2004…The Sun Devils have now won 11 consecutive series on Opening Weekend…ASU leads the all-time series against Northwestern 4-0…The Sun Devil pitching staff allowed just three earned runs (1.00 ERA) and 10 hits while striking out 24 Wildcats …The Sun Devil offense tallied 31 hits and drew eight walks on the weekend…Eight true freshmen made their Sun Devil debuts on opening weekend, including six who made their first career starts…
The game was a continuation of Saturday afternoon's game, which was postponed due to inclement weather.
Ryan retired all nine batters he saw in the effort, throwing just 22 pitches and striking out the final batter of the game to earn his first career victory.
The Sun Devil offense was held largely in check through the majority of Sunday afternoon before breaking through in the bottom of the eighth.
Junior outfielder Ryan Lillard led off the inning with a single followed by a patient at-bat by junior infielder Taylor Lane, drawing a walk to put a pair of runners on. Sophomore Jeremy McCuin delivered the biggest hit of the night, drilling the first pitch he saw from senior right-hander Pete Hofman into the left-center gap, driving in a pair with a double to give the Sun Devils a 4-2 lead. Freshman catcher Sam Ferri would add some insurance with a pinch-hit two-RBI double for his first career RBIs to push the ASU lead to 6-2.
McCuin finishes the game 2-of-4 with two RBIs, a double, a triple and two runs scored. Lyle Lin continued his opening weekend tear, going 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI. In his first series ever donning the Maroon and Gold, Lin went a combined 7-for-13 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Fellow freshman Myles Denson was 2-of-2 with his first career hit – and RBI single – and two walks.
With the victory, ASU improved to 19-3 in the past 12 season in series played in the month of February and increased its regular season winning streak over teams currently in the Big Ten to 16 games.
On Saturday, Northwestern (0-3) broke open the scoring early on, connecting on a single up the middle to make the score 1-0 in the visitor's half of the first. The Devils (3-0) would respond an inning later when Denson scored McCuin, who muscled a two-out triple to left center field in the previous at bat.
Lefty Spencer Van Scoyoc had solid innings his first career start with three strikeouts. The Iowa-native became the first true freshman to start on opening weekend since Adam McCreery achieved the feat in 2012.
Northwestern led off the top of the third with a leadoff walk, at which point the game was delayed and the tarp was pulled. After approaching two hours of rain delay time, the game was officially postponed to Sunday.
After picking up the game tied at one in the third inning, freshman right-hander Zane Strand made his first career appearance, taking over for Van Scoyoc. He had one strikeout in 0.2 innings of work before having to leave the game due to injury.
The Sun Devils would threaten to break the 1-1 tie in the bottom half of the third. Freshman first baseman Lyle Lin delivered one of his three hits of game, a one-out single that scored junior outfielder Gage Canning as ASU gained their first lead of the game, 2-1.
Northwestern would proceed to tie the game at 2 thanks to a two-out single from junior outfielder Grant Peikert scoring junior designated hitter Jack Claeys. Sophomore left-hander Reagan Todd, who came on in relief of Strand, prevented any more Wildcats runs with a strikeout of Northwestern lead-off hitter shortstop Jack Dunn stranding runners on the corner.
Todd settled into a grove, giving the Sun Devils three scoreless innings, striking out five and retiring the final seven batters he faced.
Up Next: The Sun Devils will host a mid-week contest on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium against a Top-25 squad in Oklahoma State, a 2016 College World Series competitor. The game will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks with Daron Sutton on the call alongside Scott Erickson. The game will also be aired live through Sun Devil Sports Network on 100.7 KSLX with the Voice of the Sun Devils, Tim Healey on the call.
Notes: ASU now has two wins this season when trailing after six innings after having seven all of last season…ASU baseball moves to 19-3 in the last 12 seasons in February series…The three victories over Northwestern moves the Devils regular-season winning streak over opponents that are current members of the Big Ten conference to 16 consecutive games ...ASU has not lost to a current Big Ten conference foe in the regular season since 1974…Lyle Lin is the first true freshman to have three hits in a game on Opening Weekend since Colin Curtis in 2004…The Sun Devils have now won 11 consecutive series on Opening Weekend…ASU leads the all-time series against Northwestern 4-0…The Sun Devil pitching staff allowed just three earned runs (1.00 ERA) and 10 hits while striking out 24 Wildcats …The Sun Devil offense tallied 31 hits and drew eight walks on the weekend…Eight true freshmen made their Sun Devil debuts on opening weekend, including six who made their first career starts…