FORT WORTH, Texas – Despite putting up a three-run top of the eighth inning, Sun Devil Baseball's comeback attempt fell short as they fell, 8-4, to No. 1 TCU on Saturday night at Lupton Stadium.
Arizona State (4-2) opened the scoring in the top of the first, in part by sophomore Tyler Williams, who had his third straight game with an RBI. The designated hitter nailed a fly ball to right field, deep enough for junior Andrew Shaps to tag up and score from third base.
Texas Christian (5-1) would quickly retaliate in their half of the first, with Luken Baker sending a 3-run shot over the center field wall off of Devils' starter junior Ryan Hingst (0-1). The Texas-native ran into some trouble in the second and third innings as well, but worked his way into two scoreless frames. The Frogs would score one more run off Hingst through a double in the fourth.
The Devils turned to the bullpen with two outs in the fourth, turning the ball over to junior Jake Godfrey. Godfrey also struggled early on with command, issuing a four-pitch walk to the first batter he faced, but settled down to throw up zeroes on the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth innings.
ASU had many chances to score throughout the game, as they stranded 14 runners on base in the contest. TCU also had their second-straight game committing three or more errors, however, the Devils were unable to capitalize.
The game remained relatively quiet until the seventh frame, when the Frogs put up a 4-spot to bring the score to 8-1.
ASU's bats came alive in their half of the eighth, a rally sparked by sophomore Gage Canning's single up the middle with two outs. Shaps, in his first appearance of the season, advanced Canning to third with a single of his own and redshirt senior Jackson Willeford, in his Sun Devil debut, walked to load the bases.
And then came freshman Carter Aldrete.
Aldrete nailed a single to right field, plating Canning and Shaps while putting runners on the corners. Freshman Lyle Lin, who is in the middle of a 12-for-26 (.462) tear to begin the season, plated pinch runner Zach Cerbo, bringing the score the final of 8-4.
TCU was led by redshirt senior outfielder Nolan Brown, who ended the night 2-for-5 with a run scored and Baker, who went 1-for-4 with three RBI in his second-straight game with a home run.
Notes: Andrew Shaps finished the night 2-for-3 with 2 runs in his first appearance of the season…Lyle Lin went 2-for-5 and has had two or more hits in five out of the six games this season…Two freshman (Lin and Aldrete) are tied for the team-lead in RBI with six…Gage Canning is the only Sun Devil with a hit in each game this season…
UP NEXT: The series is on the line as they take on No. 1 TCU on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT (12 p.m. MST). The game will be broadcasted live on Fox Sports Southwest and can be listened to via Blaze Radio online at http://www.mixlr.com/blazeradioonline.
Arizona State (4-2) opened the scoring in the top of the first, in part by sophomore Tyler Williams, who had his third straight game with an RBI. The designated hitter nailed a fly ball to right field, deep enough for junior Andrew Shaps to tag up and score from third base.
Texas Christian (5-1) would quickly retaliate in their half of the first, with Luken Baker sending a 3-run shot over the center field wall off of Devils' starter junior Ryan Hingst (0-1). The Texas-native ran into some trouble in the second and third innings as well, but worked his way into two scoreless frames. The Frogs would score one more run off Hingst through a double in the fourth.
The Devils turned to the bullpen with two outs in the fourth, turning the ball over to junior Jake Godfrey. Godfrey also struggled early on with command, issuing a four-pitch walk to the first batter he faced, but settled down to throw up zeroes on the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth innings.
ASU had many chances to score throughout the game, as they stranded 14 runners on base in the contest. TCU also had their second-straight game committing three or more errors, however, the Devils were unable to capitalize.
The game remained relatively quiet until the seventh frame, when the Frogs put up a 4-spot to bring the score to 8-1.
ASU's bats came alive in their half of the eighth, a rally sparked by sophomore Gage Canning's single up the middle with two outs. Shaps, in his first appearance of the season, advanced Canning to third with a single of his own and redshirt senior Jackson Willeford, in his Sun Devil debut, walked to load the bases.
And then came freshman Carter Aldrete.
Aldrete nailed a single to right field, plating Canning and Shaps while putting runners on the corners. Freshman Lyle Lin, who is in the middle of a 12-for-26 (.462) tear to begin the season, plated pinch runner Zach Cerbo, bringing the score the final of 8-4.
TCU was led by redshirt senior outfielder Nolan Brown, who ended the night 2-for-5 with a run scored and Baker, who went 1-for-4 with three RBI in his second-straight game with a home run.
Notes: Andrew Shaps finished the night 2-for-3 with 2 runs in his first appearance of the season…Lyle Lin went 2-for-5 and has had two or more hits in five out of the six games this season…Two freshman (Lin and Aldrete) are tied for the team-lead in RBI with six…Gage Canning is the only Sun Devil with a hit in each game this season…
UP NEXT: The series is on the line as they take on No. 1 TCU on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT (12 p.m. MST). The game will be broadcasted live on Fox Sports Southwest and can be listened to via Blaze Radio online at http://www.mixlr.com/blazeradioonline.