PHOENIX – Senior catcher Zach Cerbo drove in three runs and launched his first career home run as the Sun Devil baseball team rallied from yet another first-inning deficit to defeat Long Beach State, 9-4, Saturday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils (8-7) managed to carry the offensive momentum built from last night's come-from-behind victory into Saturday's game. Cerbo led the way for the Sun Devils, driving in three runs including a two-run blast that would give ASU the early lead. Outfielder Andrew Shaps and infielder Carter Aldrete both contributed with multi-hit games. Outfielder Hunter Bishop was rewarded with a start thanks to a strong game last night that included his first career home run. Bishop drove in a pair of runs to propel the Devils rally.
ASU starting left-hander Spencer Van Scoyoc managed to settle down after struggling to find his command in the first inning. After giving up a pair of runs in the first, the freshman allowed one hits and zero runs in his 3.2 remaining innings of work to keep the Devils in front after the second inning rally.
On the day, the Sun Devil pitching staff held Long Beach State to a season-low four hits on 4-of-31 hitting (.129) and a paltry 2-of-17 (.118) with runners on base.
Long Beach State (6-7) starting right-hander John Sheaks kept the Devils bats at bay in the bottom half of the first after being spotted a 2-0 lead. It would not take the Sun Devils long to strike, however, with three runs coming in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Hunter Bishop got the Devils on the board with a sac-fly, scoring outfielder Ryan Lillard.
With a runner still on base, Cerbo stepped to the plate and came through for ASU. The senior catcher drilled a fastball from Sheaks over the left field fence to give ASU the 3-2 lead and his first career long ball. Cerbo would deliver once again in the fourth, this time with an RBI-single to score infielder Carter Aldrete, one of three runs the freshman would score on the day.
Left-hander Reagan Todd took over for Van Scoyoc in the fifth inning, punching out Dirtbags first baseman Daniel Jackson with two runners on to get out of the jam and maintain the 4-2 lead. A two-run seventh inning, capped by a Daniel Jackson two-RBI double into right field, tied the game at 4.
The back-and-forth swings continued as the Sun Devils would take the lead back in the bottom half of the seventh inning. Cerbo began the inning by reaching base via a hit by pitch before moving to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by infielder Jeremy McCuin. Leadoff batter Jackson Willeford would follow with a clutch opposite field single into left that scored Cerbo from second moving the Sun Devils back into the lead, 5-4.
Reagan Todd was replaced by right-hander Ryan Hingst in the eighth, who would record one out before giving way to right-hander Jake Godfrey. With two runners in scoring position in a tie game, Godfrey induced a popup, ending the Dirtbag threat to the delight of the Phoenix Muni crowd.
In search of insurance runs, the ASU offense exploded for four runs in the eighth inning to extend their lead to five. Back-to-back singles from Andrew Shaps and first baseman Lyle Lin and terrific execution on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Lillard placed two runners in scoring position.
An extremely mature and patient at-bat by freshman Carter Aldrete loaded the bases for Hunter Bishop. Bishop came through for the Sun Devils, lofting a single into left field to score Shaps. The Sun Devils would tack on another run thanks to a balk from Dirtbags right-hander Chris Rivera. Jeremy McCuin made Long Beach State pay for intentionally walking Cerbo to load the bases. McCuin had a solid approach at the plate, putting the ball in play and finding space in right field to drop a RBI-single to score Aldrete. Infielder Taylor Lane would add another run to the total with a sacrifice fly to move the lead to 9-4.
Godfrey would return to the mound for the ninth after recording the final out of the eighth and worked around a two-out walk to retire the Dirtbags and earn his first career save.
Up Next: The Devils go for the sweep over the Dirtbags on Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m. for Game Three of the series, scheduled to be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks.
Notes: Since going 4-for-19 (.210) with zero home runs and one RBI in his first five starts of the season, Andrew Shaps has been locked in going the past five starts going 8-for-22 (.363) with two home runs and four RBI's…Shaps extends his hitting streak to seven games and has now reached base in all ten games he has played this season… Long Beach State reliever Sebastian Sanchez had not allowed a run in 3.2 innings of work coming into the game…The ASU offense tagged Sanchez for three runs, including the game-winning run, on three hits in 2.1 innings of work… Lyle Lin has now reached base at least once in 14 of his first 15 games as a Sun Devil…Jeremy McCuin extended his hitting streak to six games…Zach Cerbo hit his first career home run and Jake Godfrey earned his first career save in the win…Cerbo also tied a career high with three RBIs…. In his four starts this season, Hunter Bishop is 6-for-12 (.500) with one home run and three RBIs…Zach Cerbo is now 7-for-10 (.700) with a home run and four RBIs in his last three starts this year.
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2017 Season Tickets
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Flex Plans
This plan gives fans the ultimate flexibility with eight (8) vouchers redeemable for tickets to any home game. Fans can use all nine tickets at one game, or one ticket at nine different games; simply present your voucher to the ticket office whenever you decide to attend. Tickets are at a 20-33 percent discount and in the Infield Reserved Seating sections. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets for the team's non-conference slate are on sale now. Call 480-727-0000 or click here for more information and to purchase.
The Sun Devils (8-7) managed to carry the offensive momentum built from last night's come-from-behind victory into Saturday's game. Cerbo led the way for the Sun Devils, driving in three runs including a two-run blast that would give ASU the early lead. Outfielder Andrew Shaps and infielder Carter Aldrete both contributed with multi-hit games. Outfielder Hunter Bishop was rewarded with a start thanks to a strong game last night that included his first career home run. Bishop drove in a pair of runs to propel the Devils rally.
ASU starting left-hander Spencer Van Scoyoc managed to settle down after struggling to find his command in the first inning. After giving up a pair of runs in the first, the freshman allowed one hits and zero runs in his 3.2 remaining innings of work to keep the Devils in front after the second inning rally.
On the day, the Sun Devil pitching staff held Long Beach State to a season-low four hits on 4-of-31 hitting (.129) and a paltry 2-of-17 (.118) with runners on base.
Long Beach State (6-7) starting right-hander John Sheaks kept the Devils bats at bay in the bottom half of the first after being spotted a 2-0 lead. It would not take the Sun Devils long to strike, however, with three runs coming in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Hunter Bishop got the Devils on the board with a sac-fly, scoring outfielder Ryan Lillard.
With a runner still on base, Cerbo stepped to the plate and came through for ASU. The senior catcher drilled a fastball from Sheaks over the left field fence to give ASU the 3-2 lead and his first career long ball. Cerbo would deliver once again in the fourth, this time with an RBI-single to score infielder Carter Aldrete, one of three runs the freshman would score on the day.
Left-hander Reagan Todd took over for Van Scoyoc in the fifth inning, punching out Dirtbags first baseman Daniel Jackson with two runners on to get out of the jam and maintain the 4-2 lead. A two-run seventh inning, capped by a Daniel Jackson two-RBI double into right field, tied the game at 4.
The back-and-forth swings continued as the Sun Devils would take the lead back in the bottom half of the seventh inning. Cerbo began the inning by reaching base via a hit by pitch before moving to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by infielder Jeremy McCuin. Leadoff batter Jackson Willeford would follow with a clutch opposite field single into left that scored Cerbo from second moving the Sun Devils back into the lead, 5-4.
Reagan Todd was replaced by right-hander Ryan Hingst in the eighth, who would record one out before giving way to right-hander Jake Godfrey. With two runners in scoring position in a tie game, Godfrey induced a popup, ending the Dirtbag threat to the delight of the Phoenix Muni crowd.
In search of insurance runs, the ASU offense exploded for four runs in the eighth inning to extend their lead to five. Back-to-back singles from Andrew Shaps and first baseman Lyle Lin and terrific execution on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Lillard placed two runners in scoring position.
An extremely mature and patient at-bat by freshman Carter Aldrete loaded the bases for Hunter Bishop. Bishop came through for the Sun Devils, lofting a single into left field to score Shaps. The Sun Devils would tack on another run thanks to a balk from Dirtbags right-hander Chris Rivera. Jeremy McCuin made Long Beach State pay for intentionally walking Cerbo to load the bases. McCuin had a solid approach at the plate, putting the ball in play and finding space in right field to drop a RBI-single to score Aldrete. Infielder Taylor Lane would add another run to the total with a sacrifice fly to move the lead to 9-4.
Godfrey would return to the mound for the ninth after recording the final out of the eighth and worked around a two-out walk to retire the Dirtbags and earn his first career save.
Up Next: The Devils go for the sweep over the Dirtbags on Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m. for Game Three of the series, scheduled to be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks.
Notes: Since going 4-for-19 (.210) with zero home runs and one RBI in his first five starts of the season, Andrew Shaps has been locked in going the past five starts going 8-for-22 (.363) with two home runs and four RBI's…Shaps extends his hitting streak to seven games and has now reached base in all ten games he has played this season… Long Beach State reliever Sebastian Sanchez had not allowed a run in 3.2 innings of work coming into the game…The ASU offense tagged Sanchez for three runs, including the game-winning run, on three hits in 2.1 innings of work… Lyle Lin has now reached base at least once in 14 of his first 15 games as a Sun Devil…Jeremy McCuin extended his hitting streak to six games…Zach Cerbo hit his first career home run and Jake Godfrey earned his first career save in the win…Cerbo also tied a career high with three RBIs…. In his four starts this season, Hunter Bishop is 6-for-12 (.500) with one home run and three RBIs…Zach Cerbo is now 7-for-10 (.700) with a home run and four RBIs in his last three starts this year.
Join the conversation all season
Twitter: @ASU_Baseball | Facebook: Sun Devil Baseball | Instagram: ASU_Baseball
2017 Season Tickets
Sun Devil Baseball season tickets are on sale now, and fans can purchase by calling 480-965-5812 or click here for more information and to purchase
5-Game Mini Plans
This plan allows fans to choose five (5) games in the 2017 season to create their own customized schedule. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Flex Plans
This plan gives fans the ultimate flexibility with eight (8) vouchers redeemable for tickets to any home game. Fans can use all nine tickets at one game, or one ticket at nine different games; simply present your voucher to the ticket office whenever you decide to attend. Tickets are at a 20-33 percent discount and in the Infield Reserved Seating sections. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets for the team's non-conference slate are on sale now. Call 480-727-0000 or click here for more information and to purchase.