PHOENIX – The Sun Devil baseball team rallied from yet another first inning deficit to capture the win and the series sweep over Long Beach State, 8-5, on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devil (9-7) offense led the charge for the comeback victory, chasing the Long Beach State starter in the third inning. A relentless approach at the plate allowed the Sun Devils to continue to add to the lead once it was established. Four relievers combined to throw the final seven innings, containing the Dirtbags lineup to just one unearned run after the inauspicious opening frame.
Eight of the nine Sun Devils in the lineup recorded a hit in the contest while junior right handed Jake Godfrey pitched admirably in relief to earn his second victory of the season and Connor Higgins closed things out for his first career save.
In the process, the Devils swept Long Beach State for the first time since 2013. Despite being outscored 11-0 overall in the first inning of the series, the Devils outscored the Dirtbags 24-4 over the remainder of the games to earn their second sweep of the season.
For the third time in the series, the Dirtbags jumped to a first inning lead after tabbing starter Ryan Hingst for four runs (three earned) to open the game
Long Beach State (6-8) starting right-hander John Castro kept the Devils off the board in the bottom half of the first after being spotted a 4-0 lead. The Sun Devils earned their first run in the second inning, when a sacrifice fly from outfielder Ryan Lillard scored first baseman Lyle Lin, who had reached on a walk earlier in the inning. Castro would only last two innings, allowing five runs on five hits.
With the Sun Devils trailing 4-1, Godfrey would take over in the third inning for Hingst with two runners on and no outs. Godfrey recorded a giant strikeout of the first batter he faced before hitting a Dirtbag batter to load the bases. Unfazed by the magnitude of the situation, Godfrey would get out of the bases loaded jam by inducing force out at home and a flyout to keep the Devils in striking distance.
Carrying the momentum from Godfrey's outstanding relief work, the Sun Devil offense exploded to take the lead in the third with the most runs the team has scored in a single inning this season. The inning began with back-to-back hits from the top of the order, with outfielder Gage Canning leading things off with a double and Zach Cerbo advancing him with a single. The next batter, outfielder Andrew Shaps, delivered an RBI-single back up the middle to score Canning.
The scoring from the Sun Devils did not stop there. Lyle Lin drove in his team-leading 13th run of the season with an RBI-single to score Cerbo. Still with no outs recorded in the inning, outfielder Hunter Bishop capped a patient at-bat with a line drive double down smashed down the right field line, scoring both baserunners and giving ASU the 5-4 lead. Long Beach State recorded the first out of the inning six batters into the lineup, allowing each of the first five Sun Devils that reached base to score in the third inning. Infielder Jackson Willeford joined the hit parade, adding an RBI-double to give the Devils a 6-4 lead. Arizona State would increase their lead to 7-4 after a balk was called on Dirtbags right-hander Matt Fields.
The Sun Devils would never look back, thanks to the strong performance of the bullpen. After recording his first career save last night, Godfrey gave the Devils another outstanding relief effort, pitching into the sixth inning after entering in the third. Godfrey finished with 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair on his way to his second victory of the season. Entering the game for Godfrey, left-hander Tanner West recorded the final out of the sixth inning.
Right-hander Fitz Stadler relieved West in the seventh, coming into the game with two runners on and nobody out. Stadler managed to limit Long Beach State to just one unearned run, immediately forcing two Dirtbag hitters to ground out, the latter hitting into a double play. Stadler quickly erased an eighth-inning leadoff single, as he rolled up his second double play of the outing for the first two outs of the inning.
Left-hander Connor Higgins would record the final out of the eighth, keeping the ASU lead at 7-5. Still looking to add insurance runs, outfielder Ryan Lillard launched his first home run of the season over the 410' sign in center field to extend the lead to 8-5. Higgins would come back to the mound for the ninth to finish the game. Higgins struck out two, working around a pair of one-out hits to retire the side and record his first career save.
Up Next: The Sun Devils will stay home at Phoenix Municipal Stadium to open conference play with a three-game series against No. 4 Oregon State starting Thursday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. PT. The first two games of the series are schedule to be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks with the finale scheduled for a live stream on Saturday.
Notes: Eight of nine Sun Devil starters had at least one hit on the afternoon…Coming into the weekend, the Long Beach State pitching staff had allowed 39 runs in 11 games (2.82 runs/g)…In the three game series sweep against the Dirtbags, the Arizona State offense totaled 24 runs (8 runs/g)…Andrew Shaps extends his hitting streak to eight games and has now reached base in all eleven games he has played this season…The five runs scored in the third inning for ASU was a season high for one inning…Lyle Lin has now reached base at least once in 15 of his first 16 games as a Sun Devil…In the three-game series, Zach Cerbo went 5-for-10 (.500) with his first career home run and driving in three...Hunter Bishop started all three games at DH for ASU this weekend, going 5-for-11 (.454) with a home run and five RBI's during his four game hitting streak…Bishop registered an RBI in each of the three games this weekend…The Sun Devils tied a season-high with five extra-base hits as a team.
Thursday's Anticipated Pitching Matchup:
Oregon State - LHP Luke Heimlich (3-0, 0.31 ERA)
Arizona State - LHP Eli Lingos (3-0, 2.39 ERA)
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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.
The Sun Devil (9-7) offense led the charge for the comeback victory, chasing the Long Beach State starter in the third inning. A relentless approach at the plate allowed the Sun Devils to continue to add to the lead once it was established. Four relievers combined to throw the final seven innings, containing the Dirtbags lineup to just one unearned run after the inauspicious opening frame.
Eight of the nine Sun Devils in the lineup recorded a hit in the contest while junior right handed Jake Godfrey pitched admirably in relief to earn his second victory of the season and Connor Higgins closed things out for his first career save.
In the process, the Devils swept Long Beach State for the first time since 2013. Despite being outscored 11-0 overall in the first inning of the series, the Devils outscored the Dirtbags 24-4 over the remainder of the games to earn their second sweep of the season.
For the third time in the series, the Dirtbags jumped to a first inning lead after tabbing starter Ryan Hingst for four runs (three earned) to open the game
Long Beach State (6-8) starting right-hander John Castro kept the Devils off the board in the bottom half of the first after being spotted a 4-0 lead. The Sun Devils earned their first run in the second inning, when a sacrifice fly from outfielder Ryan Lillard scored first baseman Lyle Lin, who had reached on a walk earlier in the inning. Castro would only last two innings, allowing five runs on five hits.
With the Sun Devils trailing 4-1, Godfrey would take over in the third inning for Hingst with two runners on and no outs. Godfrey recorded a giant strikeout of the first batter he faced before hitting a Dirtbag batter to load the bases. Unfazed by the magnitude of the situation, Godfrey would get out of the bases loaded jam by inducing force out at home and a flyout to keep the Devils in striking distance.
Carrying the momentum from Godfrey's outstanding relief work, the Sun Devil offense exploded to take the lead in the third with the most runs the team has scored in a single inning this season. The inning began with back-to-back hits from the top of the order, with outfielder Gage Canning leading things off with a double and Zach Cerbo advancing him with a single. The next batter, outfielder Andrew Shaps, delivered an RBI-single back up the middle to score Canning.
The scoring from the Sun Devils did not stop there. Lyle Lin drove in his team-leading 13th run of the season with an RBI-single to score Cerbo. Still with no outs recorded in the inning, outfielder Hunter Bishop capped a patient at-bat with a line drive double down smashed down the right field line, scoring both baserunners and giving ASU the 5-4 lead. Long Beach State recorded the first out of the inning six batters into the lineup, allowing each of the first five Sun Devils that reached base to score in the third inning. Infielder Jackson Willeford joined the hit parade, adding an RBI-double to give the Devils a 6-4 lead. Arizona State would increase their lead to 7-4 after a balk was called on Dirtbags right-hander Matt Fields.
The Sun Devils would never look back, thanks to the strong performance of the bullpen. After recording his first career save last night, Godfrey gave the Devils another outstanding relief effort, pitching into the sixth inning after entering in the third. Godfrey finished with 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair on his way to his second victory of the season. Entering the game for Godfrey, left-hander Tanner West recorded the final out of the sixth inning.
Right-hander Fitz Stadler relieved West in the seventh, coming into the game with two runners on and nobody out. Stadler managed to limit Long Beach State to just one unearned run, immediately forcing two Dirtbag hitters to ground out, the latter hitting into a double play. Stadler quickly erased an eighth-inning leadoff single, as he rolled up his second double play of the outing for the first two outs of the inning.
Left-hander Connor Higgins would record the final out of the eighth, keeping the ASU lead at 7-5. Still looking to add insurance runs, outfielder Ryan Lillard launched his first home run of the season over the 410' sign in center field to extend the lead to 8-5. Higgins would come back to the mound for the ninth to finish the game. Higgins struck out two, working around a pair of one-out hits to retire the side and record his first career save.
Up Next: The Sun Devils will stay home at Phoenix Municipal Stadium to open conference play with a three-game series against No. 4 Oregon State starting Thursday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. PT. The first two games of the series are schedule to be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks with the finale scheduled for a live stream on Saturday.
Notes: Eight of nine Sun Devil starters had at least one hit on the afternoon…Coming into the weekend, the Long Beach State pitching staff had allowed 39 runs in 11 games (2.82 runs/g)…In the three game series sweep against the Dirtbags, the Arizona State offense totaled 24 runs (8 runs/g)…Andrew Shaps extends his hitting streak to eight games and has now reached base in all eleven games he has played this season…The five runs scored in the third inning for ASU was a season high for one inning…Lyle Lin has now reached base at least once in 15 of his first 16 games as a Sun Devil…In the three-game series, Zach Cerbo went 5-for-10 (.500) with his first career home run and driving in three...Hunter Bishop started all three games at DH for ASU this weekend, going 5-for-11 (.454) with a home run and five RBI's during his four game hitting streak…Bishop registered an RBI in each of the three games this weekend…The Sun Devils tied a season-high with five extra-base hits as a team.
Thursday's Anticipated Pitching Matchup:
Oregon State - LHP Luke Heimlich (3-0, 0.31 ERA)
Arizona State - LHP Eli Lingos (3-0, 2.39 ERA)
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.