PHOENIX – The Sun Devil baseball team fell 8-5 to Loyola Marymount in the rubber match of its three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Right-hander Jake Godfrey got the start for ASU, his first start as a Sun Devil. The Illinois native kept the Lions scoreless for three innings until LMU broke through in the fourth. Godfrey recorded three strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work.
The Sun Devils struck first, as catcher Lyle Lin plated outfielder Andrew Shaps with an opposite field single to give the Devils a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
The Lions threatened in the next frame with a bases-loaded jam, but Godfrey induced a pop-up to eliminate the threat for ASU.
ASU added insurance to their lead in the home half of the second inning after infielder Carter Aldrete rocketed a leadoff home-run, his second of the season, to left center field to power the Devils forward 2-0. Infielder Jeremy McCuin and outfielder Gage Canning followed with singles, but a ground-out ended the offensive push by ASU.
LMU responded with six runs in the top of the fourth, all coming with two outs. Right-handed pitcher James Ryan was the first to come out of the bullpen, relieving Godfrey with two outs in the fourth inning. The sophomore would go on to allow one run over 1.1 innings.
The Sun Devils began to chip away at the Lions' lead in the bottom of the fifth when Shaps launched a solo-shot to right-center field, cutting the score 6-3.
Right-handed pitcher Fitz Stadler entered the game in the sixth inning for Ryan and kept the Lions off the board in his first inning of work. After struggling with the first two batters he faced, Ryan retired the final four batters of his outing. Right-hander Fitz Stadler gave the ASU pitching staff a boost, throwing two scoreless innings and allowing just one hit and striking out a pair.
ASU rallied in the seventh, starting with outfielder Ryan Lillard's pinch-hit double. Lin scored Lillard with his second hit of the game, a line drive to left center, to cut the lead to 6-4. Outfielder Tyler Williams smoked a double over the left fielder's head to send Lin home and trim the Lions lead to 6-5.
Right-handed pitcher Eder Erives made his first appearance since the first game of the season, teaming up with left-hander Chaz Montoya to finish the eighth inning.
The Sun Devils brought the tying run to the plate after outfielder Gage Canning ignited the offense with a triple in the bottom of the eighth, one of his three hits on the day, but a fly-out to center field cut the comeback short.
The Lions added an insurance run in the both the eighth and ninth inning to extend their lead to 8-5.
Notes
The Sun Devil offense established a new season-high with five extra-base hits… Lyle Lin reached base for the tenth consecutive game and is the only Sun Devil to reach base in every game this season…Lin now has multiple hits in eight of the 11 games the Sun Devils have played this season…After adding two more RBI's to push his team-leading total to 11, Lin recorded his fourth multi-RBI game on the year…Right-hander Fitz Stadler completed his second scoreless relief appearance of 2+ innings in just four appearances this season…With three hits on the afternoon, Gage Canning recorded his second three-hit game of the season after having just four all last season…Left-hander Chaz Montoya has not been scored upon in four of his six appearances on the year.
Up Next: The Devils will host a two-game mid-week series against No. 12 Cal State Fullerton beginning on Tuesday, March 7th at 6:30 p.m. The second game of the mid-week series will take place on Wednesday, March 8th at 6:30 p.m. The Sun Devils will remain at home for a three-game set against Long Beach State starting on Friday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. The Saturday and Sunday contests in that series will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks with all other games being shown online via the Pac-12 Digital Stream.
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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.
Right-hander Jake Godfrey got the start for ASU, his first start as a Sun Devil. The Illinois native kept the Lions scoreless for three innings until LMU broke through in the fourth. Godfrey recorded three strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work.
The Sun Devils struck first, as catcher Lyle Lin plated outfielder Andrew Shaps with an opposite field single to give the Devils a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
The Lions threatened in the next frame with a bases-loaded jam, but Godfrey induced a pop-up to eliminate the threat for ASU.
ASU added insurance to their lead in the home half of the second inning after infielder Carter Aldrete rocketed a leadoff home-run, his second of the season, to left center field to power the Devils forward 2-0. Infielder Jeremy McCuin and outfielder Gage Canning followed with singles, but a ground-out ended the offensive push by ASU.
LMU responded with six runs in the top of the fourth, all coming with two outs. Right-handed pitcher James Ryan was the first to come out of the bullpen, relieving Godfrey with two outs in the fourth inning. The sophomore would go on to allow one run over 1.1 innings.
The Sun Devils began to chip away at the Lions' lead in the bottom of the fifth when Shaps launched a solo-shot to right-center field, cutting the score 6-3.
Right-handed pitcher Fitz Stadler entered the game in the sixth inning for Ryan and kept the Lions off the board in his first inning of work. After struggling with the first two batters he faced, Ryan retired the final four batters of his outing. Right-hander Fitz Stadler gave the ASU pitching staff a boost, throwing two scoreless innings and allowing just one hit and striking out a pair.
ASU rallied in the seventh, starting with outfielder Ryan Lillard's pinch-hit double. Lin scored Lillard with his second hit of the game, a line drive to left center, to cut the lead to 6-4. Outfielder Tyler Williams smoked a double over the left fielder's head to send Lin home and trim the Lions lead to 6-5.
Right-handed pitcher Eder Erives made his first appearance since the first game of the season, teaming up with left-hander Chaz Montoya to finish the eighth inning.
The Sun Devils brought the tying run to the plate after outfielder Gage Canning ignited the offense with a triple in the bottom of the eighth, one of his three hits on the day, but a fly-out to center field cut the comeback short.
The Lions added an insurance run in the both the eighth and ninth inning to extend their lead to 8-5.
Notes
The Sun Devil offense established a new season-high with five extra-base hits… Lyle Lin reached base for the tenth consecutive game and is the only Sun Devil to reach base in every game this season…Lin now has multiple hits in eight of the 11 games the Sun Devils have played this season…After adding two more RBI's to push his team-leading total to 11, Lin recorded his fourth multi-RBI game on the year…Right-hander Fitz Stadler completed his second scoreless relief appearance of 2+ innings in just four appearances this season…With three hits on the afternoon, Gage Canning recorded his second three-hit game of the season after having just four all last season…Left-hander Chaz Montoya has not been scored upon in four of his six appearances on the year.
Up Next: The Devils will host a two-game mid-week series against No. 12 Cal State Fullerton beginning on Tuesday, March 7th at 6:30 p.m. The second game of the mid-week series will take place on Wednesday, March 8th at 6:30 p.m. The Sun Devils will remain at home for a three-game set against Long Beach State starting on Friday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. The Saturday and Sunday contests in that series will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks with all other games being shown online via the Pac-12 Digital Stream.
_____________
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.