TEMPE – Spencer Torkelson had two home runs and Gage Canning had another three-hit game, but the Sun Devil Baseball team was undone by a 10-run fifth inning in a 16-4 loss to cap off a midweek series against Long Beach State in Long Beach, Calif.
Torkelson gave the Sun Devils a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning with his fifth home run of the season but the lead was short-lived as the ASU pitching staff struggled to find the zone in the bottom half of the inning.
ASU walked the bases loaded with no outs and all five of the staff's walks on the day came in the inauspicious frame. After loading the bases, the Devils were unable to stop the bleeding as the Dirtbags took an insurmountable lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
Torkelson provided a bright spot in the outing with an absolute moonshot in the top of the seventh – his second homer of the game and sixth of the season. Torkelson now has 11 hits on the season, six of which of left the yard.
Gage Canning had another strong outing, going 3-for-5 in the effort – his seventh multi-hit game in nine games this season and his fourth game with 3 or more hits. Canning is now batting .583 on the season with an .833 slugging percentage and is second on the squad with 7 RBIs.
Lyle Lin had another two-hit performance – also his seventh multi-hit game of the season. He and Canning continue to have a hit in each game of the season so far.
ASU got a solid start from RHP Fitz Stadler, who went 4.0 innings with just two hits allowed, two runs and three strikeouts to one walk. Dellan Raish had a solid inning of relief, retiring the side in order in his one inning of action.
The Sun Devils will have a quick turnaround before hosting a three-game set against Oklahoma State beginning Friday, March 2 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Torkelson gave the Sun Devils a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning with his fifth home run of the season but the lead was short-lived as the ASU pitching staff struggled to find the zone in the bottom half of the inning.
ASU walked the bases loaded with no outs and all five of the staff's walks on the day came in the inauspicious frame. After loading the bases, the Devils were unable to stop the bleeding as the Dirtbags took an insurmountable lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
Torkelson provided a bright spot in the outing with an absolute moonshot in the top of the seventh – his second homer of the game and sixth of the season. Torkelson now has 11 hits on the season, six of which of left the yard.
Gage Canning had another strong outing, going 3-for-5 in the effort – his seventh multi-hit game in nine games this season and his fourth game with 3 or more hits. Canning is now batting .583 on the season with an .833 slugging percentage and is second on the squad with 7 RBIs.
Lyle Lin had another two-hit performance – also his seventh multi-hit game of the season. He and Canning continue to have a hit in each game of the season so far.
ASU got a solid start from RHP Fitz Stadler, who went 4.0 innings with just two hits allowed, two runs and three strikeouts to one walk. Dellan Raish had a solid inning of relief, retiring the side in order in his one inning of action.
The Sun Devils will have a quick turnaround before hosting a three-game set against Oklahoma State beginning Friday, March 2 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.