TEMPE, Ariz. - The Sun Devil baseball team picked up their first conference victory in a 7-4 victory over Oregon in the opening game of the three-game weekend series Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Arizona State (9-9) offense got hot early and finished strong, scoring two runs in the first and five runs in the eighth as they came from behind to earn the victory. Senior Gage Canning highlighted the offense, finishing with three hits and a go-ahead three-run RBI triple, while Phoenix native Sam Romero registered his second quality start of the season.
Canning saved his best at-bat for last as he hit his NCAA leading seventh triple to drive in three Sun Devils. The triple gives Canning sole possession of fourth place in the ASU all-time record books, now sitting with 21 career triples. ASU has now driven in the game-winning run in the eighth inning or later 15 times over the past 2+ seasons.
Romero had his stuff working early as he worked around a three-run third inning, pounding the strike zone through a career-high 6.1 innings of work. Romero finished the night with seven strikeouts, tying his season high.
The Sun Devils would go to work early on the Ducks ace Matt Mercer, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the first. Canning would lead things off by drawing a six-pitch walk and eventually be moved over to second by a groundout from catcher Lyle Lin. Spencer Torkelson ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Canning. Aldrete would score the final run of the inning, as he punched a single up the middle.
ASU would load the bases in the bottom of the second with a chance at adding more runs to the board. Torkelson gave a 2-1 pitch a ride to center, drawing cheers from the crowd, but it would not be enough as the Oregon center fielder would camp under it for out number three.
After Oregon scored in back to back innings, Romero would settle in and retire the side in order in the fifth, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Pressure would be added by the Sun Devil bats in the bottom of the eighth, as freshman Gage Workman would reach aboard via hit by pitch. Hunter Jump would move Workman over after he singled up the middle. Trevor Hauver and Drew Swift both took ball four passes, the second of which would score the runner to cut the lead to 4-3. That is when Canning stepped into a pressure spot and drilled the second pitch he saw from Ducks closer Kenyon Yovan deep into the left-center gap clearing the bases and ending up on third with a triple. Lyle Lin would add an insurance run to the scoreboard, capping off the five-run eighth inning and giving ASU a 7-4 lead.
The rally began through Oregon's right-handed pitcher Parker Kelly, who had pitched 14 scoreless innings before the Sun Devils were able to key in two runs through just 1.2 innings of work. The comeback was the first time a team had defeated Oregon when trailing after seven innings as the Ducks were 11-0 this season when leading after seven this season.
Left-handed reliever Chaz Montoya came out of the pen to finish the comeback for Arizona State. Montoya would let aboard two Ducks via hit by pitch and walk, but he would settle in, retiring the next two batters to earn his fifth save of the season.
Up Next: The Devils continue their three-game series against Oregon on Saturday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. The series finale gets underway Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Watch the game online via Pac-12 Plus.