PHOENIX, Ariz. – In a game that featured four lead changes in the first four innings, a pair of back-to-back home runs in the fifth by Spencer Torkelson and Gage Canning blew the game wide open for the Arizona State baseball team to secure a 15-7 victory over Utah on Saturday night in game two of a three-game weekend series at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Torkelson's home run was his 19th of the season, adding another one to his freshman home run record. For Canning, his home run was his sixth of the season through 38 games, already matching his previous career-high from last season in which he hit six home runs in 55 games.
The Sun Devil offense was clicking on all cylinders throughout the evening, finishing with 16 hits against the Utes pitching staff, with every single batter in the starting lineup recording a hit. ASU had five players register both multi-hit and multiple RBI performances. The bottom three batters in the Sun Devil lineup, featuring Hunter Jump, Alika Williams and Drew Swift, combined to go 8-for-12 (.666) with six RBI's and seven runs scored.
Chaz Montoya picked up his first win of the season after entering in relief for Sam Romero during the third inning. Montoya pitched a solid 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and striking out three while surrendering two runs (one earned) before being replaced by fellow southpaw Spencer Van Scoyoc in the seventh.
Utah scored the first run of the game in the second inning thanks to a lead-off triple. Arizona State came roaring back to take the lead with four runs of their own at the bottom of the inning.
ASU showed an ability to bounce back from a deficit, as their three-run lead evaporated by the third inning. The relentless Sun Devil lineup put up three or more runs in four different innings, including a three spot that allowed them to re-take the lead in the fourth inning. First, Carter Aldrete delivered a 2-RBI double to tie the game. Arizona State tacked on another run as Gage Workman smacked a his sixth triple of the season to left center field, scoring Aldrete and giving ASU the lead once again.
Arizona State pushed out their lead with four two-out runs in the sixth, providing some fireworks for the fans in the process. The top of the order came through in a loud way, as Spencer Torkelson and Gage Canning hit back-to-back home runs to extend the lead to 10-6.
Arizona State continued to pile on, giving the pitching staff some breathing room with another crooked number in the sixth. Three more two-out runs made the score 14-6, giving the Sun Devils an impressive seven runs batted in with two outs. The bottom of the order provided the spark yet again, as Drew Swift knocked in Hunter Jump with a double before scoring on a wild pitch later in the inning. Gage Canning came through with his 28th extra base hit of the year, scoring Spencer Torkelson to make it 14-6 Sun Devils.
Van Scoyoc provided the Sun Devils a quality relief appearance, striking out five on the night, including the final two batters to end the game. Van Scoyoc went the final 2.2 innings, preventing the Utes from cutting into the lead. Van Scoyoc has now thrown 7.2 consecutive scoreless innings since March 17th.
ASU will look to go for their second Pac-12 Conference series sweep tomorrow Sunday, April 21 at 12:30 p.m. AZT in their final game of the three-game series.
WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream | LISTEN: NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM
Torkelson's home run was his 19th of the season, adding another one to his freshman home run record. For Canning, his home run was his sixth of the season through 38 games, already matching his previous career-high from last season in which he hit six home runs in 55 games.
The Sun Devil offense was clicking on all cylinders throughout the evening, finishing with 16 hits against the Utes pitching staff, with every single batter in the starting lineup recording a hit. ASU had five players register both multi-hit and multiple RBI performances. The bottom three batters in the Sun Devil lineup, featuring Hunter Jump, Alika Williams and Drew Swift, combined to go 8-for-12 (.666) with six RBI's and seven runs scored.
Chaz Montoya picked up his first win of the season after entering in relief for Sam Romero during the third inning. Montoya pitched a solid 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and striking out three while surrendering two runs (one earned) before being replaced by fellow southpaw Spencer Van Scoyoc in the seventh.
Utah scored the first run of the game in the second inning thanks to a lead-off triple. Arizona State came roaring back to take the lead with four runs of their own at the bottom of the inning.
ASU showed an ability to bounce back from a deficit, as their three-run lead evaporated by the third inning. The relentless Sun Devil lineup put up three or more runs in four different innings, including a three spot that allowed them to re-take the lead in the fourth inning. First, Carter Aldrete delivered a 2-RBI double to tie the game. Arizona State tacked on another run as Gage Workman smacked a his sixth triple of the season to left center field, scoring Aldrete and giving ASU the lead once again.
Arizona State pushed out their lead with four two-out runs in the sixth, providing some fireworks for the fans in the process. The top of the order came through in a loud way, as Spencer Torkelson and Gage Canning hit back-to-back home runs to extend the lead to 10-6.
Arizona State continued to pile on, giving the pitching staff some breathing room with another crooked number in the sixth. Three more two-out runs made the score 14-6, giving the Sun Devils an impressive seven runs batted in with two outs. The bottom of the order provided the spark yet again, as Drew Swift knocked in Hunter Jump with a double before scoring on a wild pitch later in the inning. Gage Canning came through with his 28th extra base hit of the year, scoring Spencer Torkelson to make it 14-6 Sun Devils.
Van Scoyoc provided the Sun Devils a quality relief appearance, striking out five on the night, including the final two batters to end the game. Van Scoyoc went the final 2.2 innings, preventing the Utes from cutting into the lead. Van Scoyoc has now thrown 7.2 consecutive scoreless innings since March 17th.
ASU will look to go for their second Pac-12 Conference series sweep tomorrow Sunday, April 21 at 12:30 p.m. AZT in their final game of the three-game series.
WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream | LISTEN: NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM