CORVALLIS – Spencer Torkelson tied the Pac-12 freshman record for home runs and Alec Marsh dealt all night but late errors would undo the Sun Devils in a 6-2 loss at No. 5 Oregon State on Friday evening.
Torkelson, who recently became just the fourth freshman in Pac-12 history to reach 20 home runs, tied the record previous held by USC Jeff Clement (2003) and Gonzaga's Jeff Hainline (1984) with his solo shot in the ninth evening on Friday.
The freshman, who currently leads the country with 21 homers, moved into a tie for ninth in ASU single-season history with the dinger and has his sights still set on the school record of 27 set by Mitch Jones in 2000. The NCAA freshman record is 26, set by Georgia Southern's Todd Greene in 1990.
The 21 homers are now tied for 18th in the NCAA since 2011, the year that college baseball introduced the current BBCOR batting technology.
Alec Marsh pitched a gem that was not reflected in the final score on Friday, as he finished with a career-high eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched while allowing just two runs on five hits. It was the third quality start of the season for the sophomore, who has taken his game to a new level since earning the spot as ASU's Friday Night pitcher.
The Devils remained within striking distance until the eight inning, trailing just 2-0 late before a pair of errors in the bottom of the frame paved the way for four unearned Oregon State runs that extended the lead to 6-0.
ASU didn't go quietly into the night, as Torkelson's home run was just the second off of Beaver ace Luke Heimlich to get ASU on the board. Three straight singles from Carter Aldrete, Lyle Lin and Taylor Lane would bring another run across and put the tying run in the on-deck circle but the rally ended there.
Lane finished the night as the only Sun Devil with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI on the evening.
ASU returns to action on Saturday against the Beavers with first pitch scheduled for 3:05 p.m. PT.
Torkelson, who recently became just the fourth freshman in Pac-12 history to reach 20 home runs, tied the record previous held by USC Jeff Clement (2003) and Gonzaga's Jeff Hainline (1984) with his solo shot in the ninth evening on Friday.
The freshman, who currently leads the country with 21 homers, moved into a tie for ninth in ASU single-season history with the dinger and has his sights still set on the school record of 27 set by Mitch Jones in 2000. The NCAA freshman record is 26, set by Georgia Southern's Todd Greene in 1990.
The 21 homers are now tied for 18th in the NCAA since 2011, the year that college baseball introduced the current BBCOR batting technology.
Alec Marsh pitched a gem that was not reflected in the final score on Friday, as he finished with a career-high eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched while allowing just two runs on five hits. It was the third quality start of the season for the sophomore, who has taken his game to a new level since earning the spot as ASU's Friday Night pitcher.
The Devils remained within striking distance until the eight inning, trailing just 2-0 late before a pair of errors in the bottom of the frame paved the way for four unearned Oregon State runs that extended the lead to 6-0.
ASU didn't go quietly into the night, as Torkelson's home run was just the second off of Beaver ace Luke Heimlich to get ASU on the board. Three straight singles from Carter Aldrete, Lyle Lin and Taylor Lane would bring another run across and put the tying run in the on-deck circle but the rally ended there.
Lane finished the night as the only Sun Devil with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI on the evening.
ASU returns to action on Saturday against the Beavers with first pitch scheduled for 3:05 p.m. PT.