PHOENIX, Ariz. – In a back-and-forth game that went into extra innings, Spencer Torkelson was the hero of the night, blasting a walk-off home run in the 11th inning to beat Michigan State 8-5 in dramatic fashion on Saturday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Myles Denson had arguably the play of the game in the 10thinning to even put ASU in position to win the game, making an incredible throw to home from right field to gun down a Spartan runner attempting to score of a potential sacrifice fly that would have put MSU on top.
Torkelson would take over from there, barreling a 2-2 pitch from Spartans reliever Mitch Tyranski over the left field fence to unleash a celebration, as his teammates greeted him at home plate. It was Torkelson's second home run of 2019 and 27th home run of his career, but first of the walk-off variety. Torkelson's three-run shot was ASU's first walk-off home run since Colby Woodmansee beat No. 5 Oklahoma State with a solo blast in extra innings on February 13th, 2015.
Torkelson posted four RBIs on 2-for-5 hitting with a double and a home run and two runs scored. It was his fourth game this season with three or more RBIs in a game after he had just four total during his freshman season in 2018.
A pair of freshman relievers added to the story of the night, as right-hander Blake Burzell and left-hander Eric Tolman combined to throw five scoreless innings to keep the Sun Devils in the game. The Sun Devils got a solid start from Boyd Vander Kooi, who went 5.0 innings with 6 strikeouts with just two earned runs allowed.
The Sun Devils would have to work from behind early in this one, as the Spartans would take a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run in the first inning. Boyd Vander Kooi, who got the start for the Sun Devils, would settle in and manage to blank the Spartans in the second and third innings. That gave plenty of time to the offense to kick start, with Torkelson stepping to the plate with runners on the corners. Torkelson continued to look locked-in, this time lacing a double to right field driving Myles Denson and as well as the game-tying run after an error by the right fielder scored Sam Ferri.
Vander Kooi retired 10-of-11 batters after a second inning single from the Spartans, keeping the game tied at two through the top of the fifth. The tie would soon be broken, thanks to a great at bat from Trevor Hauver. He capped a seven pitch at bat with a double to the opposite field that would drive in Sam Ferri, who had reached on an error earlier in the inning.
The Spartans took advantage of a Sun Devil error in the top of the sixth to knot the game up at three and put a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. Blake Burzell would be the first arm out of the pen for the home side proceeded to retire the next three hitters he faced, including a pair of punch-outs, to limit the Spartans to just one run that put them in front 4-3.
Burzell would take the mound for his second inning of work to start the seventh, delivering a 1-2-3 inning on his way to retiring all six batters he faced – four by way of strikeouts. Burzell has now started his career with 7.1 consecutive scoreless innings.
A seventh inning rally jumpstarted by singles from Trevor Hauver and Hunter Bishop set the stage with the bases loaded for Lyle Lin. Lin showed patience, drawing a walk to drive in the tying run. With the game even at four, Carter Aldrete did his job, driving a ball to center field plenty deep to score Torkelson as the Sun Devils re-took the lead.
Michigan State would scrap out another run in the top of the eighth, evening the score at five. Erik Tolman got the call to come in a crucial situation, a tie ball game in the top of the ninth inning. The freshman responded by not only pitching a scoreless ninth, but put together three scoreless innings as he worked a 1-2-3 11th inning to give the Arizona State a chance at a walk-off. He got some help in the field from Denson's incredible throw in the top of the 10th to cut down a runner at home plate and keep the Spartans off the board. The Spartans had the bases loaded and just one out prior to the inning-ending heroics from Denson on the potential sac fly opportunity.
With the first two batters being retired, Sam Ferri and Trevor Hauver kept the inning alive with a pair of two-out singles. Spencer Torkelson would come to the plate, with the crowd rising in anticipation. He would deliver the biggest hit of the game, a familiar sight to Sun Devil fans as the ball sailed off his bat and over the left field fence to give the Arizona State the 8-5 victory in 11 innings.
The Sun Devils are back tomorrow with a potential sweep in play as they close out the Michigan State series 12:30 p.m. Arizona time. The game that can be viewed on the ASU Live Stream through Pac-12 Networks.
Notes: Trevor Hauver smacked three more hits tonight, extending his hitting streak to nine games…with two more hits tonight, including the walk-off home run, Spencer Torkelson continues his mind-boggling offensive pace, recording multiple hits in nine of his ten games this season…the four-RBI performance was the eighth time he has recorded 3+ RBI's in his career, four of which have come through 10 games this season…the freshman relievers have had quite the week out of the bullpen…Erik Tolman and Blake Burzell combined to throw 11.2 innings without allowing an earned run, giving up just four hits while striking out eight in their outings against Pepperdine (2/26) and Michigan State (3/2)…Sam Ferri has looked better by the at bat in 2019 since returning from an injury…he now has four multi-hit games after picking up a pair of singles tonight and scoring a career-best three runs…the Sun Devils have scored at least eight runs in eight of their 10 games.
Myles Denson had arguably the play of the game in the 10thinning to even put ASU in position to win the game, making an incredible throw to home from right field to gun down a Spartan runner attempting to score of a potential sacrifice fly that would have put MSU on top.
Torkelson would take over from there, barreling a 2-2 pitch from Spartans reliever Mitch Tyranski over the left field fence to unleash a celebration, as his teammates greeted him at home plate. It was Torkelson's second home run of 2019 and 27th home run of his career, but first of the walk-off variety. Torkelson's three-run shot was ASU's first walk-off home run since Colby Woodmansee beat No. 5 Oklahoma State with a solo blast in extra innings on February 13th, 2015.
Torkelson posted four RBIs on 2-for-5 hitting with a double and a home run and two runs scored. It was his fourth game this season with three or more RBIs in a game after he had just four total during his freshman season in 2018.
A pair of freshman relievers added to the story of the night, as right-hander Blake Burzell and left-hander Eric Tolman combined to throw five scoreless innings to keep the Sun Devils in the game. The Sun Devils got a solid start from Boyd Vander Kooi, who went 5.0 innings with 6 strikeouts with just two earned runs allowed.
The Sun Devils would have to work from behind early in this one, as the Spartans would take a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run in the first inning. Boyd Vander Kooi, who got the start for the Sun Devils, would settle in and manage to blank the Spartans in the second and third innings. That gave plenty of time to the offense to kick start, with Torkelson stepping to the plate with runners on the corners. Torkelson continued to look locked-in, this time lacing a double to right field driving Myles Denson and as well as the game-tying run after an error by the right fielder scored Sam Ferri.
Vander Kooi retired 10-of-11 batters after a second inning single from the Spartans, keeping the game tied at two through the top of the fifth. The tie would soon be broken, thanks to a great at bat from Trevor Hauver. He capped a seven pitch at bat with a double to the opposite field that would drive in Sam Ferri, who had reached on an error earlier in the inning.
The Spartans took advantage of a Sun Devil error in the top of the sixth to knot the game up at three and put a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. Blake Burzell would be the first arm out of the pen for the home side proceeded to retire the next three hitters he faced, including a pair of punch-outs, to limit the Spartans to just one run that put them in front 4-3.
Burzell would take the mound for his second inning of work to start the seventh, delivering a 1-2-3 inning on his way to retiring all six batters he faced – four by way of strikeouts. Burzell has now started his career with 7.1 consecutive scoreless innings.
A seventh inning rally jumpstarted by singles from Trevor Hauver and Hunter Bishop set the stage with the bases loaded for Lyle Lin. Lin showed patience, drawing a walk to drive in the tying run. With the game even at four, Carter Aldrete did his job, driving a ball to center field plenty deep to score Torkelson as the Sun Devils re-took the lead.
Michigan State would scrap out another run in the top of the eighth, evening the score at five. Erik Tolman got the call to come in a crucial situation, a tie ball game in the top of the ninth inning. The freshman responded by not only pitching a scoreless ninth, but put together three scoreless innings as he worked a 1-2-3 11th inning to give the Arizona State a chance at a walk-off. He got some help in the field from Denson's incredible throw in the top of the 10th to cut down a runner at home plate and keep the Spartans off the board. The Spartans had the bases loaded and just one out prior to the inning-ending heroics from Denson on the potential sac fly opportunity.
With the first two batters being retired, Sam Ferri and Trevor Hauver kept the inning alive with a pair of two-out singles. Spencer Torkelson would come to the plate, with the crowd rising in anticipation. He would deliver the biggest hit of the game, a familiar sight to Sun Devil fans as the ball sailed off his bat and over the left field fence to give the Arizona State the 8-5 victory in 11 innings.
The Sun Devils are back tomorrow with a potential sweep in play as they close out the Michigan State series 12:30 p.m. Arizona time. The game that can be viewed on the ASU Live Stream through Pac-12 Networks.
Notes: Trevor Hauver smacked three more hits tonight, extending his hitting streak to nine games…with two more hits tonight, including the walk-off home run, Spencer Torkelson continues his mind-boggling offensive pace, recording multiple hits in nine of his ten games this season…the four-RBI performance was the eighth time he has recorded 3+ RBI's in his career, four of which have come through 10 games this season…the freshman relievers have had quite the week out of the bullpen…Erik Tolman and Blake Burzell combined to throw 11.2 innings without allowing an earned run, giving up just four hits while striking out eight in their outings against Pepperdine (2/26) and Michigan State (3/2)…Sam Ferri has looked better by the at bat in 2019 since returning from an injury…he now has four multi-hit games after picking up a pair of singles tonight and scoring a career-best three runs…the Sun Devils have scored at least eight runs in eight of their 10 games.