by Chris Fortney, Sun Devil Athletics
PHOENIX- Celebrating the career of lone senior Sam Romero, the Sun Devil baseball team (37-17) fell to No. 3 Stanford (41-11), 3-2, in the series finale on Saturday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Aiming to close out their 2019 regular season schedule with a series win, sophomore Boyd Vander Kooi took the hill for Tracy Smith's squad as the right-hander made his fifteenth start on the year and spun a gem of a game in the process. The sophomore had a career-best 11 strikeouts, the most by a Sun Devil pitcher this season. Vander Kooi went 7.0 scoreless innings without allowing a walk and became the ASU first pitcher to strike out 11 batters since 2016.
Carter Aldrete was the lone source of offense of the Devils, recording both RBIs on an RBI single followed by a mammoth solo shot later in the game.
After striking out two Cardinal hitters in the opening frame, Vander Kooi sent the Sun Devils into the dugout with the opportunity to jump on the board first. Despite Spencer Torkelson's leadoff walk, ASU could not capitalize and drive home the sophomore first baseman as the scoreboard remained blank for both sides through the first inning.
Finding his groove on the rubber, Vander Kooi held the nation's third-ranked team in check by posting another zero on the board in the top of the second. At the dish, the Sun Devils would notch their first hit of the game on a double down the left field line from redshirt junior Cole Austin. Following a walk to sophomore Alika Williams, junior Carter Aldrete continued his hot streak with the bat by driving in Austin on a line-drive single to left field, putting ASU on top 1-0 in the home half of the second.
Retiring the side in order, Vander Kooi would stifle the Cardinal offense for a third consecutive inning, giving ASU the chance to add some insurance runs. In the bottom of the third, sophomore Trevor Hauver reached on a walk but was unable to come around to score as the Sun Devils maintained their 1-0 lead heading into the fourth.
However, the fourth proved to be painless for both teams as each pitcher sent down the opposition in order.
In the top of the fifth, Vander Kooi dealt with his first jam of the contest after allowing the first two Stanford hitters to reach with back-to-back singles. Despite the pressure, the righty was not fazed as he struck out out the next two Cardinal en route to notching a new career-high with ten strikeouts.
Stepping to the plate in the home half of the fifth, Aldrete crushed a solo homerun over the "Wall of Honor" in left-centerfield to push the ASU lead to 2-0. The longball, which was his ninth of the year, was also his second in as many days and the fourth in his last five games. Additionally, Aldrete tied his season-long hitting streak of six games with the home run while also reaching base for the sixth consecutive contest.
Looking to ride the momentum of the offense, Vander Kooi would punch out Stanford's designated hitter in the top of the sixth to record his eleventh strikeout of the game, establishing a new season-high for strikeouts in a game by a Sun Devil. With this achievement, it also marked the most strikeouts by an ASU pitcher since Seth Martinez notched 11 against U.C. Davis on March 12, 2016, as well as being the most by a Sun Devil in a Pac-12 game since 2015.
This would bring the middle of the lineup to the plate for ASU, but the Sun Devils could not exploit this opportunity as the score remained 2-0 moving into the top of the seventh.
Following another scoreless top half from Vander Kooi, Williams reached on a deflected infield single off the pitcher, but that would be all that came from ASU's offense in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Having worked seven shutout innings without allowing a walk, Vander Kooi was relieved by freshman Blaze Burzell in the top of the eighth. Picking up right where he left off, Burzell retired the Cardinal in order, giving the Sun Devils one last opportunity to pad their lead.
Showing off the wheels, Torkelson picked up his first stolen base on the season after reaching on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth. Unfortunately, the offense could not drive him home as ASU held onto their 2-0 lead going into the final frame.
Despite recording the two first outs, Burzell would allow two Stanford hitters to reach base before being relieved by sophomore RJ Dabovich. Having held the Cardinal off the board to this point, Stanford knocked in their first runs of the game and took the lead on a three-run home run from their shortstop.
Attempting to come from behind in the bottom of the ninth for the second time in the series, the Sun Devils would get a runner on base as Williams drew a walk off All-American closer Jack Little. Unfortunately, this is as close as ASU would get as Stanford would hold on to win by a final score of 3-2.
Moving into the postseason, the Sun Devils will await their placement in an NCAA regional. The team will find out their destination on Monday, May 27th at 9 a.m. on ESPNU.
PHOENIX- Celebrating the career of lone senior Sam Romero, the Sun Devil baseball team (37-17) fell to No. 3 Stanford (41-11), 3-2, in the series finale on Saturday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Aiming to close out their 2019 regular season schedule with a series win, sophomore Boyd Vander Kooi took the hill for Tracy Smith's squad as the right-hander made his fifteenth start on the year and spun a gem of a game in the process. The sophomore had a career-best 11 strikeouts, the most by a Sun Devil pitcher this season. Vander Kooi went 7.0 scoreless innings without allowing a walk and became the ASU first pitcher to strike out 11 batters since 2016.
Carter Aldrete was the lone source of offense of the Devils, recording both RBIs on an RBI single followed by a mammoth solo shot later in the game.
After striking out two Cardinal hitters in the opening frame, Vander Kooi sent the Sun Devils into the dugout with the opportunity to jump on the board first. Despite Spencer Torkelson's leadoff walk, ASU could not capitalize and drive home the sophomore first baseman as the scoreboard remained blank for both sides through the first inning.
Finding his groove on the rubber, Vander Kooi held the nation's third-ranked team in check by posting another zero on the board in the top of the second. At the dish, the Sun Devils would notch their first hit of the game on a double down the left field line from redshirt junior Cole Austin. Following a walk to sophomore Alika Williams, junior Carter Aldrete continued his hot streak with the bat by driving in Austin on a line-drive single to left field, putting ASU on top 1-0 in the home half of the second.
Retiring the side in order, Vander Kooi would stifle the Cardinal offense for a third consecutive inning, giving ASU the chance to add some insurance runs. In the bottom of the third, sophomore Trevor Hauver reached on a walk but was unable to come around to score as the Sun Devils maintained their 1-0 lead heading into the fourth.
However, the fourth proved to be painless for both teams as each pitcher sent down the opposition in order.
In the top of the fifth, Vander Kooi dealt with his first jam of the contest after allowing the first two Stanford hitters to reach with back-to-back singles. Despite the pressure, the righty was not fazed as he struck out out the next two Cardinal en route to notching a new career-high with ten strikeouts.
Stepping to the plate in the home half of the fifth, Aldrete crushed a solo homerun over the "Wall of Honor" in left-centerfield to push the ASU lead to 2-0. The longball, which was his ninth of the year, was also his second in as many days and the fourth in his last five games. Additionally, Aldrete tied his season-long hitting streak of six games with the home run while also reaching base for the sixth consecutive contest.
Looking to ride the momentum of the offense, Vander Kooi would punch out Stanford's designated hitter in the top of the sixth to record his eleventh strikeout of the game, establishing a new season-high for strikeouts in a game by a Sun Devil. With this achievement, it also marked the most strikeouts by an ASU pitcher since Seth Martinez notched 11 against U.C. Davis on March 12, 2016, as well as being the most by a Sun Devil in a Pac-12 game since 2015.
This would bring the middle of the lineup to the plate for ASU, but the Sun Devils could not exploit this opportunity as the score remained 2-0 moving into the top of the seventh.
Following another scoreless top half from Vander Kooi, Williams reached on a deflected infield single off the pitcher, but that would be all that came from ASU's offense in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Having worked seven shutout innings without allowing a walk, Vander Kooi was relieved by freshman Blaze Burzell in the top of the eighth. Picking up right where he left off, Burzell retired the Cardinal in order, giving the Sun Devils one last opportunity to pad their lead.
Showing off the wheels, Torkelson picked up his first stolen base on the season after reaching on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth. Unfortunately, the offense could not drive him home as ASU held onto their 2-0 lead going into the final frame.
Despite recording the two first outs, Burzell would allow two Stanford hitters to reach base before being relieved by sophomore RJ Dabovich. Having held the Cardinal off the board to this point, Stanford knocked in their first runs of the game and took the lead on a three-run home run from their shortstop.
Attempting to come from behind in the bottom of the ninth for the second time in the series, the Sun Devils would get a runner on base as Williams drew a walk off All-American closer Jack Little. Unfortunately, this is as close as ASU would get as Stanford would hold on to win by a final score of 3-2.
Moving into the postseason, the Sun Devils will await their placement in an NCAA regional. The team will find out their destination on Monday, May 27th at 9 a.m. on ESPNU.