#TorkBomb Caps 8-Run Fifth Inning In Decisive 12-2 Victory over San Diego

PHOENIX – Spencer Torkelson launched his first home run of the season to cap a decisive eight-run fifth inning as the Sun Devil Baseball team took down San Diego, 12-2, on Wednesday evening at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
 
Torkelson's bomb – a three-run shot that cleared the visitor's bullpen - highlighted another offensive outburst as the Sun Devils reached double digit runs for the fourth time in as many games, marking the first time ASU started a season doing so since 2012.
 
Drew Swift had arguably his best game as a Sun Devil as he drove in three RBIs with a career-high three doubles in the contest. It was especially notable as Swift had just two doubles total during his freshman season in 2018. Swift was 3-for-4 in Wednesday tilt with a sacrifice fly as well, bringing his season average to .400.
 
Ten Sun Devils registered a hit on the evening, with Gage Workman joining Torkelson (2-for-5) and Swift with a multi-hit effort after going 2-for-4 – including a pivotal two-out, two-RBI single to kick start the explosive fifth inning that put the game out of reach.
 
The Sun Devil pitching staff did its part as well with five different pitchers joining up to stifle a San Diego offense that had ended the game averaging 9.0 runs per game.
 
Chaz Montoya earned the win, entering in the second inning and helping ASU escape a bases loaded jam with just one out with a key strikeout and flyout to get out of the inning. Montoya struck out three and allowed just one hit in 1.1 innings of action.
 
Brady Corrigan was equally impressive as he, too, helped ASU escape a bases-loaded jam with two outs behind a strikeout of his own to polish off the third inning. Corrigan went 2.2 innings, striking out three and walking none with just one hit. 
 
ASU also got solid innings of relief from Dom Cacchione (2.2 IP, 2 Ks, 1 ER) and Marc Lidd (1.0 IP, 1 K, 0 H) to wrap up the victory. The pitching staff combined to strand 11 Torero base runners while holding USD to a paltry 1-for-12 hitting with runners in scoring position (.083).
 
The Sun Devil bats weren't firing on all cylinders early but ASU still managed to manufacture runs and an early lead.
 
ASU opened the scoring by capitalizing on a two-out error in center field, putting Sam Ferri on second and setting the table for Drew Swift's first double of the day to give ASU a 1-0.
 
Hunter Bishop reached in the bottom of the third on a hit by pitch, promptly stealing second and advancing to third on a fast ball. Carter Aldrete did the rest with a sac fly to right to make it 2-0 in favor of the Devils.
 
The Devils blew things open in the bottom of the fifth, plating eight runs – all with two outs – to give ASU 10 runs for the fourth time this season.
 
After a double play with the bases loaded and no outs, the Sun Devils used head's-up base-running to get Bishop and Lin in scoring position for the Workman. The sophomore found a gap in the right side of the infield with a soft ground ball to bring both runners home and open the flood gates. 
 
Infield singles from Ferri and Hauver also brought runs across while Swift's third double of the game also did some damage.
 
The inning was capped off by the 2019 NCAA Home Run Champion as Torkelson made a Torero pitcher pay for hanging one up in the zone with a moonshot over the visiting bullpen in left field – a three-run shot to make it eight runs on the inning and a 10-0 Sun Devil advantage. 
 
ASU tacked on two more in the sixth before USD got on the board in the top of the seventh to avoid the shutout.
 
The Sun Devils will look to continue the hot start to the season this weekend as the squad hosts a three-game series against UC Davis beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.