No. 10 Sun Devil Baseball Takes Undefeated Record on the Road

PHOENIX -- Sun Devil Baseball continues Pac-12 play this weekend with its first conference road series, heading to the Pacific Northwest for a three-game series against Oregon. The series is scheduled to begin Friday, March 22 in at PK Park in Eugene Oregon. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday's game is slated to get underway at 4 p.m. with the finale taking place at 12 p.m. on Sunday. Each game of the series will be streamed live through the Pac-12 Network Oregon Live Steam.

Follow the Action

• Each game will be streamed live online through the Pac-12 Oregon Live Stream. 
• Fans are encouraged to follow along in-game content throughout the weekend on the Sun Devil Baseball account (@ASU_Baseball).

A Hot Start

• The Sun Devils are the lone remaining undefeated team in the country, entering the weekend at 20-0.
• ASU's 20-0 start is the longest winning streak for the Sun Devils (and longest streak to start the season) since ASU went 24-0 to start the 2010 campaign. It is the third-longest winning streak to start a season in school history behind 2010 and 1961 (21-0).
• The Sun Devil offense has put up monster numbers during the start, scoring 203 runs (third nationally). ASU is third in the country in scoring at 10.2 runs per game
• The Sun Devils have scored double digit runs in 10 of the team's 20 games this season. For perspective, ASU scored double digit runs just 8 times last season. 
• ASU is third nationally in home runs (first in the league) with 34, second nationally in batting average (.349), fourth in on-base percentage (.433) and second in slugging percentage (.566).
• While much ado has been made about the bats, it has been the Sun Devil pitching rotation that has quietly put up a 2.62 ERA that is currently 11th in the nation and third in the Pac-12 after several consecutive seasons above a 4.50 team ERA.

Fear the Tork

• All-American Spencer Torkelson now has mutiple hits in 31 of his 75 career starts (.413).
• Torkelson is batting .390 on the season on 32-of-82 hitting with three home runs, five doubles with 24 RBIs.
• His 32 hits are 4th in the league and 30th nationally while his 24 RBIs are also fourth in the conference and 44th in the country.
• Torkelson has multiple hits  in a team-best 12 of ASU's 20 games this season and at least one RBI in 11 of those (multiple RBIs in 6).
• Torkelson is batting .433 with runners in scoring position with a team best 13 hits on 30 chances.
• He has been an extremely tough out to end the inning, currently 11-of-26 with two outs (.423) with a team-best 16 two-out RBI on his 24 total RBIs - three of which coming on his 11th-inning walk-off home run against Michigan State.
• He is second on the team in advancing runners, doing so 35 times on 57 opportunities (.617).
• Spencer Torkelson was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week for the Opening Week of the 2019 season. It was the second time in his career earning the honor.
• Defensively, Torkelson has also made impressive strides. He has yet to post an error on 170 chances (3rd in the Pac-12) while he is tied for the league lead in helping to turn 18 double plays this season.

#TorksUp

• Torkelson led the country in 2018 with 25 home runs – two more than any other player and just one shy of the NCAA freshman record while becoming first freshman in NCAA history to lead the nation in home runs. 
• Became just the sixth player to reach 25 home runs since the BBCOR batting technology changes took effect in 2011 and the only freshman in the NCAA to reach the milestone in that time.
• Slugged a gaudy .743 on the season (25 homers, 12 doubles), the third-highest total for any freshman in the NCAA in the past two decades and the highest for a freshman in the BBCOR era (since 2011). Only Rickie Weeks (.849 in 2001) and Jeremy Baltz (.771, 2010) posted higher freshman slugging percentages in the past 20 years.
• Torkelson was a unanimous All-American, as every major baseball media outlet in the nation rewarded the freshman with at least one All-America accolade (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Baseball America, NCBWA, and Perfect Game).
• Honored with Perfect Game's National Freshman of the Year award.
• Named a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist, an award honoring the best player in college baseball.
• National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America named him as a third-team All-America selection; Earned third-team recognition from Perfect Game; Placed on the Perfect Game Freshman All-America First Team; Named by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper as the National Co-Freshman of the Year and the NCBWA as the National Freshman Hitter of the Year.
• Just the seventh Sun Devil in school history to be named an All-American as a freshman, joining Mike Kelly (1989) and Casey Myers (1998) as the only two ASU position players to be named All-Americans as freshman.
• The third Sun Devil to be named Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, joining Ike Davis (2006) and Jason Kipnis (2008).

Hunting Party

• Hunter Bishop is tied for the national lead with 12 home runs this season - four more than any other player in the Pac-12
• Bishop has more home runs this season than he has strikeouts (11). He has also walked 16 times. 
• The junior is second in the Pac-12 with a .442 batting average on the season - 14th nationally - and leads the league with 33 RBIs (3rd in the nation).
• His 1.039 slugging percentage leads the country. He is also a perfect 8-for-9 on stolen base attempts - second in the Pac-12.
• Bishop has scored 34 runs on the season, a total that leads the Pac-12 and is second in the country.
• Bishop's .552 on-base percentage is third in the league and 11th in the country.
• Bishop leads the team in successfully advancing baserunners, doing so .691 percent of the time on 38-of-55 chances. 
• He is the only player that has reached base in each of ASU's 20 games this season and currently holds the team's longest active hitting streak at 12 games. 
• He leads the team with 9 multi-RBI games (three more than any other player) and is second on the squad with 11 multi-hit games.

Marshing to the Beat

• Alec Marsh has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 23 of his last 24 appearances dating back to his freshman season. 
• Dating back to last season, Marsh has a posted a quality start in 9 of his last 13 starts since assuming the mantle of Mr. Friday Night midway through the 2018 campaign. Each of Marsh's previous two Friday starts have resulted in shutout victories for ASU.
• Marsh posted three consecutive quality starts to open 2019 and is 5-0 on the season - tied for first nationally in victories. 
• His 0.77 ERA is currently 17th in the nation and second in the Pac-12.  His 34 strikeouts are currently third in the league as well. 
• Marsh is first among Pac-12 pitchers with 35.0 innings pitched this season.
• Marsh has been absolutely dominant when runners reach base against him, holding opponents to just 9-of-54 hitting (.167) with runners on the base path. 
• The junior is not hesitant about pounding the strike zone, recording a first-pitch strike a team-best 67.4 percent of the time this season and has fallen into 2-0 counts just 15 times on 144 batters faced on the year.
• Marsh dominates when getting ahead of the count, holding batters to 1-15 hitting (.067) with balls in play on 0-2 counts and 1-of-21 hitting (.048) on 1-2 counts with 17 combined strikeouts between the two.
• Marsh struck out 10 batters on Opening Night, the first time an ASU player had reached double digits in a game since Seth Martinez in March of 2016. Marsh also became the first Sun Devil in at least 20 years to throw 10 strikeouts on Opening Night. Since at least 1998 (as far back as readily accessible records go), no Sun Devil had struck out more than eight batters on Opening Night until Marsh's performance.

#LINSANITY

• Lyle Lin has embraced his new role as the team's designated hitter this season, currently third the Pac-12 and 25th in the nation with 26 RBIs.
• Lins 26 RBIs through the opening month are an incredible tally considering the junior had just 18 RBIs total during the 2018 season, despite starting every game. 
• He has multiple RBIs in 6 games this season, good for second on the team.
• Lin is 9-for-13 this season in bringing runners from third home with less than two outs, a notable area of struggle for the junior was was just 2-for-12 in the category last season.
• Lin is third on the team in advancing baserunners, doing so 32 times on 57 chances (.561).
• Lin recorded the game-winning RBI (the RBI that put ASU ahead for the remainder of the game) in all three of ASU's games against UC Davis.
• Lin became the first Sun Devil since 2014 to hit a grand slam with his round-tripper in the second game of the UC Davis series.
• Lin has started in all 130 games he has appeared in at Arizona State. 

Put Me In, Coach

• The consummate team player, fans can expect to find Carter Aldrete all over the diamond this season. Aldrete has seen time in right field, second base, third base and on the mound this season
• Aldrete is currently 5th in the Pac-12 with 23 RBIs this season. Of those 20 RBIs, 14 have come with two outs. 
• He has 11 hits with two outs this season, second on the team and has a .379 average in the scenario on 11-of-29 hitting.
• Has four home runs on the season, already a career-high and tied for fifth in the Pac-12.
• Aldrete is second on the team in advancing runners home from third with less than two outs, doing so 6 times on 11 chances.
• Aldrete is tied for 8th in the Pac-12 in helping to turn 10 double plays this season.
• Had a monster game in Game 2 against Notre Dame, posting his first multi-home run game of his career while adding a career-best six RBIs in the process.

Just Like He Drew It Up

• Despite missing three weeks to injury, Drew Swift returned to the lineup and shown he is one of ASU's most improved hitters.
• The sophomore was batting .406 with 5 doubles and 9 RBIs in the early going of the year. The five doubles are already a career high, despite missing several weeks of action and currently sit just outside the Top-10 in the Pac-12.
• Batting out of the nine-hole this season, Swift successfully turned the order around over 50 percent of the time with his .512 on-base percentage.
• Swift has been a part of 8 double plays this season, despite the time missed.
• Prior to missing games with injury, Swift's 24 assists through 8 games were tops in the Pac-12. He has just one error this season on 48 chances (.979).
• Became the first Sun Devil since Jake Peevyhouse in 2014 to have three doubles in a game, doing so against San Diego.

A Lot to Alika

• Alika Williams has quietly continued to put up impressive numbers as a sophomore is currently second on the team in batting .397 with 19 RBIs as well as his first career home run against Fullerton.
• Williams is currently sixth in the Pac-12 with a .506 on-base percentage
• Williams leads the team with 6 doubles this season - tied for 7th in the Pac-12. He had 8 doubles in the entirety of his freshman season. 
• Williams has been a part of 10 double plays this season, good for 8th in the Pac-12 and playing a key role in ASU currently sitting second in the Pac-12 with 21 double plays turned on the year (11th in the country).
• Last season, his 13 strikeouts were the lowest among players with at least 22 starts.
• As a freshman, Williams teamed up with fellow freshman infielder Drew Swift to execute 30 double plays.

Putting in the Work

• On the year, Gage Workman is batting .329 with 17 runs scored, three home runs, a triple and three doubles for a solid .506 slugging percentage.
• After not having a home run in the first four weeks of the year, Workman erupted for three in the Washington State series (two coming as a left-handed batter and the other as a right-handed batter).
• The sophomore is just outside the top-10 in the Pac-12 with 39 defensive assists this season. 
• Workman has helped turn seven double plays on the season, helping ASU to currently being second in the Pac-12 with 21 double plays turned. 
• Collegiate Baseball News Freshman All-American in 2018
• Collected seven triples as a freshman, tied for the fifth highest total in the country and second on the team behind the national leader in the category, teammate Gage Canning.
• Did not ground into a double play all last season, the only ASU regular that can make that claim.
• Posted an OPS of .805, slugging .466 (3rd on team) and reaching base at a .339 clip.

Filling the Boyd

• Boyd Vander Kooi is current 2-0 on the season and second on the team with 27 strikeouts in 27.0 innings pitched.
• Vander Kooi has 14 strikeouts looking on the season, good for 2nd in the Pac-12 Conference while his 27 strikeouts are tied for 11th.
• Vander Kooi and Marsh have combined to lead ASU to three consecutive Friday-night shutouts leading into this weekend. 
• Made 10 appearances as a freshman last season, including five starts, finishing the campaign with a 3-3 record.
• His 3.00 ERA tied him for the lowest on the team among those with at least 36 innings pitched as a freshman last season
• Stuck out 35 batters, allowing just 12 earned runs in 36.0 innings pitched.
• Made his final five appearances (8.1 innings) out of the bullpen, preventing an earned run from scoring in four of the five outings.
• Did not allow an earned run in six of his ten outings.

Trev Lightly and Carry a Big Stick

• Perhaps no player on the Sun Devil roster has shown as much improvement this season as sophomore Trevor Hauver.
• The leadoff man has a .485 on-base percentage this season - a total good for 10th the Pac-12.
• Hauver has drawn 19 walks on the season - currently third in the Pac-12 and 37th nationally.
• Hauver has scored 29 runs this season, third in the league and 9th nationally
• Hauver has also showed plenty of pop in the bat, second on the team with six home runs this season - fourth in the Pac-12 and 30th nationally.
• As a leadoff batter in an inning, Hauver has reached base 14 times this season on 35 chances (.400).
• Hauver has been very productive for his teammates as well, successfully advancing runners 25 times on 45 chances (.556).

Pay the Tolman

• Erik Tolman has been thrust into several crucial spots as a true freshman this season and responded best when the lights were on.
• Tolman is 3-0 with a save this season and third on the team with a 0.92 ERA. 
• Tolman has struck out 19 batters and in 19.2 innings pitched.
• The ERA is 0.1 innings pitched away from being fifth in the Pac-12.
• Opponents .136 batting average against this season is the lowest total in the Pac-12.
• Tolman has allowed just one extra-base hit this season - the lowest total among Pac-12 pitchers.

Dab On 'Em

• RJ Dabovich has proven to be one of the top offseason additions for the Sun Devils, currently posting a 4-0 record while dominating Sundays for the Sun Devils.
• Dabovich has a 2.57 ERA on the season, currently 11th among Pac-12 pitchers.
• His .219 batting average against is good for 10th in the league and his four wins are third in the league. 

All That Chaz

• Chaz Montoya has quickly developed a role as the team's stopper in several crucial scenarios this season.
• Montoya leads the squad with 11 appearances in 20 games, posting a 0.87 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts to 3 walks.
• Montoya has inherited 13 runners this season, allowing just one of them to score
• In his 11 appearances, Montoya has retired the first batter he has seen on 9 occasions. 
• Montoya has not allowed an earned run since the second game of the season - a streak of nine consecutive appearances.
• Montoya has not walked a batter in his last 8 pitching appearances. 
• Montoya is 2-0 on the season with a team-high two saves as well.

A Ferri Tale

• Forced to sit on the bench with injury for the majority of his first two seasons, catcher Sam Ferri has quickly established himself as a gamechanger as a regular in the ASU lineup.
• Ferri is batting .302 on the season with 11 RBIs and six extra-base hits.
• More importantly has been his effect on the game behind the plate, where he is fourth in the Pac-12 with four runners caught stealing this season and just one error on 128 chances. 
• Ferri notched his first career home run in walk-off fashion, a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth to help clinch the series over Washington State.

Sam I Am

• Sam Romero has quietly put up impressive numbers this season, giving ASU solid midweek starts while being able to turn it around and eat some quality innings on the weekends as well.
• Romero is 1-0 this year with a 0.95 ERA in 19.0 innings pitched.
• Romero has struck out 15 batters to just four walks while allowing just two total earned runs on the year. 

The Brady Bunch

• Brady Corrigan has quickly asserted himself as one of ASU's go-to players out of the pen, appearing in 11 of ASU's 20 games this season.
• Corrigan has inherited a team-high 14 runners this season, allowing just two of them to score.
• Corrigan has a 2.65 ERA in 17.0 innings pitched with a 2-0 record while sitting third on the team with 23 strikeouts. 

Chicks Dig The Long Ball

• ASU's power numbers this season have been at another level with ASU already posting 34 home runs through 20 games - a total that is currently third nationally.
• Nine different Sun Devils have gone yard this season.
• ASU's 34 home runs are 10 more than any other team in the Pac-12 (Cal is second with 24).
• The Devils' .566 slugging percentage as a team is nearly 50 points higher than any other program in the conference. 
• ASU had 50 home runs last season, a mark that the current roster is well on pace to demolish as the season goes on.

On The Ground

• The Sun Devil pitching staff has been exceptional at inducing soft contact this season and allowing balls to go into play for the defense to handle, currently leading the Pac-12 with 767 defensive chances this season.
• The frequent groundouts (173) have put the pressure on a Sun Devil defensive infield that had struggled with errors in recent seasons but the group has responded admirably to the extra chances this season.
• ASU has record 203 defensive assists this season, a total that leads the Pac-12
• The roster has turned 21 double plays on the year, second in the Pac-12 and 11th in the country.
• ASU is 40th nationally in fielding percentage (.977) which, while not where the team would like to be, is a far cry from the team that was 230th last season and 184th the season before.

Cal Baptist (14-6, 0-0 WAC) | Oregon (11-7, 1-2 Pac-12) | #10 ASU (19-0, 3-0 Pac-12)
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THIS WEEK
Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Cal Baptist (Phoenix) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
Friday, March 22, 6 p.m. | Arizona State at Oregon (Eugene) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream 
Saturday, March 23, 4 p.m. | Arizona State at Oregon (Eugene) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
Sunday, March 24, 12 p.m. | Arizona State at Oregon (Eugene) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream 
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NEXT WEEK
Friday, March 29, 7 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Arizona (Phoenix) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Networks | LISTEN: NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM
Saturday, March 30, 7 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Arizona (Phoenix) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Networks | LISTEN: NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM
Sunday, March 31, 1 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Arizona (Phoenix) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Networks | LISTEN: NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM
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LAST WEEK
Wednesday, March 13 
Friday, March 15 | Arizona State vs. Washington State (Phoenix) | W, 6-0
Saturday, March 16 | Arizona State vs. Washington State (Phoenix) | W, 8-7
Sunday, March 17 | Arizona State vs. Washington State (Phoenix) | W, 6-5