PHOENIX, Ariz. – The No. 9 Sun Devil Baseball program matched its best 25-game start in school history and took the series over in-state rival Arizona with an 8-3 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday night to improve to 24-1 on the season and 7-1 in Pac-12 play.
Hunter Bishop and Carter Aldrete provided over half of the Sun Devil offense on the evening. Bishop, the national leader in home runs, hit his 16th home run of the season and went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Aldrete went 2-for-3 on the evening, including a pivotal two-RBI double in the sixth that provided ASU the momentum and insurance they'd need to roll to the 24th victory of the season.
ASU got off to an incredible start with a five-run first inning following a ceremonial first pitch from Larry Fitzgerald that had the crowd of 5,680 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium abuzz from the onset. The Sun Devils would never relinquish that lead, matching the program's best start in history at 24-1 – a feat that has been accomplished multiple times but most recently in 2010. ASU also remains the lone team in the country with only one loss on the season.
For the second consecutive game, the Sun Devil pitching rotation did its part to limit one of the most potent offenses in the country. Boyd Vander Kooi earned the win with a quality start, allowed just three runs on five hits while striking out four in 6.0 innings of work to move to 3-0 on the season. All three runs came on one knock – a three-run shot from Arizona's Dayton Dooney in the fourth as the Devils held the UA scoreless for the eight other innings in the contest.
Sam Romero earned the save, his second in the last week, finishing the game with three consecutive scores innings while striking out four and working out of a ninth-inning bases loaded jam against the heart of the Arizona order.
ASU stranded 10 Wildcat baserunners, a notable area of prowess for the Devils who entered the series averaging 8.8 stranded opponent baserunners per game this season. It is the first time this season that Arizona has been held to three or fewer runs in consecutive games and the first time since May 3-4 last season that has happened. The Wildcats entered the weekend ranked third in runs scored at 9.6 runs per game.
Bishop got the crowd on its feet early with a 426 foot home run to right-center field right out the gates with Spencer Torkelson on base. It was just the second home run given up by UA starter Quinn Flanagan this season as the Sun Devils feasted on the right-hander, batting around the order and chasing the starter before the first inning was through. Flanagan had given up just 10 earned runs this season with a team-low 3.33 ERA before the Sun Devils got their claws in him.
The bats cooled for the Sun Devils some after that and Arizona took advantage of that with a three-run shot in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 5-3 with the swing of the bat. Vander Kooi settled down after the homer though, getting two quick outs to escape the frame and cruising through the next two innings to keep the Sun Devils on top.
A wild fifth-inning featured a questionable call against Alika Williams on what would end up being a double play after the second-base umpire ruled he didn't tag up a fly ball that would have put runners on the corners with one out.
Head Coach Tracy Smith strongly objected to the call – which was proven to be an incorrect call on video replay – and was ejected from the game for sharing his grievances. The Sun Devils fed off their head coach's energy however, bouncing back in the bottom of the sixth with a huge three-run innings to effectively put the game away.
With two outs in the sixth, Spencer Torkelson wore a pitch to set up a 3-1 hit-and-run call with Bishop at the plate that was executed to perfection. Bishop laced a single to left center and Torkelson had a full head of steam and was waved home, sliding in just fractions of a second ahead of the tag on his shoulder to give ASU a 6-3 advantage.
Bishop would then steal second and Alika Williams drew a two-out walk to set the table for Aldrete, who shook of a questionable strike two call that brought the count full and made Arizona pay for an incredible outfield shift – lacing a double to the wall in left for another two Sun Devil runs and an 8-3 advantage.
Romero handled things from there, but not without some excitement in the top of the ninth. Arizona loaded the bases with one out with the Arizona's top-two hitters coming to the plate. The senior right-hander was unfazed, striking out both Austin Wells and Cameron Cannon to strand the bases loaded and give ASU the game and series victory.
ASU will conclude the Territorial Cup Series with a chance to sweep Arizona tomorrow at 1 p.m. Arizona time. Fans can watch the game on Pac-12 Network Arizona or listen on NBC Sports 1060 AM KDUS.
SUN DEVIL BASEBALL TICKET OPTIONS
Mini
Mini plans for the 2019 season are now available with many great games to choose from! Grab a six-game plan where you select the games you want to attend starting at just $42, or choose the flex plan which includes nine vouchers for just $90 (Vouchers not redeemable for games against Arizona or Oregon State). Get your mini plans today!
Premium
For information about 2019 premium seating options – including single game suites and the all new Coors Light Devil Deck down the right-field line – please contact Joe Jerde, Manager of Premium Seating at (480) 727-3511 or via email at Joseph.Jerde@asu.edu.
Group
Group tickets are available for parties of 15 or more people for as low as $6 per ticket. Call (480) 965-5812 or email grouptickets@asu.edu.
Single
Single game tickets are now available starting at just $7. The 2019 schedule is chock-full of big-named opponents and Top 25 teams. Don't miss matchups with Oregon State, UCLA, Stanford and the always highly-anticipated series against that team down south. Check out the schedule and get your tickets now!
Hunter Bishop and Carter Aldrete provided over half of the Sun Devil offense on the evening. Bishop, the national leader in home runs, hit his 16th home run of the season and went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Aldrete went 2-for-3 on the evening, including a pivotal two-RBI double in the sixth that provided ASU the momentum and insurance they'd need to roll to the 24th victory of the season.
ASU got off to an incredible start with a five-run first inning following a ceremonial first pitch from Larry Fitzgerald that had the crowd of 5,680 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium abuzz from the onset. The Sun Devils would never relinquish that lead, matching the program's best start in history at 24-1 – a feat that has been accomplished multiple times but most recently in 2010. ASU also remains the lone team in the country with only one loss on the season.
For the second consecutive game, the Sun Devil pitching rotation did its part to limit one of the most potent offenses in the country. Boyd Vander Kooi earned the win with a quality start, allowed just three runs on five hits while striking out four in 6.0 innings of work to move to 3-0 on the season. All three runs came on one knock – a three-run shot from Arizona's Dayton Dooney in the fourth as the Devils held the UA scoreless for the eight other innings in the contest.
Sam Romero earned the save, his second in the last week, finishing the game with three consecutive scores innings while striking out four and working out of a ninth-inning bases loaded jam against the heart of the Arizona order.
ASU stranded 10 Wildcat baserunners, a notable area of prowess for the Devils who entered the series averaging 8.8 stranded opponent baserunners per game this season. It is the first time this season that Arizona has been held to three or fewer runs in consecutive games and the first time since May 3-4 last season that has happened. The Wildcats entered the weekend ranked third in runs scored at 9.6 runs per game.
Bishop got the crowd on its feet early with a 426 foot home run to right-center field right out the gates with Spencer Torkelson on base. It was just the second home run given up by UA starter Quinn Flanagan this season as the Sun Devils feasted on the right-hander, batting around the order and chasing the starter before the first inning was through. Flanagan had given up just 10 earned runs this season with a team-low 3.33 ERA before the Sun Devils got their claws in him.
The bats cooled for the Sun Devils some after that and Arizona took advantage of that with a three-run shot in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 5-3 with the swing of the bat. Vander Kooi settled down after the homer though, getting two quick outs to escape the frame and cruising through the next two innings to keep the Sun Devils on top.
A wild fifth-inning featured a questionable call against Alika Williams on what would end up being a double play after the second-base umpire ruled he didn't tag up a fly ball that would have put runners on the corners with one out.
Head Coach Tracy Smith strongly objected to the call – which was proven to be an incorrect call on video replay – and was ejected from the game for sharing his grievances. The Sun Devils fed off their head coach's energy however, bouncing back in the bottom of the sixth with a huge three-run innings to effectively put the game away.
With two outs in the sixth, Spencer Torkelson wore a pitch to set up a 3-1 hit-and-run call with Bishop at the plate that was executed to perfection. Bishop laced a single to left center and Torkelson had a full head of steam and was waved home, sliding in just fractions of a second ahead of the tag on his shoulder to give ASU a 6-3 advantage.
Bishop would then steal second and Alika Williams drew a two-out walk to set the table for Aldrete, who shook of a questionable strike two call that brought the count full and made Arizona pay for an incredible outfield shift – lacing a double to the wall in left for another two Sun Devil runs and an 8-3 advantage.
Romero handled things from there, but not without some excitement in the top of the ninth. Arizona loaded the bases with one out with the Arizona's top-two hitters coming to the plate. The senior right-hander was unfazed, striking out both Austin Wells and Cameron Cannon to strand the bases loaded and give ASU the game and series victory.
ASU will conclude the Territorial Cup Series with a chance to sweep Arizona tomorrow at 1 p.m. Arizona time. Fans can watch the game on Pac-12 Network Arizona or listen on NBC Sports 1060 AM KDUS.
SUN DEVIL BASEBALL TICKET OPTIONS
Mini
Mini plans for the 2019 season are now available with many great games to choose from! Grab a six-game plan where you select the games you want to attend starting at just $42, or choose the flex plan which includes nine vouchers for just $90 (Vouchers not redeemable for games against Arizona or Oregon State). Get your mini plans today!
Premium
For information about 2019 premium seating options – including single game suites and the all new Coors Light Devil Deck down the right-field line – please contact Joe Jerde, Manager of Premium Seating at (480) 727-3511 or via email at Joseph.Jerde@asu.edu.
Group
Group tickets are available for parties of 15 or more people for as low as $6 per ticket. Call (480) 965-5812 or email grouptickets@asu.edu.
Single
Single game tickets are now available starting at just $7. The 2019 schedule is chock-full of big-named opponents and Top 25 teams. Don't miss matchups with Oregon State, UCLA, Stanford and the always highly-anticipated series against that team down south. Check out the schedule and get your tickets now!