PHOENIX -- The No. 16 Sun Devil Baseball team returns home for a key Pac-12 series against the nation's top-ranked team in UCLA, beginning Friday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Friday's contest will get underway at 7 p.m. AZT followed by a pair of afternoon tilts on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Each game this weekend will be carried on the Pac-12 Network.
Since 1995, the Sun Devils have played the No. 1 team in the country 21 times, going 6-15 in those contests. It will mark the first that ASU has played a three-game series against a Pac-12 opponent ranked No. 1 in the nation since 2001, when ASU dropped two out of three against Stanford. It's the first time an opponent has come to Phoenix ranked No. 1 in the country since TCU in 2015.
Follow the Action
- The three-game series will be broadcast live by the Pac-12 Network this weekend. Roxy Bernstein will be on the call alongside analyst Ben Francisco
- Each game will also be available over the airwaves this weekend on NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM KDUS on with the Voice of the Sun Devils, Tim Healey, alongside analyst Max Rossiter.
- 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 were the last undefeated team in the country, starting out the season 21-0 and matching the second best start in program history (1961). Only the 2010 team that started 24-0 had a better start to the year.
- ASU's .532 team slugging percentage is second in the NCAA. The Sun Devils are fourth nationally in runs (377), second in scoring scoring (9.0), fifth in batting average (.318) and 12th in the nation in on-base percentage (.409).
- ASU has hit 69 home runs this season, good for fourth in the nation and far surpassing its 2018 TOTAL of 50 home runs.
- The Sun Devils have scored double digit runs in 16 of the team's 42 games this season. For perspective, ASU scored double digit runs just 8 times in 55 games last season.
- After consecutive seasons ranked 184th or worse in fielding percentage and consistently in the bottom of the Pac-12, ASU has posted a respectable .975 fielding percentage this season that is 57th in the country and fifth in the league.
- The Sun Devil defense has turned 47 double plays this season, good for fifth in the country this season and eight more than any other team in the Pac-12.
Fear the Tork
- All-American and 2019 Midseason Golden Spikes Award candidate Spencer Torkelson has mutiple hits in 40 of his 97 career starts (.412).
- The sophomore had a career-long 22-game hitting streak ended against Utah. It was the longest hitting streak by any Sun Devil since Riccio Torrez had a 26-game streak back in 2010 and is tied for the second longest streak by a player this year.
- In only four games this season has Torkelson not registered a hit and in only 18 of his 97 career games has that happened as he has registered at least one hit in 81.4 percent of his appearances as a Sun Devil.
- Torkelson is 15th nationally and second in the Pac-12 with 15 home runs this season. Those 15 give him 40 for his career and and tied for seventh in school history. The school record is 56 home runs by Bob Horner from 1976-78.
- Torkelson is batting .354 on the season on 63-of-178 hitting with 15 home runs, 11 doubles and 50 RBIs.
- His 63 hits this season lead the Pac-12 and are 50th in the country while also third in the league with 50 RBIs - the 36th-best total in the country.
- Torkelson has multiple hits in a team-best 21 of ASU's games this season and at least one RBI in 27 of those (multiple RBIs in 14).
- In Pac-12 ONLY games, Torkelson is currently the league leader with 11 home runs. He has driven in 23 RBIs in league games, tied for third in the Pac-12, and record 30 hits - tied for fourth in league-only games
- Torkelson is tied for 9th in the Pac-12 with 11 doubles - one shy of his career high. He is 37th nationally and fifth in the Pac-12 in slugging percentage (.669) while proving to be a capable baserunner as his 50 runs are third in the Pac-12 and 37th nationally.
#TorksUp
- Torkelson is second on the team with runners in scoring positions, recording 23 hits on 56 chances (.411)
- He has been an extremely tough out to end the inning, extending the inning 21-of-52 times with two outs (.404) with a team-best 28 two-out RBI - 10 more than any other player on the roster.
- Hit or not, Torkelson consistently finds a way to successfully advance baserunners, doing so 58 times on 110 opportunities (.527).
- Defensively, Torkelson has also made impressive strides. He has posted just two errors this season (one coming while playing out of position in right field) on 357 chances (5th in the Pac-12). He leads the league in helping to turn 44 double plays this season - 11 more than any other player in the Pac-12 and a stat that shouldn't be overlooked given the amount of incredible picks and stretch-grabs he has made to help faciliate those double plays at first base.
- 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.
- 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.
Hunting Party
- Hunter Bishop was named Perfect Game and D1Baseball's Midseason Player of the Year during the first week of April and was also tabbed as the NCBWA National Player of the Month for the Month of March.
- Bishop has also been named the 2019 Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List
- Bishop is fifth in the nation with 18 home runs this season - two more than any other player in the Pac-12. For perspective, Bishop had just 10 career home runs before entering his junior season.
- He is the third in the nation in slugging percentage (.815) while leading the Pac-12 and 10th nationally in runs scored (55). Those 55 runs are four more than any player in the Pac-12 (teammate Trevor Hauver is second with 51).
- His 137 total bases are 18 more than any other player in the Pac-12 (teammate Spencer Torkelson has 119) and good for third in the nation.
- Bishop's 51 RBIs this season are second in the Pac-12 and are 31st nationally, while his .369 average is sixth in the league.
- His 13 doubles are fourth in the Pac-12 while his four triples are tied for second.
- Bishop's .498 on-base percentage is fourth in the league and 26th in the country. He has drawn a team-best 37 walks - fourth in the Pac-12.
- He had an active 44-game reached base streak dating back to last season ended during the Washington series, which was the fourth-longest active reached base streak in the NCAA this season.
- Bishop leads the team in advancing teammates 61 times on 107 chances (.570).
- He leads the team with 14 multi-RBI games and is second on the squad with 19 multi-hit games.
- His 51 RBIs already eclipse his previous career best of 26 while his 55 runs scored are 25 more than his previous career best of 27.
- The junior was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week three times in the month of March.
Marshing to the Beat
- Alec Marsh was named a Midseason First Team All-American by Perfect Game on April 4 and was also named to USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List.
- Marsh was added to the Collegiate Baseball Hall of Fame's Watch List for the National Pitcher of the Year on April 17.
- Marsh has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 27 of his last 30 appearances dating back to his freshman season.
- Dating back to last season, Marsh has a posted a quality start in 13 of his 19 starts since assuming the mantle of Mr. Friday Night midway through the 2018 campaign.
- Marsh is tied for fifth in the nation with eight victories this season, currently posting an 8-2 record.
- His 3.03 ERA is currently 12th in the Pac-12 while his 62 strikeouts sit 7th in the league.
- Marsh leads Pac-12 pitchers and is 23rd nationally with 71.1 innings pitched this season.
- The junior is not hesistant about pounding the strike zone, throwing a strike on 62.5 percent of his pitches while falling into 2-0 counts just 37 times on 292 batters faced on the year (.127).
- Marsh dominates when getting ahead of the count, holding batters to 2-23 hitting (.087) on 0-2 counts and 8-of-46 hitting (.174) on 1-2 counts with 31 combined strikeouts between the two. 2-2 counts have also been deadly when facing Marsh this season, with opponents going 4-for-37 (.108) with 21 strikeouts.
- Marsh is responsible for one ASU's two complete game this season, a masterful three-hit effort as he shut down third-ranked Oregon State to the tune of a 4-1 victory.
- 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 8th in the Pac-12 with 41 RBIs this year.
- Lin's 41 RBIs 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 9 games.
- Lin is 13-for-18 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 despite starting every game in the middle of the lineup. The 13 RBIs in that spot this year are three more than any other Sun Devil.
- Lin has advanced baserunners 55 times on 95 chances (.579) - the second-highest total on the team by average.
- His knack for getting the ball into play has paid its due, as he's reached base a team-best eight times on opponent errors this season - three more than any other Sun Devil. He has advanced a runner with an out 21 times - also good for the team lead.
- 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.
Put Me In, Coach
- The consummate team player, fans have seen Carter Aldrete all over the diamond this season. Aldrete has seen time in right field, second base, third base and on the mound.
- Aldrete is currently just outside the Top-10 in the Pac-12 with 37 RBIs this season. Of those 37 RBIs, 18 have come with two outs - second on the team
- Has five home runs on the season, good for a career-high.
- Has been much more efficient with runners on the basepath this season, batting .344 (31-of-90) with runners in front of him compared to just .219 (16-of-73) with the bases empty. He has 21 hits with runners in scoring position, the second-highest total on the team - batting .344 in the scenario.
- In Pac-12-only games, Aldrete is tied for the league lead in doubles with eight. He has a career-best 12 on the season - tied for sixth in the league.
Just Like He Drew It Up
- Despite missing three weeks to injury, Drew Swift returned to the lineup and continued to show he is one of ASU's most improved hitters.
- He has nine doubles this season - already a career-best - and a triple for 10 extra-base hits on the season despite missing several weeks to injury. He had just two extra-base hits on the season.
- Swift has been a part of 26 double plays this season, despite the time missed, and tied for fifth in the Pac-12 in the category.
- Became the first Sun Devil since Jake Peevyhouse in 2014 to have three doubles in a game, doing so against San Diego.
- He has been highly productive out of the nine-hole this season, turning things back to the top of the order at a high clip with his .400 on-base percentage despite batting .286 and has hits in 10 of his last 13 games (multiple in four of those) as he has brought his batting average up closer the .300 mark after dipping into the .260 range in mid-April.
Alika Like That
- Alika Williams has quietly continued to put up impressive numbers as a sophomore, embracing his role as a cleanup hitter with a .354 batting average with 42 RBIs - already a career high in the category. He had just 20 total RBIs last season.
- The 42 RBIs are good for sixth in the Pac-12. When he does get RBIs, he tends to get a lot of them. He has 12 multi-RBI games this season and is tied for the team lead with seven games with three or more RBIs.
- Williams has homered three times this year and recorded 10 doubles and three triples. He is slugging .513 on the season - over 100 points higher than his freshman total of .333. With 16 extra-base hits on the year, he has far surpassed his freshman total of nine.
- The sophomore's 10 doubles are already a career high and currently tied for just outside the Top-10 in the Pac-12
- Williams is currently 10th in the Pac-12 with a .450 on-base percentage.
- The sophomore been incredible when falling behind in counts this season, posting a .432 average (16-of-37) when facing 1-2 counts. Of his 56 hits on the year, 34 have come when falling behind in the count.
- He is 29-of-75 (.386) on two-strike hitting on the year - striking out a team-low 20 times while walking 23 times, making him the only player on the team with more walks than strikeouts.
- His last six RBIs have come in 0-2 or 1-2 counts and 17 of his 42 RBIs (.405) have come when falling behind in counts.
- The sophomore has been incredible at advancing baserunners this season, easily leading the team with a .630 average with 58 advancements on 92 opportunities - 50 points higher than the next closest Sun Devil.
- Defensively Williams is currently third in the Pac-12 with 111 defensive assists this season.
- He has helped turn 27 double plays this season, which is good for 4th in the Pac-12 and a key part of ASU's 47 total double plays this year - a total that leads the Pac-12 and fifth nationally.
- Williams is 8th in the league in runs scored as well with 42 this season.
Putting in the Work
- Gage Workman has been one of the hottest players in the Sun Devil lineup of late, batting .338 with 32 runs scored, 30 RBIs and five home runs. He has hits in 9 of his last 11 games and multiple hits in six of those.
- After not having a home run in the first four weeks of the year, Workman erupted for three in the Washington State series.
- The sophomore has helped turn 15 double plays on the season and a key part of ASU's 47 total double plays this year - - a total that leads the Pac-12 and 5th nationally.
- In Pac-12 only games, Workman has a .355 average - the best total on the squad and the 10th-best average among all Pac-12 players in league-only games. He has comitted just one error in Pac-12 games - the lowest total among the team's infielders.
- In Pac-12 only games, Workman is tied for fifth in the league with 17 walks.
- His .468 on-base percentage is sixth in Pac-12 games and the best among all Sun Devils in the category. His .605 slugging percentage in Pac-12 games is 10th in the league and second on the team.
- Workman is tied for the team lead in games with three or more hits with six.
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 is batting .350 with a .450 on-base percentage this season - a total good for 10th in the Pac-12.
- Hauver has drawn 32 walks on the season - currently 8th in the Pac-12.
- Hauver has also showed plenty of pop in the bat, third on the team with 11 home runs this season - good for 5th in the Pac-12.
- Hauver's .350 average is just outside the Top-10 in the Pac-12 and he has been the top Sun Devil on the team with six games with three or more hits while third on the squad with 18 multi-hit games.
- He has been the top ASU player in games in several categories, posting a seven-RBI game, a five-hit game, a four-walk game and a two-home run game.
- He is the only player to record a five-hit game this season, doing so against Long Beach State.
- Hauver has scored 51 runs this season, second in the league and 27th nationally.
- As a leadoff batter in an inning, Hauver has reached base 30 times this season on 84 chances (.357).
- Hauver has been very productive for his teammates as well, successfully advancing runners 53 times on 92 chances (.576). Of ASU's day-to-day starters, Hauver's 22 runners left stranded this season are the fewest on the team.
- Hauver has a case for being ASU's most clutch batter late in games this season. In innings 7-9, Hauver is batting .439 on 18-of-41 hitting with 13 RBIs and 13 runs, easily leading ASU in each of those categories in the late stages of games. Five of his 11 home runs have come in these latter stages of games.
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 two saves this season and a team-best 2.03 ERA - which would be third in the Pac-12 with two more innings pitched to his credit.
- Tolman has struck out 37 batters and in 40.0 innings pitched.
- Opponent's .169 batting average against Tolman this season would be the second-lowest in the Pac-12 with two more innings.
- Tolman has allowed just seven extra-base hits this season - all doubles. With two more innings pitched, Tolman would qualify as the only pitcher in the Pac-12 this season to not allow a home run.
- Tolman is dominant when he has two strikes to his credit, holding opponents to 2-28 (.071) in 1-2 counts and 3-of-26 (.115) in 2-2 counts with 28 of his 37 strikeouts.
- With runners on the basepath, opponents are batting just 11-of-65 (.169) against Tolman on the season and he has been shutdown with two outs, limiting the opposition to 3-of-41 (.073) while stranding 39 baserunners.
- With runners in scoring position, opponents are just 6-of-39 (.154) with just eight RBIs.
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 23 appearances in 42 games, posting a 2.25 ERA in 20.0 innings pitched with 18 strikeouts.
- Montoya has inherited 27 runners this season, allowing just five of them to score.
- In his 23 appearances, Montoya has retired the first batter he has seen on 17 occasions.
- Montoya had a streak of 11 straight games not allowing a run ended in the series finale against Arizona.
- Montoya is 2-0 on the season with a team-high two saves as well.
The Brady Bunch
- Brady Corrigan has quickly asserted himself as one of ASU's go-to players out of the pen, appearing in 20 of ASU's 42 games this season.
- Corrigan has inherited a team-high 29 runners this season, allowing just four of them to score (.138).
- Corrigan has 48 strikeouts in 37.2 innings pitched - easily the best strikeout-to-inning ratio on the team.
Chicks Dig The Long Ball
- ASU's power numbers this season have been at another level with ASU posting 69 home runs through 35 games - a total that is currently fourth nationally.
- The Devils have three players with over 10 home runs in Hunter Bishop (18), Spencer Torkelson (16) and Trevor Hauver (11). It is the first time a Sun Devil roster has laid that claim since 2009 (Carlos Ramirez/19, Jason Kipnis/16, Kole Calhoun/12).
- That 2009 team knocked 75 home runs for the season, making this year's tally the most since then with at least three weeks left to play.
- ASU's 69 home runs have already set the Pac-12 record during the BBCOR era of bats (since 2011), surpassing Oregon State's 2018 mark of 67.
- ASU is hitting 1.64 home runs per game this season, a mark that would be the fourth-best of any team in the past nine years since the BBCOR batting standards were introduced.
- Ten different Sun Devils have gone yard this season, with eight of those doing so 3 or more times.
- ASU's 69 home runs are 12 more than any other team in the Pac-12 (Cal is second with 57).
- The Devils' .532 slugging percentage is nearly 50 points higher than any other program in the conference.
- ASU had 50 home runs last season in 55 games last season, a mark that the current roster surpassed by the midway point of 2019.
Pitching For Contact
- The Sun Devil pitching staff has done its part to put trust in the defense behind it, a trait of pitching to contact that has led to 47 double plays being turned on the season - a total that leads the Pac-12 and is fifth nationally.
- ASU's defense as done it's part with a solid .975 fielding percentage that is fifth in the league.
- That trusting relationship has played a huge role in ASU escaping numerous jams this season. In total, ASU has stranded 376 opponents on the basepath this year - just a tick under nine stranded runners per game.