by Leo Tochterman and Tony Thai, Sun Devil Media Relations
PHOENIX – On the Opening Night of the 2020 season, third-ranked Sun Devil Baseball defeated the Villanova Wildcats, 4-1. In his first appearance as a Sun Devil, starter Justin Fall threw six scoreless innings, giving up just three hits on the night. Fall struck out six on the night, three of which came in the fourth inning.
Neither team could get anything going offensively until first basemen Spencer Torkelson hit a solo home run over the left-field wall in the fourth inning. Villanova remained scoreless until the seventh inning where it recorded an RBI single to knot the game at 1-1.
That tie didn't last long. The Sun Devils regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a pinch-hit RBI single by Nick Cheema into left field for the go-ahead run and a lead ASU wouldn't relinquish. The Devils added two more runs in the inning to add some insurance and pave the way for its bullpen.
ASU got back-to-back scoreless innings, the first coming from freshman Graham Osman in his first career appearance in the eighth. Junior RJ Dabovich closed things out in the top of the ninth for his first save of the season.
TURNING POINT
ASU's bats were cold early, starting the game just 2-20 from the plate. The Sun Devil bats awoke in the seventh, with Drew Swift, Nick Cheema, and Sam Ferri hitting three consecutive singles to pad ASU's lead. With the Wildcats squaring the game up at 1 in the top of seventh, ASU responded swiftly, putting up three runs in the bottom of the frame.
WIN SHIRT
The Sun Devils reward a "Player of the Game" with a Win Shirt following every victory. Friday's shirt went to senior catcher Nick Cheema. Cheema's one-out pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh plated Alika Williams and set the tone for a three-run inning to put the scrappy Wildcats away.
NOTABLES
- Tonight's game is the first time the Sun Devils have ever faced the Villanova Wildcats in the program's history.
- The Sun Devils are now 48-13-1 in season openers and have won or split 13 of their last 14 season-opening series. ASU has won 12 of its last 14 season openers.
- Spencer Torkelson has played in 31 weekend series/postseason tournaments in his career and homered at least once in 25 of those.
- Torkelson now has 49 homers in his career, needing just eight to surpass Bob Horner's long-standing school record of 56.
- It is the second straight season the Sun Devils have limited an opponent to a single run on Opening Night
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Tracy Smith on ASU going deep into its roster on Friday night:
"A lot of baseball left this weekend, it's that balancing act of putting a game on the line or in jeopardy. But you've got to learn about these guys and you've got to learn quickly because we are going to rely on those guys this year."
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
Sun Devil starter Justin Fall retired the Wildcats in order on 15 pitches, striking out the final batter of the frame. In the bottom half of the inning, Villanova starter Jimmy Kingsbury struck out the side swinging.
Second inning
Villanova got the first hit of the game, but the runner was ultimately stranded as Fall got the third batter of the inning to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. With one out in the bottom of the inning, third basemen Gage Workman notched ASU's first hit of the season, with a one-out double, but was stranded after back-to-back flyouts.
Third inning
Fall stranded a runner at second base, getting the final batter of the inning to fly out to center. In the bottom half of the inning, the Sun Devils went down quietly, keeping the game at a scoreless tie.
Fourth inning
Fall allowed a leadoff single to start the frame but got the final three batters to strikeout. First basemen Spencer Torkelson got the scoring started with a solo home run to left field. Following the home run, Villanova retired the middle of the Sun Devil lineup in order.
Fifth inning
Despite surrendering a walk, Fall got out of the top of the inning unscathed. The Wildcats retired the side in the bottom half of the inning on just eight pitches.
Sixth inning
The Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs, but Fall was able to get out of trouble with a groundout to get out of trouble. ASU wasn't able to muster up much offensively in the bottom half, stranding a runner.
Seventh Inning
In relief of Fall, Will Levine surrender an RBI single to left field to even the game at 1. ASU quickly broke the tie with pinch-hitter Nick Cheema hitting a go-ahead single. The Sun Devils followed that run with two more, finishing the inning with a 4-1 advantage.
Eighth inning
In his first collegiate appearance, Graham Osman retired the side in order, getting help from outfielder Seth Nager who threw out a Wildcat trying to stretch a single into a double to end the top of the eighth. Shortstop Alika Williams got on base via a lead-off walk but was eventually stranded.
Ninth inning
Junior RJ Dabovich made quick work of the Wildcats in the final frame, retiring the side on 15 pitches, securing the 4-1 victory for the Sun Devils.
Up next
The Sun Devils have a doubleheader tomorrow. First, ASU has a game against Villanova at noon AZT. Then at 6 p.m., the team will play against No. 8 Michigan Wolverines, last year's College World Series runner-up. The first game will available to watch on the ASU Live Stream and the second game will be on Pac-12 Plus Live Stream and NBC Sports 1060 AM.
PHOENIX – On the Opening Night of the 2020 season, third-ranked Sun Devil Baseball defeated the Villanova Wildcats, 4-1. In his first appearance as a Sun Devil, starter Justin Fall threw six scoreless innings, giving up just three hits on the night. Fall struck out six on the night, three of which came in the fourth inning.
Neither team could get anything going offensively until first basemen Spencer Torkelson hit a solo home run over the left-field wall in the fourth inning. Villanova remained scoreless until the seventh inning where it recorded an RBI single to knot the game at 1-1.
That tie didn't last long. The Sun Devils regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a pinch-hit RBI single by Nick Cheema into left field for the go-ahead run and a lead ASU wouldn't relinquish. The Devils added two more runs in the inning to add some insurance and pave the way for its bullpen.
ASU got back-to-back scoreless innings, the first coming from freshman Graham Osman in his first career appearance in the eighth. Junior RJ Dabovich closed things out in the top of the ninth for his first save of the season.
TURNING POINT
ASU's bats were cold early, starting the game just 2-20 from the plate. The Sun Devil bats awoke in the seventh, with Drew Swift, Nick Cheema, and Sam Ferri hitting three consecutive singles to pad ASU's lead. With the Wildcats squaring the game up at 1 in the top of seventh, ASU responded swiftly, putting up three runs in the bottom of the frame.
WIN SHIRT
The Sun Devils reward a "Player of the Game" with a Win Shirt following every victory. Friday's shirt went to senior catcher Nick Cheema. Cheema's one-out pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh plated Alika Williams and set the tone for a three-run inning to put the scrappy Wildcats away.
NOTABLES
- Tonight's game is the first time the Sun Devils have ever faced the Villanova Wildcats in the program's history.
- The Sun Devils are now 48-13-1 in season openers and have won or split 13 of their last 14 season-opening series. ASU has won 12 of its last 14 season openers.
- Spencer Torkelson has played in 31 weekend series/postseason tournaments in his career and homered at least once in 25 of those.
- Torkelson now has 49 homers in his career, needing just eight to surpass Bob Horner's long-standing school record of 56.
- It is the second straight season the Sun Devils have limited an opponent to a single run on Opening Night
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Tracy Smith on ASU going deep into its roster on Friday night:
"A lot of baseball left this weekend, it's that balancing act of putting a game on the line or in jeopardy. But you've got to learn about these guys and you've got to learn quickly because we are going to rely on those guys this year."
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
Sun Devil starter Justin Fall retired the Wildcats in order on 15 pitches, striking out the final batter of the frame. In the bottom half of the inning, Villanova starter Jimmy Kingsbury struck out the side swinging.
Second inning
Villanova got the first hit of the game, but the runner was ultimately stranded as Fall got the third batter of the inning to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. With one out in the bottom of the inning, third basemen Gage Workman notched ASU's first hit of the season, with a one-out double, but was stranded after back-to-back flyouts.
Third inning
Fall stranded a runner at second base, getting the final batter of the inning to fly out to center. In the bottom half of the inning, the Sun Devils went down quietly, keeping the game at a scoreless tie.
Fourth inning
Fall allowed a leadoff single to start the frame but got the final three batters to strikeout. First basemen Spencer Torkelson got the scoring started with a solo home run to left field. Following the home run, Villanova retired the middle of the Sun Devil lineup in order.
Fifth inning
Despite surrendering a walk, Fall got out of the top of the inning unscathed. The Wildcats retired the side in the bottom half of the inning on just eight pitches.
Sixth inning
The Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs, but Fall was able to get out of trouble with a groundout to get out of trouble. ASU wasn't able to muster up much offensively in the bottom half, stranding a runner.
Seventh Inning
In relief of Fall, Will Levine surrender an RBI single to left field to even the game at 1. ASU quickly broke the tie with pinch-hitter Nick Cheema hitting a go-ahead single. The Sun Devils followed that run with two more, finishing the inning with a 4-1 advantage.
Eighth inning
In his first collegiate appearance, Graham Osman retired the side in order, getting help from outfielder Seth Nager who threw out a Wildcat trying to stretch a single into a double to end the top of the eighth. Shortstop Alika Williams got on base via a lead-off walk but was eventually stranded.
Ninth inning
Junior RJ Dabovich made quick work of the Wildcats in the final frame, retiring the side on 15 pitches, securing the 4-1 victory for the Sun Devils.
Up next
The Sun Devils have a doubleheader tomorrow. First, ASU has a game against Villanova at noon AZT. Then at 6 p.m., the team will play against No. 8 Michigan Wolverines, last year's College World Series runner-up. The first game will available to watch on the ASU Live Stream and the second game will be on Pac-12 Plus Live Stream and NBC Sports 1060 AM.