PHOENIX – The No. 8 Arizona State Sun Devils took down Boston College, 8-4, Saturday night to clinch the series over the Eagles.
Tyler Thornton picked up his first win of the season delivering another quality start. The sophomore right-hander went six innings, striking out five, only allowing two runs and a walk.
ASU scored first in the bottom of the first inning, as Spencer Torkelson launched his 51st career home run, moving into a tie with Jeff Larish for the second-most in school history.
A patient approach from the Sun Devil offense led to them drawing 10 walks and scoring eight runs, chasing Eagles' starter Joe Mancini after only five innings.
The Turning Point
Holding an early 1-0 lead, Boston College took a brief lead after a two-run sixth inning. Hunter Jump responded immediately with a leadoff home run to right-center field which tied the game at two. Arizona State was not done there, as they piled on with three more runs. Drew Swift bolted home on a wild pitch followed by a clutch two-out, two-run single by Trevor Hauver to extend the lead to 7-2.
How it happened
Despite being down by five runs, Boston College did not stop trying for a comeback, scoring two runs in the top of the eighth to make it 7-4 in favor of ASU. Arizona State was forced to bring in RJ Dabovich with no outs. Dabovich help get the three outs needed as Boston College went down swinging. ASU then added an insurance run later in the inning and Dabovich closed it out in the ninth.
Notables
- Torkelson now has 51 home runs in his career, tying Jeff Larish for second place in program history. He now needs six more to surpass Bob Horner's record of 56.
- The Sun Devils drew a season-high 10 walks, the most by the team since taking 15 walks against Arizona last year (3/31/19).
- Tyler Thorton has had quality starts in both of his appearances so far, allowing only seven hits over 12.2 innings pitched.
- RJ Dabovich was brought in to try for another two-inning save. Dabovich answered with two perfect innings and two strikeouts to pick up his third save of the year. The junior has already matched his save total from last year, which was the highest total on the team.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
Tyler Thornton set the tone on the mound, opening the game with a 1-2-3 inning. Spencer Torkelson got the offense going with a solo home run, his third of the year. The Sun Devils loaded up the bases, forcing the Eagles' starter to throw 30 pitches, but were unable to add any more runs.
Second inning
Working around a one-out walk, Thornton punched out the final two batters of the inning with ASU still leading 1-0.
Third inning
Thornton made quick work of Boston College in the third, setting them down in order yet again. Trevor Hauver was able to draw a walk, but the next three batters hit fly-outs to leave Hauver stranded.
Fourth inning
Boston College finally broke through with their first hit of the game, but not much was made out of it. ASU had runners at the corners with two outs, but Torkelson grounded out to short to end the inning.
Fifth inning
A quiet inning from both teams kept the Sun Devils in front 1-0.
Sixth inning
Boston College hit a solo leadoff home run on the second pitch to even the game at one. The Eagles took the lead on a single that scored a run, but a throw by Hauver to throw out the runner at second ended the inning, preventing any more damage. Hunter Jump responded in prompt fashion, tying it back up at 2 apiece with a first-pitch homer to lead off the inning. The Sun Devils were not done, loading up the bases with a patient approach, eventually scoring a run on a wild pitch. Trevor Hauver came through with one of the biggest at bats of the game, lining a two-RBI single up the middle to put ASU up 5-2.
Seventh Inning
Cam Dennie came in to relieve Thornton in the top of the inning. Dennie struck out the first two batters, eventually retiring the side. The Sun Devils padded their lead with two runs on a sac-fly by Nick Cheema and then a wild pitch that brought home Drew Swift.
Eighth inning
Graham Osman started the eighth inning, struggling to find his rhythm. Boston College scored a pair of runs to close the gap to three runs. The Sun Devils called on closer RJ Dabovich to stop the bleeding. He did exactly that, inducing a double play by the first batter he faced. Dabovich punched out the final batter of the inning, thwarting any potential Eagle rally. Drew Swift help add an insurance run for the Sun Devils, hitting an RBI-single to bring the team up to eight runs.
Ninth inning
Dabovich went back into the ninth inning and quickly closed things out to pick up his third save of the season.
Up next
The Sun Devils will look to complete the sweep on Boston College tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. AZT. The game will be streamed live on the ASU Live Stream.
Tyler Thornton picked up his first win of the season delivering another quality start. The sophomore right-hander went six innings, striking out five, only allowing two runs and a walk.
ASU scored first in the bottom of the first inning, as Spencer Torkelson launched his 51st career home run, moving into a tie with Jeff Larish for the second-most in school history.
A patient approach from the Sun Devil offense led to them drawing 10 walks and scoring eight runs, chasing Eagles' starter Joe Mancini after only five innings.
The Turning Point
Holding an early 1-0 lead, Boston College took a brief lead after a two-run sixth inning. Hunter Jump responded immediately with a leadoff home run to right-center field which tied the game at two. Arizona State was not done there, as they piled on with three more runs. Drew Swift bolted home on a wild pitch followed by a clutch two-out, two-run single by Trevor Hauver to extend the lead to 7-2.
How it happened
Despite being down by five runs, Boston College did not stop trying for a comeback, scoring two runs in the top of the eighth to make it 7-4 in favor of ASU. Arizona State was forced to bring in RJ Dabovich with no outs. Dabovich help get the three outs needed as Boston College went down swinging. ASU then added an insurance run later in the inning and Dabovich closed it out in the ninth.
Notables
- Torkelson now has 51 home runs in his career, tying Jeff Larish for second place in program history. He now needs six more to surpass Bob Horner's record of 56.
- The Sun Devils drew a season-high 10 walks, the most by the team since taking 15 walks against Arizona last year (3/31/19).
- Tyler Thorton has had quality starts in both of his appearances so far, allowing only seven hits over 12.2 innings pitched.
- RJ Dabovich was brought in to try for another two-inning save. Dabovich answered with two perfect innings and two strikeouts to pick up his third save of the year. The junior has already matched his save total from last year, which was the highest total on the team.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
Tyler Thornton set the tone on the mound, opening the game with a 1-2-3 inning. Spencer Torkelson got the offense going with a solo home run, his third of the year. The Sun Devils loaded up the bases, forcing the Eagles' starter to throw 30 pitches, but were unable to add any more runs.
Second inning
Working around a one-out walk, Thornton punched out the final two batters of the inning with ASU still leading 1-0.
Third inning
Thornton made quick work of Boston College in the third, setting them down in order yet again. Trevor Hauver was able to draw a walk, but the next three batters hit fly-outs to leave Hauver stranded.
Fourth inning
Boston College finally broke through with their first hit of the game, but not much was made out of it. ASU had runners at the corners with two outs, but Torkelson grounded out to short to end the inning.
Fifth inning
A quiet inning from both teams kept the Sun Devils in front 1-0.
Sixth inning
Boston College hit a solo leadoff home run on the second pitch to even the game at one. The Eagles took the lead on a single that scored a run, but a throw by Hauver to throw out the runner at second ended the inning, preventing any more damage. Hunter Jump responded in prompt fashion, tying it back up at 2 apiece with a first-pitch homer to lead off the inning. The Sun Devils were not done, loading up the bases with a patient approach, eventually scoring a run on a wild pitch. Trevor Hauver came through with one of the biggest at bats of the game, lining a two-RBI single up the middle to put ASU up 5-2.
Seventh Inning
Cam Dennie came in to relieve Thornton in the top of the inning. Dennie struck out the first two batters, eventually retiring the side. The Sun Devils padded their lead with two runs on a sac-fly by Nick Cheema and then a wild pitch that brought home Drew Swift.
Eighth inning
Graham Osman started the eighth inning, struggling to find his rhythm. Boston College scored a pair of runs to close the gap to three runs. The Sun Devils called on closer RJ Dabovich to stop the bleeding. He did exactly that, inducing a double play by the first batter he faced. Dabovich punched out the final batter of the inning, thwarting any potential Eagle rally. Drew Swift help add an insurance run for the Sun Devils, hitting an RBI-single to bring the team up to eight runs.
Ninth inning
Dabovich went back into the ninth inning and quickly closed things out to pick up his third save of the season.
Up next
The Sun Devils will look to complete the sweep on Boston College tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. AZT. The game will be streamed live on the ASU Live Stream.