by Leo Tochterman and Tony Thai, Sun Devil Media Relations
PHOENIX – The No. 8 Arizona State Sun Devils completed the three-game sweep of the Boston College Eagles on Sunday afternoon, rallying behind the bullpen and home runs from Trevor Hauver and Spencer Torkelson in an 8-4 victory.
The Sun Devil bats remained hot, knocking out Boston College's starter in the first inning thanks to a bases-loaded RBI single by junior outfielder Drew Swift to give ASU an early 3-0 lead.
Boston College rallied back in the top of the fifth to tie the game at four, but ASU quickly reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a Boston College throwing error.
Thanks to a pair of home runs, first by junior outfielder Hauver in the sixth and another solo shot by junior first baseman Torkelson in the eighth, ASU entered the top of the ninth with a comfortable 8-4 lead. Torkelson's homer was the 52nd of his career – moving him into sole possession of second in ASU history.
Junior closer RJ Dabovich made quick work of the Eagles in the top of ninth, helping secure the series sweep for the Sun Devils.
The Turning Point
It looked as if Boston College would remain competitive in this game, after tying things up in the fifth. ASU took advantage of a fielding error to reclaim the lead in the bottom half of the frame. With ASU holding on to a 5-4 advantage in the sixth, Boston College elected to intentionally walk Spencer Torkelson with the bases empty and two outs – his eighth intentional walk of the season – setting the table for Trevor Hauver's two-run shot to put the game out of reach.
The Big Moment
Boston College looked to go ahead in that fifth inning after tying things up at 4-4 with runners on the corners and just one out. A hard ground ball to Gage Workman was corralled exceptionally and the junior third baseman hosed down the runner from third trying to take home to keep things tied at 4-4 and setting up ASU's own go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame.
The Unsung Heroes
The Sun Devil bullpen pitched exceptionally all afternoon, getting the team out of tough spots in several different instances. Six different ASU relievers combined for 5 innings and zero runs allowed. Some of the key performances came from Cam Dennie, who retired the side after inheriting the tying-run on the base path in the sixth. Blake Barnett recording a high-intensity strikeout for his lone out of the game but stranded a pair in doing so. RJ Dabovich did RJ Rabovich things, striking out the side in the ninth to alleviate any drama.
Notables
Gage Workman became the first Sun Devil to steal home since infielder Colby Woodmansee did it against Eastern Michigan on March 6, 2016.
Torkelson now has 52 home runs in his career, surpassing Jeff Larish in second place on the list. He now just needs five home runs to surpass Bob Horner's record of 56.
Torkelson has been intentionally walked eight times in eight games this season. He has a total of 13 walks to lead the nation. He is reaching base at a .568 clip and has let the offense behind him do the work, scoring a team best 10 runs on the year – four more than any other player.
Cam Dennie has now inherited four runners this season and allowed none of them to score.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
Sun Devil starting pitcher junior Justin Fall retired the first two batters of the game on flyouts, but got then got into trouble, allowing a single and then a walk. Fall got out of the frame when the fifth batter of the inning lined out to left. ASU grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom half thanks to five walks and a bases-loaded single by junior outfielder Drew Swift.
Second inning
Fall made quick work of the Eagles in the top of the second, retiring the side on just 11 pitches. The Sun Devils got a one-out single from junior first baseman Spencer Torkelson, but it ultimately failed to add to its lead.
Third inning
With two outs and a runner on third, Fall allowed a double into the left-center gap, cutting the Sun Devil lead to 3-1. With runners at the corners with two outs, it looked like junior third baseman Gage Workman would be tagged out to end the inning, but he eluded the tag and stole home to give ASU the 4-1 advantage.
Fourth inning
Fall allowed Boston College to form a two-out rally, but a leaping grab by freshman second baseman Nathan Baez to end the inning got the lefty out of trouble. In the bottom half, ASU failed to score after a leadoff single.
Fifth inning
A pair of RBI singles cut the Sun Devil lead to 4-3 and knocked Fall out of the game. Boston College added another run to tie it up on an RBI groundout. With two outs and a runner on third, Baez hit a groundball to the Boston College third baseman who proceeded to make a throwing error, pushing ASU back in front 5-4.
Sixth inning
A leadoff walk led head coach Tracy Smith to put in freshman reliever Cam Dennie, who proceeded to retire the Eagles 1-2-3. After the Eagles intentionally walked Torkelson with two outs and nobody on, the very next batter, junior outfielder Trevor Hauver made them pay as he sent a two-run home run over the right-field fence, giving ASU the 7-4 lead.
Seventh Inning
Freshman Bryce Barnett entered the game in relief with two outs in the inning and a runner on third. Barnett got the lone hitter he faced to strike out swinging. ASU was retired quickly during the bottom half, as each of its outs came via flyball.
Eighth inning
Freshman reliever Christian Bodlovich got the first two Eagle batters of the inning out and then gave up a single up the middle. The fourth batter lined out to Torkelson, ending the top of the frame. After two mound meetings and a pitching change, Boston College finally elected to pitch to Torkelson and the junior continued his recent power surge, taking an 0-2 offer 400 feet to the opposite field and pushing the Sun Devil lead to 8-4.
Ninth inning
ASU junior closer RJ Dabovich came in the game in relief despite it not being a save situation and struck out the side, closing out the three-game sweep for the Sun Devils.
Up next
The Sun Devils will remain at home to face off with New Mexico State on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. AZT. The game can be seen on the ASU Live Stream.
PHOENIX – The No. 8 Arizona State Sun Devils completed the three-game sweep of the Boston College Eagles on Sunday afternoon, rallying behind the bullpen and home runs from Trevor Hauver and Spencer Torkelson in an 8-4 victory.
The Sun Devil bats remained hot, knocking out Boston College's starter in the first inning thanks to a bases-loaded RBI single by junior outfielder Drew Swift to give ASU an early 3-0 lead.
Boston College rallied back in the top of the fifth to tie the game at four, but ASU quickly reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a Boston College throwing error.
Thanks to a pair of home runs, first by junior outfielder Hauver in the sixth and another solo shot by junior first baseman Torkelson in the eighth, ASU entered the top of the ninth with a comfortable 8-4 lead. Torkelson's homer was the 52nd of his career – moving him into sole possession of second in ASU history.
Junior closer RJ Dabovich made quick work of the Eagles in the top of ninth, helping secure the series sweep for the Sun Devils.
The Turning Point
It looked as if Boston College would remain competitive in this game, after tying things up in the fifth. ASU took advantage of a fielding error to reclaim the lead in the bottom half of the frame. With ASU holding on to a 5-4 advantage in the sixth, Boston College elected to intentionally walk Spencer Torkelson with the bases empty and two outs – his eighth intentional walk of the season – setting the table for Trevor Hauver's two-run shot to put the game out of reach.
The Big Moment
Boston College looked to go ahead in that fifth inning after tying things up at 4-4 with runners on the corners and just one out. A hard ground ball to Gage Workman was corralled exceptionally and the junior third baseman hosed down the runner from third trying to take home to keep things tied at 4-4 and setting up ASU's own go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame.
The Unsung Heroes
The Sun Devil bullpen pitched exceptionally all afternoon, getting the team out of tough spots in several different instances. Six different ASU relievers combined for 5 innings and zero runs allowed. Some of the key performances came from Cam Dennie, who retired the side after inheriting the tying-run on the base path in the sixth. Blake Barnett recording a high-intensity strikeout for his lone out of the game but stranded a pair in doing so. RJ Dabovich did RJ Rabovich things, striking out the side in the ninth to alleviate any drama.
Notables
Gage Workman became the first Sun Devil to steal home since infielder Colby Woodmansee did it against Eastern Michigan on March 6, 2016.
Torkelson now has 52 home runs in his career, surpassing Jeff Larish in second place on the list. He now just needs five home runs to surpass Bob Horner's record of 56.
Torkelson has been intentionally walked eight times in eight games this season. He has a total of 13 walks to lead the nation. He is reaching base at a .568 clip and has let the offense behind him do the work, scoring a team best 10 runs on the year – four more than any other player.
Cam Dennie has now inherited four runners this season and allowed none of them to score.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
Sun Devil starting pitcher junior Justin Fall retired the first two batters of the game on flyouts, but got then got into trouble, allowing a single and then a walk. Fall got out of the frame when the fifth batter of the inning lined out to left. ASU grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom half thanks to five walks and a bases-loaded single by junior outfielder Drew Swift.
Second inning
Fall made quick work of the Eagles in the top of the second, retiring the side on just 11 pitches. The Sun Devils got a one-out single from junior first baseman Spencer Torkelson, but it ultimately failed to add to its lead.
Third inning
With two outs and a runner on third, Fall allowed a double into the left-center gap, cutting the Sun Devil lead to 3-1. With runners at the corners with two outs, it looked like junior third baseman Gage Workman would be tagged out to end the inning, but he eluded the tag and stole home to give ASU the 4-1 advantage.
Fourth inning
Fall allowed Boston College to form a two-out rally, but a leaping grab by freshman second baseman Nathan Baez to end the inning got the lefty out of trouble. In the bottom half, ASU failed to score after a leadoff single.
Fifth inning
A pair of RBI singles cut the Sun Devil lead to 4-3 and knocked Fall out of the game. Boston College added another run to tie it up on an RBI groundout. With two outs and a runner on third, Baez hit a groundball to the Boston College third baseman who proceeded to make a throwing error, pushing ASU back in front 5-4.
Sixth inning
A leadoff walk led head coach Tracy Smith to put in freshman reliever Cam Dennie, who proceeded to retire the Eagles 1-2-3. After the Eagles intentionally walked Torkelson with two outs and nobody on, the very next batter, junior outfielder Trevor Hauver made them pay as he sent a two-run home run over the right-field fence, giving ASU the 7-4 lead.
Seventh Inning
Freshman Bryce Barnett entered the game in relief with two outs in the inning and a runner on third. Barnett got the lone hitter he faced to strike out swinging. ASU was retired quickly during the bottom half, as each of its outs came via flyball.
Eighth inning
Freshman reliever Christian Bodlovich got the first two Eagle batters of the inning out and then gave up a single up the middle. The fourth batter lined out to Torkelson, ending the top of the frame. After two mound meetings and a pitching change, Boston College finally elected to pitch to Torkelson and the junior continued his recent power surge, taking an 0-2 offer 400 feet to the opposite field and pushing the Sun Devil lead to 8-4.
Ninth inning
ASU junior closer RJ Dabovich came in the game in relief despite it not being a save situation and struck out the side, closing out the three-game sweep for the Sun Devils.
Up next
The Sun Devils will remain at home to face off with New Mexico State on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. AZT. The game can be seen on the ASU Live Stream.