PHOENIX -- Sun Devil Baseball will host its third consecutive series to open the season, welcoming Nebraska for a three-game set beginning this Friday, Feb. 28 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Friday and Saturday's tilts will get underway at 6:30 p.m. AZT while the finale is set for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. All three games will be available to be streamed live through the Pac-12 Network Live Stream.
Follow the Action
- All games this weekend will be carried through the Pac-12 Network Live Stream, available at: https://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university.
- Fans are encouraged to follow along in-game content throughout the weekend on the Sun Devil Baseball
On The Huskers
- Arizona State leads the all-time series against Nebraska, 7-5, dating back to the first meeting between the schools in 1985. The two teams met during the penultimate weekend of the 2019 regular season, as NU won 2-of-3 over the Sun Devils in Lincoln.
- Nebraska has had a lead in all six games this season, and has held a two-or-more run lead on four occasions.
- Cam Chick's .379 batting average ranks ninth in the Big Ten this season. Among the conference leaders, Chick also ranks tied for fourth in hits (11), tied for second in home runs (2) and fourth in total bases (20).
- Aaron Palensky ranks tied for second in the Big Ten in RBIs (10) and tied for second in doubles (4).
- Cade Povich's 15.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio leads the Big Ten. He has a team-high 15 K's this season and has allowed only one walk.
#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. The Sun Devils have nine homers this season, a total that leads the Pac-12 and is good for 15th in the country.
2. .@spennyt leads the nation in being walked 18 times this season - five more than any other play - and 11 of those have been intentional.
3. .@spennyt has at least one hit in 98 of his 120 career games at ASU and has multiple hits in 48 of those.
4. .@spennyt has played in 32 weekend series/postseason tournaments in his career and homered at least once in 26 of those.
5. ASU has not allowed more than five runs in any of its first nine games, the first such streak to start a season since doing so 10 times in 2012.
6. After Spencer Torkelson's last 5 intentional walks, @trevor_hauver has gone 2-for-3 (and a sac fly and walk) with 6 RBIs and a homer.
7. .@ErikTolman has 20 strikeouts in just 11.1 innings of work this season, a 15.88 K/9 innings ratio that is 29th nationally.
8. ASU has turned eight double plays this season, a total that leads the Pac-12 and sits 15th in the nation
9. .@alika_williams has 17 defensive assists this season, a total good for fifth in the Pac-12 while his five DPs turned are third.
10. The Sun Devils have drawn 62 walks this season, 20 more than any other team in the Pac-12 and fourth in the nation.
By The Numbers
62 - The Sun Devils are fourth in the country and lead the Pac-12 with 62 walks through nine games - 20 more than any other team in the league. Spencer Torkelson leads the nation with 18 walks - five more than any other play in the NCAA - and an incredible 11 of those have been intentional. His 11 intentional walks are already tied for the most by any Sun Devil in a season since 1998 (Jeff Larish with 11 in 67 games in 2005). His 11 intentional walks are more than the entire Sun Devil TEAM posted in 13 of the last 22 seasons. Trevor Hauver sits fourth nationally and second in the Pac-12.
20 - Erik Tolman has posted 20 strikeouts through just 11.1 innings pitched this season. That total is good for 22nd nationally this season and third in the league. His eight looking strikeouts lead the Pac-12. His 15.88 strikeouts per nine innings pitched are third in the Pac-12 and 29th in the country. Tolman's 2020 debut saw him post a career-best 12 strikeouts against #24 Oklahoma State - the most for an ASU pitcher since Ryan Kellogg had 12 strikeouts against Oregon in 2014. It took Kellogg eight innings to get to that mark, while Tolman was able to reach the number in just six innings.
5 - The Sun Devil pitching rotation has had as effective of a nine-game stretch to open the season as it has in recent memory. The Sun Devils have not allowed more than five runs in each of the first nine games, the first time accomplishing that feat to start a season since 2012 (10). Each of ASU's five separate starting pitchers recorded a quality start in their first outing of the season (3 or fewer earned runs in 6.0+ innings of work). ASU's five consecutive quality starts were the most since a seven-game stretch in 2011.
4 - Spencer Torkelson opened the season with a bang with each of his first two hits of the campaign leaving the ball park in the series against Villanova. Torkelson is up to four homers through the first two weekends, a total that leads the Pac-12 and is seventh in the nation. The junior leads the Pac-12 in slugging (.880) and is second in OBP (.605) and runs scored (11). He has six more walks than any other player in the league and also leads the league in total bases.
Fear the Tork
- Projected as No. 1 Overall Pick in several early MLB mock drafts and a unanimous Top-3 Pick in any mock draft he's not listed No. 1, junior first baseman Spencer Torkelson figures to pace a potent offense against this season.
- The junior opened the season with a bang with each of his first two hits of the campaign leaving the ball park in the series against Villanova. Torkelson is up to four homers through the first two weekends, a total that leads the Pac-12 and is seventh in the nation.
- Torkelson leads the nation with 18 walks through the first nine games, an incredible 11 of which have been intentional. He has five more walks than any other player in the country and six more intentional walks than anyone as well.
- Torkelson drew a school record five walks in ASU's extra-inning victory over New Mexico State, tying the record set by Kole Calhoin (2010), Alvin Davis (1982) and Fred Nelson (1967).
- His 11 intentional walks are already tied for the most by any Sun Devil in a season since 1998 (Jeff Larish with 11 in 67 games in 2005). His 11 intentional walks are more than the entire Sun Devil TEAM posted in 13 of the last 22 seasons.
- The junior leads the Pac-12 in slugging (.880) and is second in OBP (.605) and runs scored (11). He has six more walks than any other player in the league and also leads the league in total bases.
- Torkelson has 52 homers in his career, second in Sun Devil history and needing just five to surpass Bob Horner's long-standing school record of 56.
- Torkelson needs 21 home runs to break into the NCAA all-time Top-10 in career homers and in doing so would become the first player in the BBCOR era to even sniff the feat. He would be just the second player since 2000 to have a career home run tally that left him in the Top-10 in NCAA homers (Matt LaPorta, Florida).
Trev Lightly and Carry a Big Stick
- After a lackluster opening weekend, Trevor Hauver has come on strong in the last four games and provided valuable protection for Spencer Torkelson in the lineup.
- The junior leads the team with 9 RBIs, which is tied for fourth in the Pac-12. He is tied for second in the league behind Torkelson with two homers.
- Hauver is second in the league and fourth in the nation in drawing 12 walks this season.
- In Torkelson's last five inentional walks, Hauver has gone 2-for-3 with six RBIs, a two-run homer and a walk-off RBI walk.
- Hauver had a breakout sophomore campaign in which he was named to the Pac-12 Honorable Mention team as well as earning a second-team nod on the ABCA All-West Region team
- Spent the majority of the season as the leadoff batter, recording a .339 average that was good for third on the team behind All-Americans Hunter Bishop and Spencer Torkelson
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
- Saint Mary's transfer Tyler Thornton also figures to play heavily into the Sun Devil pitching rotation.
- Thronton was nigh unhittable in his debut as a Sun Devil, allowing just one hit in 6.2 innings of work against Villanova.
- He followed that up with his second victory of the year over Boston College, going 6.0 innings with just two runs allowed and five strikeouts.
- He is the only Sun Devil pitcher with two consecutive quality starts to open the season and has allowed just seven hits in 12.2 innings.
- Thornton was tabbed the National Freshman of the Year (Collegiate Baseball) and National Freshman Pitcher of the Year (NCWBA) and Freshman of the Year of the West Coast Conference.
- Finished the year with a 10-2 record and a 2.71 earned run average in 13 starts.
- His 5.54 hits allowed per nine innings were ranked 11th in the country and first in the West Coast Conference and his 10 wins were also ranked 11th in the nation.
- Along with teammate Carlos Lomeli (also 10 wins), he collected the most wins in a single season by any Gael pitcher since 1991.
- Thornton's 11.08 strikeouts per nine were ranked third in the WCC and his WHIP of 0.97 was also third in the conference (27th in the nation).
Pay the Tolman
- Erik Tolman's 2020 debut was absolutely electric as he posted a career-best 12 strikeouts against #24 Oklahoma State - the most for an ASU pitcher since Ryan Kellogg had 12 strikeouts against Oregon on May 12, 2014. It took Kellogg eight innings to get to that mark, while Tolman was able to reach the number in just six innings of work.
- It was the most strikeouts in six or fewer innings since Mitchell Lambson had 12 on March 14, 2009 against Kansas in 5.2 innings.
- Tolman followed that up with 8 strikeouts in the victory over New Mexico State, giving him 20 strikeouts in 11.1 innings of work. His 15.88 strikeouts per nine innings pitched this season are third in the Pac-12 and 29th in the country.
- The 20 strikeouts are 22nd nationally this season and third in the league. His eight looking strikeouts lead the Pac-12.
- In 2019, Tolman went 3-1 with two saves this season and a team-best 3.38 ERA among pitchers averaging at least two innings per game and didn't allowed an earned run in 15 of his 24 appearances
- Tolman struck out 49 batters and in 48.0 innings pitched.
- Opponent's .206 batting average against Tolman last year, easily the lowest on the team.
- Tolman was dominant when he has two strikes to his credit in 2020, holding opponents to 4-35 (.114) in 1-2 counts and 5-of-30 (.167) in 2-2 counts with 33 of his 49 strikeouts.
- With runners on the basepath, opponents bat just 17-of-86 (.198) against Tolman in 2020 and he has been shutdown with two outs, limiting the opposition to 8-of-54 (.148) while stranding 53 baserunners.
Pounding The Zone
- ASU's new pitching coach Jason Kelly has made immediate impressions on the Sun Devil pitching staff based on early returns
- ASU sits fourth in the Pac-12 with a 2.85 team ERA this season. The team is also fourth in the league in opponent average (.211) and third in the league in total strikeouts (91).
- The Sun Devil pitching rotation has had as effective of a nine-game stretch to open the season as it has in recent memory. The Sun Devils have not allowed more than five runs in each of the first nine games, the first time accomplishing that feat to start a season since having 10 such games in 2012.
- Each of ASU's five separate starting pitchers has recorded a quality start in their first outing of the season (3 or fewer earned runs in 6.0+ innings of work).
- ASU's five consecutive quality starts were the most since a seven-game stretch in 2011 (one game against Fullerton and series against Arizona and Oregon).
- ASU's 18 strikeouts against #24 Oklahoma State were the most for against a Power Five program since March 21, 1998, against Cal. It was the most, period, since a 21-strikeout effort in 2001 against a now defunct Southern Utah program.
Walk This Way
- The Sun Devils are fourth in the country and lead the Pac-12 with 62 walks through nine games this season - 20 more than any other team in the league.
- Spencer Torkelson leads the nation with 18 walks - five more than any other play in the NCAA - and an incredible 11 of those have been intention.
- Trevor Hauver sits fourth nationally and second in the Pac-12 with 12 walks in the early going on the season.
NEW MEXICO STATE (8-0) | NEBRASKA (1-5) | #8 ASU (5-3)
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THIS WEEK
Tuesday, February 25, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. New Mexico State (Tempe) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
Friday, February 28, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Nebraska (Tempe) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
Saturday, February 29, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Nebraska (Tempe) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
Sunday, March 1, 12:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Nebraska (Tempe) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
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NEXT WEEK
Tuesday, March 3, 7 p.m. AZT | Arizona State at. Cal State Fullerton (Fullerton)
Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m.AZT | Arizona State at. Cal State Fullerton (Fullerton)
Friday, March 6, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Fresno State (Tempe) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
Saturday, March 7, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Fresno State (Tempe) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
Sunday, March 8, 12:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Fresno State (Tempe) | WATCH LIVE: Pac-12 Live Stream
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LAST WEEK
Tuesday, February 18, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State (Tempe) | L, 1-2
Friday, February 21, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Boston College (Tempe) | W, 10-4
Saturday, February 22, 6:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Boston College (Tempe) | W, 8-4
Sunday, February 23, 12:30 p.m. | Arizona State vs. Boston College (Tempe) | W, 8-4
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