by Tony Thai, Sun Devil Media Relations
PHOENIX – The No. 8 Sun Devil baseball team commandingly defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 13-5, to take the first game of the series Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
With an eight-run fourth inning and a couple of runs in between, the Sun Devils were able to take a big lead quickly and easily come away with the win. Drew Swift had his best hitting performance of his career, hitting 4-for-5 with an RBI. Gage Workman (3-of-5) and Hunter Jump (2-of-4) also recorded multi-hit games and each had two RBIs.
Freshman Cooper Benson earned his first win of the season with a quality start, pitching six innings, allowing only one run and three hits while striking out six.
The Turning Point
After a Nebraska home run brought the game to 3-1, Arizona State scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, only needing three hits due to five walks and three hit-by-pitches in the inning.
How it Happened
The fourth inning started with a fly-out, then Workman and Jump both hit back-to-back two-RBI doubles, but the Sun Devils weren't finished. Arizona State scored more runs on a single, a walk, two hit-by-pitches and a sac-fly
The Big Number
ASU has now started the season with 10 straight games allowing 5 or fewer runs, the longest streak to start a season since doing so in 2012. Next on the list would be a 12-game stretch to open the 2009 campaign.
Notables
- Drew Swift's four hits in a game were a new career-high.
- Gage Workman record two doubles in the game, matching his career high.
- Seth Tomczak made his first appearance as a Sun Devil, recording a 1-2-3 innings with a strikeout.
- Seth Nager recorded his first career RBI.
- This is Nebraska's first time all season that it had not held a lead in a game.
- While Spencer Torkelson was not intentionally walked, the junior had three walks to bump his season total to 21 through 10 games to lead the nation. Behind him in second is his teammate Trevor Hauver, who drew two walks tonight for a total of 14.
- Arizona State was hit-by-pitch five times tonight.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
Cooper Benson struck out the first batter and then got the next two batters out for a 1-2-3 inning. Spencer Torkelson drew another walk, the Sun Devil bats were unable to convert.
Second inning
The Huskers were able to get their first hit of the game but did not do much else for the inning. Arizona State had three singles and a walk to help them score three runs and take an early lead.
Third inning
Nebraska got another hit, but Cooper Benson was able to hold the Huskers off. Arizona State loaded up the bases but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.
Fourth inning
Nebraska shortened the lead with a solo home run to make it 3-1, still in favor of ASU. Gage Workman and Hunter Jump both record RBI doubles to push the lead four runs. The Sun Devils continued to score more runs, relying on Nebraska's ability to find the strike zone and batting around the order and scoring a total of eight runs to jump out to an 11-1 lead.
Fifth inning
Nebraska was taken down 1-2-3. Drew Swift got his fourth hit of the game but was thrown out trying to reach second. Then, the next two ASU batters struck out to end the inning.
Sixth inning
Nebraska continued to stay at one run and Arizona State loaded the bases and scored a run themselves.
Seventh Inning
Neither team got any hits in the seventh inning as Seth Tomczak made his debut appearance, striking out a batter.
Eighth inning
Blake Burzell entered into the game for his season debut as well in the eighth. The Huskers were able to tag in two runs to make a single-digit lead for ASU.
Ninth inning
Nebraska added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning until Christian Bodlovich came in to get the final two outs.
Up next
Arizona State play the second game of series tomorrow against Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. AZT at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Fans can watch the game on the Pac-12 Live Stream and NBC Sports 1060 AM.
PHOENIX – The No. 8 Sun Devil baseball team commandingly defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 13-5, to take the first game of the series Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
With an eight-run fourth inning and a couple of runs in between, the Sun Devils were able to take a big lead quickly and easily come away with the win. Drew Swift had his best hitting performance of his career, hitting 4-for-5 with an RBI. Gage Workman (3-of-5) and Hunter Jump (2-of-4) also recorded multi-hit games and each had two RBIs.
Freshman Cooper Benson earned his first win of the season with a quality start, pitching six innings, allowing only one run and three hits while striking out six.
The Turning Point
After a Nebraska home run brought the game to 3-1, Arizona State scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, only needing three hits due to five walks and three hit-by-pitches in the inning.
How it Happened
The fourth inning started with a fly-out, then Workman and Jump both hit back-to-back two-RBI doubles, but the Sun Devils weren't finished. Arizona State scored more runs on a single, a walk, two hit-by-pitches and a sac-fly
The Big Number
ASU has now started the season with 10 straight games allowing 5 or fewer runs, the longest streak to start a season since doing so in 2012. Next on the list would be a 12-game stretch to open the 2009 campaign.
Notables
- Drew Swift's four hits in a game were a new career-high.
- Gage Workman record two doubles in the game, matching his career high.
- Seth Tomczak made his first appearance as a Sun Devil, recording a 1-2-3 innings with a strikeout.
- Seth Nager recorded his first career RBI.
- This is Nebraska's first time all season that it had not held a lead in a game.
- While Spencer Torkelson was not intentionally walked, the junior had three walks to bump his season total to 21 through 10 games to lead the nation. Behind him in second is his teammate Trevor Hauver, who drew two walks tonight for a total of 14.
- Arizona State was hit-by-pitch five times tonight.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
Cooper Benson struck out the first batter and then got the next two batters out for a 1-2-3 inning. Spencer Torkelson drew another walk, the Sun Devil bats were unable to convert.
Second inning
The Huskers were able to get their first hit of the game but did not do much else for the inning. Arizona State had three singles and a walk to help them score three runs and take an early lead.
Third inning
Nebraska got another hit, but Cooper Benson was able to hold the Huskers off. Arizona State loaded up the bases but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.
Fourth inning
Nebraska shortened the lead with a solo home run to make it 3-1, still in favor of ASU. Gage Workman and Hunter Jump both record RBI doubles to push the lead four runs. The Sun Devils continued to score more runs, relying on Nebraska's ability to find the strike zone and batting around the order and scoring a total of eight runs to jump out to an 11-1 lead.
Fifth inning
Nebraska was taken down 1-2-3. Drew Swift got his fourth hit of the game but was thrown out trying to reach second. Then, the next two ASU batters struck out to end the inning.
Sixth inning
Nebraska continued to stay at one run and Arizona State loaded the bases and scored a run themselves.
Seventh Inning
Neither team got any hits in the seventh inning as Seth Tomczak made his debut appearance, striking out a batter.
Eighth inning
Blake Burzell entered into the game for his season debut as well in the eighth. The Huskers were able to tag in two runs to make a single-digit lead for ASU.
Ninth inning
Nebraska added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning until Christian Bodlovich came in to get the final two outs.
Up next
Arizona State play the second game of series tomorrow against Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. AZT at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Fans can watch the game on the Pac-12 Live Stream and NBC Sports 1060 AM.