PHOENIX – Boyd Vander Kooi rebounded from a tough opening frame to go eight innings without an earned run while Drew Swift and Spencer Torkelsonpaced the eighth-ranked Sun Devil Baseball offense in a 12-2 rout over Cal State Fullerton in the team's first road game of the season.
Spencer Torkelson recorded a monster two-run shot to cap off an explosive night at the dish for an ASU team that recorded its fourth-straight game with at least 10 runs. The Titans had no answer for Torkelson, intentionally walking him for the 14th and 15th time this season – setting the table for a pair of RBIs from Trevor Hauver and further extending the innings for Drew Swift's career-high four RBIs on the evening.
When the Titans did elect to pitch to Torkelson, he repaid them by going 2-for-3 with his 54th career home run – a 426-foot moon shot in the parking lot in left center to bring him within three homers of ASU's career home run record.
Swift finished the day 2-for-5 with a pair of two-RBI singles, both of which were catalysts for the Sun Devils to reclaim the lead after falling behind early and then breaking the game open later in the contest.
Boyd Vander Kooi recovered from a disastrous first inning to settle in to a dominant effort, going 8.0 innings with no earned runs allowed with six strikeouts and no walks.
The First Big Moment
The Sun Devils got off to a troublesome start with a Vander Kooi error and several barreled balls leading to a 2-0 lead for Fullerton out the gates. After facing the minimum through 7 batters, Nick Cheema got ASU's first hit and Dusty Garcia followed with a walk to turn the order around in the third. After both advanced on a groundout, CSUF intentionally walked Torkelson to load the bases. Trevor Hauver answered with an RBI walk and Drew Swift put the Sun Devils on top for good with a two-RBI single a 3-2 that ASU wouldn't relinquish.
The Next Big Moment
The bottom of the lineup kickstarted things again in the sixth, with Gage Workman and Baez leading off with back-to-back doubles. A Dusty Garcia RBI single gave ASU some insurance at 5-2. With one out and an open base, CSUF again elected to walk Torkelson to load the bases only to have Hauver notch an RBI single to make it a four-run game. Swift blew it open with his second two-RBI single to give ASU an 8-2 advantage.
The Final Straw
Torkelson put an exclamation point on the night with a moonshot, 426-foot bomb to deep left center that defied the laws of Goodwin Field nighttime physics and bounced off a car in the process.
The Unsung Heroes
The bottom of the Sun Devil order served to spark a number of the rallies in the contest, and the 7-8-9 grouping of Nate Baez, Nick Cheema and Dusty Garcia went 4-for-11 and recorded seven of the team's 12 runs. The group's ability to get on base set the table for the potent heart of the Sun Devil order and sparked the big innings in the third and sixth frames.
Notables
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
ASU went down harmlessly in order to start the frame. A Vander Kooi error and a couple barreled balls led to a quick 2-0 lead for the Titans.
Second inning
The Devils sent the minimum to the plate and Fullerton advanced a leadoff baserunner to third before Vander Kooi picked up a big out to keep it a two run game.
Third inning
The Sun Devils got off to a troublesome start with a Vander Kooi error and several barreled balls leading to a 2-0 lead for Fullerton out the gates. After facing the minimum through 7 batters, Nick Cheema got ASU's first hit and Dusty Garcia followed with a walk to turn the order around in the third. After both advanced on a groundout, CSUF intentionally walked Torkelson to load the bases. Trevor Hauver answered with an RBI walk and Drew Swift put the Sun Devils on top for good with a two-RBI single a 3-2 that ASU wouldn't relinquish.
Fourth inning
A bit of drama ensued as Nick Baez hit what was ruled a solo home run down the left field line that was overturned following a conference of umpires that took away what would have been his first career homer. ASU would not score in the frame, though Vander Kooi put together his first 1-2-3 inning of the game.
Fifth inning
Torkelson led off with a single but the rest of the Sun Devils went down in order. Fullerton put a pair of runners on with one out but Swift helped turn a sweet double play to Alika Williams and Torkelson to get out of the jam.
Sixth inning
The bottom of the lineup kickstarted things again in the sixth, with Gage Workman and Baez leading off with back-to-back doubles. A Dusty Garcia RBI single gave ASU some insurance at 5-2. With one out and an open base, CSUF again elected to walk Torkelson to load the bases only to have Hauver notch an RBI single to make it a four-run game. Swift blew it open with his second two-RBI single to give ASU an 8-2 advantage. Again, CSUF got a pair of runners on, but Vander Kooi escaped the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
Seventh Inning
Both sides went down in order.
Eighth inning
A leadoff single from Williams set Torkelson up to actually receive pitches and he responded with a moonshot to left center for his sixth homer of the year. ASU turned another double play as Vander Kooi finished his night without any earned runs allowed.
Ninth inning
ASU tacked a pair of runs on behind some wild Fullerton pitching. Christian Bodlovich struck out the side to avoid any unnecessary drama.
Up next
The Sun Devils will take on Cal State Fullerton again on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:05 MST. The game will be live streamed on BigWest.tv
Spencer Torkelson recorded a monster two-run shot to cap off an explosive night at the dish for an ASU team that recorded its fourth-straight game with at least 10 runs. The Titans had no answer for Torkelson, intentionally walking him for the 14th and 15th time this season – setting the table for a pair of RBIs from Trevor Hauver and further extending the innings for Drew Swift's career-high four RBIs on the evening.
When the Titans did elect to pitch to Torkelson, he repaid them by going 2-for-3 with his 54th career home run – a 426-foot moon shot in the parking lot in left center to bring him within three homers of ASU's career home run record.
Swift finished the day 2-for-5 with a pair of two-RBI singles, both of which were catalysts for the Sun Devils to reclaim the lead after falling behind early and then breaking the game open later in the contest.
Boyd Vander Kooi recovered from a disastrous first inning to settle in to a dominant effort, going 8.0 innings with no earned runs allowed with six strikeouts and no walks.
The First Big Moment
The Sun Devils got off to a troublesome start with a Vander Kooi error and several barreled balls leading to a 2-0 lead for Fullerton out the gates. After facing the minimum through 7 batters, Nick Cheema got ASU's first hit and Dusty Garcia followed with a walk to turn the order around in the third. After both advanced on a groundout, CSUF intentionally walked Torkelson to load the bases. Trevor Hauver answered with an RBI walk and Drew Swift put the Sun Devils on top for good with a two-RBI single a 3-2 that ASU wouldn't relinquish.
The Next Big Moment
The bottom of the lineup kickstarted things again in the sixth, with Gage Workman and Baez leading off with back-to-back doubles. A Dusty Garcia RBI single gave ASU some insurance at 5-2. With one out and an open base, CSUF again elected to walk Torkelson to load the bases only to have Hauver notch an RBI single to make it a four-run game. Swift blew it open with his second two-RBI single to give ASU an 8-2 advantage.
The Final Straw
Torkelson put an exclamation point on the night with a moonshot, 426-foot bomb to deep left center that defied the laws of Goodwin Field nighttime physics and bounced off a car in the process.
TORK BOMB ?? NO. 54 WAS AN ABSOLUTE MONSTER ?? pic.twitter.com/9p3PPPmA3n
— Sun Devil Baseball (@ASU_Baseball) March 4, 2020
The Unsung Heroes
The bottom of the Sun Devil order served to spark a number of the rallies in the contest, and the 7-8-9 grouping of Nate Baez, Nick Cheema and Dusty Garcia went 4-for-11 and recorded seven of the team's 12 runs. The group's ability to get on base set the table for the potent heart of the Sun Devil order and sparked the big innings in the third and sixth frames.
Notables
- In his last seven regular season appearances dating back to last season, Vander Kooi has posted a 1.43 ERA in 44.2 innings pitched, striking out 41 with just six walks and seven earned runs allowed
- Vander Kooi has walked just two batters this season to 19 strikeouts. He entered the game in the Top-Four in the Pac-12 in WHIP and walks allowed per nine innings – totals that he only improved upon on Tuesday.
- Following Torkelson's last nine intentional walks, Trevor Hauver has gone 3-for-4 with 10 RBIs, three RBI walks, two sac flies and two-run homer.
- Torkelson now has 54 career home runs at ASU, moving within two of Bob Horner's long-standing record of 56. Of Torkelson's 13 hits this season, six have left the yard.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
ASU went down harmlessly in order to start the frame. A Vander Kooi error and a couple barreled balls led to a quick 2-0 lead for the Titans.
Second inning
The Devils sent the minimum to the plate and Fullerton advanced a leadoff baserunner to third before Vander Kooi picked up a big out to keep it a two run game.
Third inning
The Sun Devils got off to a troublesome start with a Vander Kooi error and several barreled balls leading to a 2-0 lead for Fullerton out the gates. After facing the minimum through 7 batters, Nick Cheema got ASU's first hit and Dusty Garcia followed with a walk to turn the order around in the third. After both advanced on a groundout, CSUF intentionally walked Torkelson to load the bases. Trevor Hauver answered with an RBI walk and Drew Swift put the Sun Devils on top for good with a two-RBI single a 3-2 that ASU wouldn't relinquish.
Fourth inning
A bit of drama ensued as Nick Baez hit what was ruled a solo home run down the left field line that was overturned following a conference of umpires that took away what would have been his first career homer. ASU would not score in the frame, though Vander Kooi put together his first 1-2-3 inning of the game.
Fifth inning
Torkelson led off with a single but the rest of the Sun Devils went down in order. Fullerton put a pair of runners on with one out but Swift helped turn a sweet double play to Alika Williams and Torkelson to get out of the jam.
Sixth inning
The bottom of the lineup kickstarted things again in the sixth, with Gage Workman and Baez leading off with back-to-back doubles. A Dusty Garcia RBI single gave ASU some insurance at 5-2. With one out and an open base, CSUF again elected to walk Torkelson to load the bases only to have Hauver notch an RBI single to make it a four-run game. Swift blew it open with his second two-RBI single to give ASU an 8-2 advantage. Again, CSUF got a pair of runners on, but Vander Kooi escaped the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
Seventh Inning
Both sides went down in order.
Eighth inning
A leadoff single from Williams set Torkelson up to actually receive pitches and he responded with a moonshot to left center for his sixth homer of the year. ASU turned another double play as Vander Kooi finished his night without any earned runs allowed.
Ninth inning
ASU tacked a pair of runs on behind some wild Fullerton pitching. Christian Bodlovich struck out the side to avoid any unnecessary drama.
Up next
The Sun Devils will take on Cal State Fullerton again on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:05 MST. The game will be live streamed on BigWest.tv