by Tony Thai, Sun Devil Media Relations
PHOENIX – The No. 3 Arizona State Sun Devils picked up the series win against the Villanova Wildcats with a 6-4 victory Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU had another strong performance from starter Tyler Thornton. The sophomore - in his debut for the Sun Devils - went 6.2 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out eight batters.
Arizona State jumped out first in this game, scoring a run in the second and then putting up three runs in the third inning to hold a 4-0 lead. ASU record three sacrifice flies in the first four runs of the effort.
Villanova scored its first two runs in the top of the fourth on a double and throwing error to cut the lead in half. They tied the game on a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
It did not take long for the Sun Devils to take back the lead, scoring on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh to give them a short 5-4 lead. The team added an insurance run in the eighth and RJ Dabovich closed it out in a two-inning save for his second of the season.
THE BIG MOMENT
Holding just a one-run lead in the 8th, Villanova was threatening to do some damage as closer RJ Dabovich came in to weather the storm. With two runners in scoring position, Dabovich threw a wild pitch but Sam Ferri acted quickly and got the ball to Dabovich who tagged the runner at home just in time. Dabovich then struck out the next batter to come away unscathed.
Later in the inning, Gage Workman singled, eventually advanced to third and then scoring an insurance run on a passed ball to give the Sun Devils a 6-4 lead heading into the final inning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After being tied up at 4 apiece following a home run from Villanova, ASU needed to find something to regain the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Hunter Jump started with a double and then Villanova decided to intentionally walk Spencer Torkelson. Back-to-back passed balls advanced the runners and Sean McClain, who was pinch-running, crossed home plate on a passed ball to give the Devils a one-run lead.
NOTABLES
- Alika Williams walked in all his at-bats today, drawing four walks – a new career high. The last time a Sun Devil got 4+ walks in a game was Hunter Bishop with four on March 31, 2019, in a 17-16 win against Arizona
- Arizona State has won the series against Villanova after playing them for the first time in the program's history
- The Sun Devils have won or split 13 of the last 14 season-opening series.
- Spencer Torkelson finished the weekend with a gaudy .647 on-base percentage thanks to his team-leading 8 walks – four of which of the intentional variety.
- The Sun Devil starting rotation was elite in all four games with the combination of Justin Fall, Boyd Vander Kooi, Cooper Benson and Tyler Thornton all recording quality starts, throwing a combined 26.2 innings with just five earned runs allowed and a 1.69 ERA. The group struck out 27 while walking 8. It was the career ASU debuts for Fall, Benson and Thornton.
- The five earned runs allowed against Villanova were ASU's fewest in a three-game series since posting the same number against Michigan State in the third weekend last season.
- It was the first time the Sun Devil starting rotation recorded four consecutive quality starts (6+ innings with 3 or fewer earned runs) allowed since 2016 (UC Davis Series, first game of Oregon State).
ONE THROUGH NINE
First inning
Tyler Thornton came in dealing in his first game as a Sun Devil right away, striking out the first two batters and then getting a popup for a quick 1-2-3 inning. The Sun Devils got two on base with walks, but a popup left them both stranded.
Second inning
Thornton retired the side again, getting another pair of strikeouts. This time with two runners on base again, Arizona State did not come away empty-handed, scoring the first run of the game on a Sam Ferri sac-fly.
Third inning
Three up, three down for Villanova again as Thornton continued to pitch well. With runners on base, a wild pitch and two sac-flies scored three for the Sun Devils as they now led 4-0 over the Wildcats.
Fourth inning
Villanova got their first hit and runs of the game in the top of the fourth. With a runner on first, the Wildcats got an RBI double and then advanced to third and scored on a throwing error by Drew Swift to make it 4-2. Villanova took down the next three ASU batters.
Fifth inning
It was a hitless and scoreless fifth inning, but both teams got a walk in an otherwise quiet inning.
Sixth inning
Thorton went back to form, getting two strikeouts and then forcing a flyout for a scoreless frame. The Sun Devils also went down in order for another quiet inning.
Seventh Inning
After getting the first two outs, Thonrton was done for the day and replaced by Graham Osman. Osman gave up a two-run home run to tie up the game at 4 even. ASU did not let the tie last for long, getting two passed balls in a row to score a run and make it 5-4.
Eighth inning
Bryce Barnett for relief to start the eighth inning, but after walking the first batter, RJ Dabovich was called to come in. Dabovich answered, tagging a runner at home and then striking out the next batter to prevent Villanova from scoring. Gage Workman got a single and was able to eventually make his way to score an insurance run on a passed ball again.
Ninth inning
Villanova lined out to Drew Swift and Swift threw it right to first to get the runner for a double play. Dabovich closed it out on the next batter, catching him looking on a strikeout and picking up his second save so far in the early season.
Up next
The Sun Devils have a midweek matchup against Oklahoma State on Tuesday. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m. AZT and will be streamed on the Pac-12 Plus Live Stream and also on NBC Sports 1060 AM.
PHOENIX – The No. 3 Arizona State Sun Devils picked up the series win against the Villanova Wildcats with a 6-4 victory Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU had another strong performance from starter Tyler Thornton. The sophomore - in his debut for the Sun Devils - went 6.2 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out eight batters.
Arizona State jumped out first in this game, scoring a run in the second and then putting up three runs in the third inning to hold a 4-0 lead. ASU record three sacrifice flies in the first four runs of the effort.
Villanova scored its first two runs in the top of the fourth on a double and throwing error to cut the lead in half. They tied the game on a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
It did not take long for the Sun Devils to take back the lead, scoring on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh to give them a short 5-4 lead. The team added an insurance run in the eighth and RJ Dabovich closed it out in a two-inning save for his second of the season.
THE BIG MOMENT
Holding just a one-run lead in the 8th, Villanova was threatening to do some damage as closer RJ Dabovich came in to weather the storm. With two runners in scoring position, Dabovich threw a wild pitch but Sam Ferri acted quickly and got the ball to Dabovich who tagged the runner at home just in time. Dabovich then struck out the next batter to come away unscathed.
Later in the inning, Gage Workman singled, eventually advanced to third and then scoring an insurance run on a passed ball to give the Sun Devils a 6-4 lead heading into the final inning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After being tied up at 4 apiece following a home run from Villanova, ASU needed to find something to regain the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Hunter Jump started with a double and then Villanova decided to intentionally walk Spencer Torkelson. Back-to-back passed balls advanced the runners and Sean McClain, who was pinch-running, crossed home plate on a passed ball to give the Devils a one-run lead.
NOTABLES
- Alika Williams walked in all his at-bats today, drawing four walks – a new career high. The last time a Sun Devil got 4+ walks in a game was Hunter Bishop with four on March 31, 2019, in a 17-16 win against Arizona
- Arizona State has won the series against Villanova after playing them for the first time in the program's history
- The Sun Devils have won or split 13 of the last 14 season-opening series.
- Spencer Torkelson finished the weekend with a gaudy .647 on-base percentage thanks to his team-leading 8 walks – four of which of the intentional variety.
- The Sun Devil starting rotation was elite in all four games with the combination of Justin Fall, Boyd Vander Kooi, Cooper Benson and Tyler Thornton all recording quality starts, throwing a combined 26.2 innings with just five earned runs allowed and a 1.69 ERA. The group struck out 27 while walking 8. It was the career ASU debuts for Fall, Benson and Thornton.
- The five earned runs allowed against Villanova were ASU's fewest in a three-game series since posting the same number against Michigan State in the third weekend last season.
- It was the first time the Sun Devil starting rotation recorded four consecutive quality starts (6+ innings with 3 or fewer earned runs) allowed since 2016 (UC Davis Series, first game of Oregon State).
ONE THROUGH NINE
First inning
Tyler Thornton came in dealing in his first game as a Sun Devil right away, striking out the first two batters and then getting a popup for a quick 1-2-3 inning. The Sun Devils got two on base with walks, but a popup left them both stranded.
Second inning
Thornton retired the side again, getting another pair of strikeouts. This time with two runners on base again, Arizona State did not come away empty-handed, scoring the first run of the game on a Sam Ferri sac-fly.
Third inning
Three up, three down for Villanova again as Thornton continued to pitch well. With runners on base, a wild pitch and two sac-flies scored three for the Sun Devils as they now led 4-0 over the Wildcats.
Fourth inning
Villanova got their first hit and runs of the game in the top of the fourth. With a runner on first, the Wildcats got an RBI double and then advanced to third and scored on a throwing error by Drew Swift to make it 4-2. Villanova took down the next three ASU batters.
Fifth inning
It was a hitless and scoreless fifth inning, but both teams got a walk in an otherwise quiet inning.
Sixth inning
Thorton went back to form, getting two strikeouts and then forcing a flyout for a scoreless frame. The Sun Devils also went down in order for another quiet inning.
Seventh Inning
After getting the first two outs, Thonrton was done for the day and replaced by Graham Osman. Osman gave up a two-run home run to tie up the game at 4 even. ASU did not let the tie last for long, getting two passed balls in a row to score a run and make it 5-4.
Eighth inning
Bryce Barnett for relief to start the eighth inning, but after walking the first batter, RJ Dabovich was called to come in. Dabovich answered, tagging a runner at home and then striking out the next batter to prevent Villanova from scoring. Gage Workman got a single and was able to eventually make his way to score an insurance run on a passed ball again.
Ninth inning
Villanova lined out to Drew Swift and Swift threw it right to first to get the runner for a double play. Dabovich closed it out on the next batter, catching him looking on a strikeout and picking up his second save so far in the early season.
Up next
The Sun Devils have a midweek matchup against Oklahoma State on Tuesday. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m. AZT and will be streamed on the Pac-12 Plus Live Stream and also on NBC Sports 1060 AM.