(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)
Coming off a midweek loss, the Arizona State Sun Devils faltered in their final two games against Long Beach State, and suffered a series loss for the first time this season. A win on Friday upped their record to 5-1, but poor defensive showings on Saturday and Sunday dropped them to 5-3 on the season.
Friday: Arizona State 9, Long Beach State 2
An injury to Hever Bueno forced Seth Martinez into a familiar spot, the Friday night starter role. It was Martinez’s strong outing combined with a pair of three-run home runs from Colby Woodmansee and Sebastian Zawada that gave ASU the win.
ASU built up a steady lead by the fifth inning and did not look back. They jumped out to a 6-0 advantage on the home runs, and added three more in the ninth inning on a RBI groundout by Gage Canning and a two run single from Andrew Snow. Woodmansee’s fifth-inning home run was his second of the season.
Tracy Smith went the traditional route with his lineup, plugging Daniel Williams in at the leadoff spot once again. He delivered a hit and a walk but also struck out three times. Brian Serven, who had a tough series against Xavier, led the Sun Devils along with Snow with three hits.
Martinez’s outing lasted just six innings, but he did not allow a run and struck out five hitters. He also carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Smith continued to plug his relievers in for multiple innings, as James Ryan relieved Martinez and closed out the game, giving up two runs in three innings of work.
Saturday: Long Beach State 5, Arizona State 2
Four errors doomed ASU in game two of the series. Jordan Aboites committed two miscues from the hot corner, while David Greer and the starting pitcher Eli Lingos each committed an error.
Lingos lasted just 1 1/3 innings on the hill, as he was given the quick hook in favor of Ryan Hingst. Eric Melbostad and Tucker Baca finished off the night by throwing 3 and 1/3 innings and neither surrendered an earned run.
The Sun Devils did not have many answers for Dirtbags’ starter Chris Mathewson, who stuck out 12 hitters in seven innings. ASU mounted a comeback after falling behind 3-0 on a run scoring balk and an RBI single from Zawada. However, LBSU scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the victory.
Sunday: Long Beach State 3, Arizona State 1
The rubber match brought forth many lineup changes in an attempt by Smith to shake things up. Canning led off, while Greer moved to third base and Chris Beall got the start across the diamond.
However, the lineup changes did not pay dividends. Much like on Saturday, the Sun Devils bats struggled immensely. Dirtbags’ starter Darren McCaughan pitched 7 and 1/3 innings, giving up just one earned run, which came in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Andrew Shaps. The single was one of just three hits on the night by ASU.
In an audition for the permanent Sunday starter spot, Reagan Todd delivered a serviceable outing. He lasted just 4 and 1/3 innings, but let up only one run, an improvement over Lingos from the previous day. Eder Erives finished out the game by allowing two more runs, but continues to be productive as a multiple inning swingman.
What’s Next?: No weekday game for the Sun Devils, but they will return home this weekend to face Eastern Michigan in a three-game series.
