ASU baseball opened up the season with 3-1 win over Northwestern thanks to a masterful performance from starting pitcher Eli Lingos and timely hitting.
ASU baseball head coach Tracy Smith could have not asked for a better start to the season as the Sun Devils took game one of the doubleheader over Northwestern 3-1.
Starting pitcher Eli Lingos, in his first Opening Day start, had a memorable outing throwing 6.2 scoreless innings giving up just 3 hits and striking out 6 Wildcats.
After the first three innings featured 0 runs and 2 hits combined, the Sun Devils broke through in the fourth inning thanks to first baseman Lyle Lin.
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Lin laced a liner over Wildcats right fielder Matt Hopfner with 2 outs scoring third baseman Andrew Snow and left fielder Ryan Lillard.
Arizona State would go on to add an insurance run in the seventh inning on a 2-out RBI single from Snow scoring catcher Sam Ferri.
Lin had a strong collegiate debut finishing 2-for-3 with a single, double and 2 RBIs while also displaying strong defense at first base picking some throws in the dirt.
That was all the support Lingos needed after escaping a couple of early jams.
In the second inning, Lingos gave up a lead-off double to Wildcats left fielder Joe Horschiet but he was left stranded on third base after a strikeout, groundout and pick off at first base.
After Sun Devils got two runs in the fourth, Lingos got in another jam in the fifth inning after allowing a single and hit by pitch.
Lingos left both runners on by making a catch in foul territory down the first base line to retire the side.
Freshman lefty Chaz Montoya secured the save after inheriting three base runners from closer Eder Erives.
After allowing a bases loaded walk, Montoya struck out Wildcats center fielder Jake Schieber and catcher Nick Paciorek to secure the victory.
Sun Devil hitters were patient and capitalized with 2 outs as Sun Devils were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring positions and 4-for-12 with 2 outs.
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The Sun Devils will play again Friday at 6:30 p.m. MST versus Northwestern in the second game of a doubleheader. The projected pitching match-up is Northwestern’s Hank Christie versus ASU’s Ryan Hingst.