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ASU Baseball: Sun Devils Drop Rubber Match at TCU

By Joseph Caulo

Mar 3, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a baseball in the hand of Arizona State Sun Devils outfielder Coltin Gerhart against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training baseball game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a baseball in the hand of Arizona State Sun Devils outfielder Coltin Gerhart against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training baseball game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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ASU Baseball fail to maintain lead in the third game; go on to drop series to top-ranked TCU in Fort Worth 5-2 despite Spencer Van Scoyoc’s quality start.

In a series that saw a combined 34 runs scored in the first two games, the pace would significantly slow in the rubber match Sunday.

After giving up 9 runs in the first game and 8 runs in the second, the Sun Devils’ defense significantly tightened up in game three.

Spencer Van Scoyoc, a highly-touted freshman left-handed pitcher, was impressive against a dangerous TCU lineup in his second career start.

The young pitcher was able to navigate through and past TCU’s hitters for 6 innings, giving up only 1 unearned run.

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This allowed for ASU to grab the first lead of the game as Carter Aldrete hit a two-out RBI single to raise the Sun Devils’ lead to 2-0 in the top half of the fifth.

An error in the bottom half of the inning by second baseman Jackson Willeford got TCU on the board for the first time.

Fellow freshman Chaz Montoya would replace Van Scoyoc in the seventh inning, and this is where the bullpen woes would continue for head coach Tracy Smith and the Sun Devils.

Montoya struggled to get guys out, and the Horned Frogs were able to piece together hits and take the lead in the seventh.

Fitz Stadler would come to pitch in the bottom of the eighth to try to hold TCU’s lead to just two runs but would give up a RBI triple to right fielder Austin Wade, making the score 5-2 Horned Frogs as the Sun Devils headed to the plate in the ninth.

ASU would not go quietly in the last inning though, after a walk and a single the game-tying run would reach the plate. TCU’s closer, Durbin Feltman, would eventually get a groundout to secure the game and series for the Horned Frogs.

Following a blowout loss last Tuesday to Oklahoma State, there wasn’t much certainty that this young team could travel to Fort Worth and compete with an even more talented Big 12 program.

After this weekend, though the Sun Devils dropped the series overall, they proved that they can go on the road and not be intimidated by playing in front of over 5,000 fans a game.

A road series against a tough TCU squad should do nothing but help this young team grow as Pac-12 conference play nears.

Next: ASU Baseball: Sun Devils Return to Old Mistakes in Loss

ASU (4-3) will head home for a Tuesday game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium against New Mexico State.

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