Devils in Detail
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ASU Baseball: Sun Devils Shutout by Oregon State in Pac-12 Opener.

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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For the fourth consecutive game, the ASU baseball team trailed early but were unable to come back this time due to a stellar defensive performance by No. 2 Oregon State. Tracy Smith’s team was only able to scrape together two hits in their first scoreless game of the season.

Oregon State (15-1) proved tonight why they are regarded as one of the best teams in the nation. The Beaver defense was smothering in their 2-0 victory over the Sun Devils.

“I don’t feel we beat ourselves, I don’t feel that the effort wasn’t there,” said ASU head coach Tracy Smith, “We ran into a really really good pitcher tonight. Plain and simple. Our guy was pretty good, (Oregon State’s) guy was really good.”

The Oregon State Beavers came into tonight as one of just five collegiate teams with a sub 2.00 ERA. Luke Heimlich, tonight’s starting pitcher, demonstrated why this is the case. The junior standout put together a strong start with six strikeouts and no hits through his first 4 innings.

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A pinch-hit single by Andrew Snow with two hits in the fifth was Heimlich’s first hit given up on the night. Heimlich (4-0) finished his dominating performance with eight strikeouts in eight scoreless innings. His pitching left the Sun Devils’ hitters shaking their heads all night long.

The offense wasn’t there tonight for ASU, but the defense certainly was. Eli Lingos, 3-0 as a starter in four starts entering tonight, struggled to put away the stubborn Oregon State hitters with two outs. The Beavers scored two runs in the first inning with two outs, and Lingos continued to struggle to put hitters away with two outs, spiking his pitch count early. Despite a high pitch count, Lingos was able to put together a quality start over seven innings.

“He did exactly what he was supposed to do,” said Smith on Lingos’ gutsy performance, “To take us to the eighth inning only giving up two runs, to me the starter has done his job.”

Lingos struck out five and pitched seven scoreless innings following the hectic first inning.

Lingos said that after giving up the two runs in the first, “I got more aggressive and had a better feel for all my pitches, and I just started trusting them more.” Once Lingos found his groove, he proved why he is an exceptional weekend starter for the Sun Devils.

Next: Spring Practices are Underway for ASU Football

ASU (9-8) will play again tomorrow against Oregon State. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

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