In the first game of the series against Cal State Bakersfield, ASU baseball rose to the occasion with a 12-6 win.
ASU baseball didn’t let the pressure of three runs scored by the Roadrunners in the first inning get to them. The Sun Devils answered back with two runs of their own in the first inning.
Freshman pitcher Chaz Montoya was the starter for the game. Montoya pitched for six innings, giving up six runs and 11 hits. Sophomore pitcher Reagan Todd will take over at the mound.
“He didn’t said anything to anybody but he had been really, really sick throwing up and everything today. It kind of registered with me at that point no wonder he looked… a little lackadaisical tonight,” said head coach Tracy Smith about Montoya.
Freshman shortstop Carter Aldrete hit one deep into the left field wall allowing for two runs to score for ASU. Senior catcher Zach Cerbo comes up to the plate and doubled to left center with Aldrete scoring and tying up the game in the third.
It does not stop there. Freshman left fielder Hunter Bishop singles to right field and the Sun Devils take the lead in the bottom of the third for the first time in the game.
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Sophomore right fielder Gage Canning was a key player in the game. Canning not only hit one but two triples, going 4-5 in nine innings.
“Sometimes before a game you could feel good, you can feel bad but I mean once you get to the game it feels like anything could happen really. You always want to go out and do your best but you can’t expect four hits every game,” said Canning.
An unfamiliar face made an appearance at the plate. Freshman Nick Cheema came into the game as a designated hitter for jr. Ryan Lillard and was able to go bat for the fourth time this season.
The thing working for the Sun Devils in this game was their determination to hit the ball and score runs. In the entire game, there were 18 hits by ASU. This is what the team needs to continue doing if they want to maintain this type of offense.
“We said the last 20 games that was one of the things we said as a team offensively we want to hit .300 over the last 20 games. We feel that if we could do that we are gonna give ourselves a chance to wipe the slate clean,” said Smith.
Next: ASU Baseball: Sun Devils Look to Bounce Back Against Cal State Bakersfield
Don’t forget to tune into the game on Saturday. Tune into the Pac-12 Network at 6:30 p.m. to watch the game.