ASU Baseball: Eli Lingos, Maroon bats shine in scrimmage
The Senior starting pitcher showed out for the Maroon team in the annual Maroon and Gold scrimmage that the Maroon team coasted to a 7-0 victory.
Lingos who is likely to be the Saturday starter this season behind Spencer Van Scoyoc was sharp in the first public game action for the Sun Devils on Saturday afternoon.
He threw five innings of shutout baseball, allowed just three hits while striking out three as well. Lingos only walked two batters which was an issue for ASU last season. His velocity was strong as he was reaching the high 80’s and his breaking ball was sharp for all five innings of work in preparation for the opening series next weekend.
The offense was the big highlight for the Maroon team versus Gold pitcher Chaz Montoya. Hunter Bishop who suffered a hamstring injury a few weeks ago led off the game with a home run to dead centerfield. Carter Aldrete also went deep in the first inning with a 2-run home run two batters later.
Montoya pitched four innings himself and gave up five runs. Four of which came via the home run ball. Montoya also had four strikeouts to just one walk.
Freshman Spencer Torkelson who looks to be the designated hitter for the team had a 2-run home run of his own to deep left field. Torkelson was one of many freshmen that stood out including Perfect Game Preseason Pac-12 Freshman of the year pick Drew Swift. Swift was solid at shortstop besides one error on a tough ground ball that Swift snagged and threw the ball up the line in an attempt to get the runner.
One player who was not seen during the game was Swift’s expected middle infield partner Alika Williams. Freshman Gage Workman started at second base and went 2-4 at the plate with two singles.
Connor Higgins who started out in a maroon uniform and switched to a gold one to finish out the game went 1-2-3.
Next: ASU Baseball: Young infield looks to lead Sun Devils
The Sun Devils open up the 2018 season next Friday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium with a four-game series against Miami of Ohio.