ASU Baseball: Sun Devils look to clean up defense

After a split four-game series against Miami of Ohio to start the season, ASU baseball will look to right the ship against Saint Mary’s this weekend in a three-game set.

The opening weekend was full of many ups and downs for the very young Sun Devils who walked out as many as six freshmen at one time on the diamond.

ASU head coach Tracy Smith talked about nerves of live play against an opponent other than their teammates and how the young group struggled defensively committing several errors each game at practice this week.

“Why we lost two out of the four baseball games this weekend was because we didn’t play good defense,” Smith said.

The staple of the ASU baseball program has been aggressive pitching that attacks the zone, with a defense that could back up the aggressive approach.

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“Our formula for success, and just say this as an overview of the entire weekend, and that being the example of how we’re going to win baseball games this year, we’re going to attack the zone and we’re going to play good defense,” Smith said.

One player who was extremely effective at this approach was freshman pitcher Boyd Vander Kooi who opened up his Sun Devil career with a seven-inning, five hit performance while allowing no earned runs.

Vander Kooi was able to open his collegiate career behind a large number of supporters as up to 50 people came to see the hometown prospect from Mesa, Arizona dominate from the mound.

“I had a lot of friends and family coming out, I’d say probably about 50 people came and watched me which is awesome,” Vander Kooi said. “I’m glad I did well and got to prove to myself that I was here.”

Another freshman who impressed was first baseman Spencer Torkelson who finished the weekend with three home runs in four games and seven hits overall.

The home runs were extremely impressive, but it was a hit that stayed inside Phoenix Municipal Stadium that most impressed Smith.

“He hit three home runs out but his most impressive at-bat to me was the breaking ball he stayed on and drove to the right-center gap,” Smith said.

Not only is Torkelson been effective from the plate, his performance at first has opened the designated hitter spot in the lineup.

“If Spence can do what he’s been doing on the first base side the that’s going to allow us to play those two good offensive approaches even in that platoon situation,” Smith said.

The platoon of Trevor Hauver and Scott Mehan in left field will benefit from the movie with the duo will most likely getting to play in the same game with one in left field and the other filling the open DH spot.

“I’m not worried about left field,” Smith said. “I think Hauver and Mehan are both going to do well enough defensively, in fact, Trevor is probably one of the better guys on our team outside of Gage in terms of getting to the ball.”

Next: ASU Baseball: Sun Devils continue non-conference play versus Saint Mary’s

The year is young, but the early games of the season will be telling for how this young team improves and grows under Smith and his staff.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.

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