ASU Baseball: Five-run second not enough for Sun Devils vs. St. Mary’s

ASU baseball overcame an early deficit with a five-run second inning. The Gaels made a comeback of their own securing the series win with a 6-5 victory.

A top of the ninth inning wild pitch from Connor Higgins with the bases loaded allowed Saint Mary’s center fielder Joey Fiske to score from third base.

The run proved to be the deciding factor as ASU was handed their fourth loss of the season by Saint Mary’s Saturday afternoon from Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

With the score tied at five heading into the final frame, ASU closer Connor Higgins came on to close out the top of the ninth in hopes of an ASU rally in the bottom of the inning.

Higgins was not sharp for the Sun Devils, as the big lefty allowed a single, committed an error on a potential double play ball and gave up a second single to load the bases.

Then, with the bases loaded an nobody out, the junior closer threw a wild pitch that allowed the go-ahead run to score from third base.

After having the lead for the majority of the game, ASU relief pitcher Sam Romero allowed a towering two-run home run to Gaels third baseman Dylan Robertson to tie the game at five with two outs in the eighth inning.

Prior to the two-run shot, the junior transfer from Phoenix College had thrown two shutout innings of relief.

Offensively it was a rather inconsistent day for the Sun Devils as ASU could only score in the second inning as five runs being put on the board for Tracy Smith’s squad.

Starting off with a solo home run from first baseman Spencer Torkelson, the Sun Devils offense rattled off seven straight hits including four straight singles and a triple from center fielder Gage Canning.

The five-run inning gave ASU the 5-3 lead heading into the third inning, but the problem for Tracy Smith’s squad was that the Sun Devils then failed to register another hit until the eighth inning.

After allowing five runs to cross the plate in the second, Saint Mary’s starter Kevin Milam settled in and threw four scoreless innings.

In relief of Milam, Andrew Hansen, Conner Loeprich and Michael Hobbs combined to throw another three scoreless innings of relief for the Gaels.

On the mound to start the game for the Sun Devils was Senior lefty Eli Lingos. Lingos allowed three runs in 5.2 innings of work for ASU.

The veteran starter allowed all three of his runs to cross in the first inning, but after the rocky start Lingos proceeded to only allowed four hits and give up no runs for the rest of his outing.

Next: ASU Baseball: Walks doom Sun Devils in loss to Saint Mary’s

ASU finishes off the series against the Gaels Sunday at 12:30 p.m. from Phoenix Municipal Stadium.