After taking a 1-0 series lead, ASU baseball scored one run in two games as the Sun Devils drop their second game in a row at home against UNC Wilmington
For the second game in a row, ASU’s offense was unable to produce as the Sun Devils were held to a single run against UNC Wilmington Sunday afternoon from Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils struggled to score runs as ASU went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as ASU had plenty of scoring opportunities throughout the game.
“I thought we barreled up some balls, but it just didn’t happen,” head coach Tracy Smith said.
In the seventh inning, ASU slugger Spencer Torkelson drove a ball to straight away center field with runners on first and second base with two outs. The ball eventually was caught right at the wall for the third out of the inning.
UNC Wilmington starting pitcher Landen Roupp only allowed one run scattering six hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
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“Some of what you saw today was an experienced pitching staff,” Smith said in regard to UNC Wilmington’s pitching. “(Pitchers) who made out inexperienced team look inexperienced.”
In relief of Roupp was Austin Warren, Blake Morgan and Clark Cota who combined to throw 4.1 innings of shutout relief for the Seahawks.
At the plate, the Seahawks capitalized on Vander Kooi’s few mistakes with eight hits off the righty including a towering solo shot from Ryan Jeffers in the fifth inning to give UNC Wilmington a 2-1 lead.
Jeffers on the afternoon went 3-for-3 on the afternoon with two singles to go along with his big solo home run.
Boyd Vander Kooi was fairly solid in his third start of the season as the freshman righty gave up three runs in 5.2 innings pitched against a potent Seahawks lineup.
In relief of Vander Kooi was Dellan Raish and Chaz Montoya who stopped the bleeding for ASU with three strikeouts and no hits in 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.
One of the bright spots offensively for the Sun Devils came at the bottom of the order as the freshman middle infield of Drew Swift and Alika Williams both had a pair of singles on the afternoon.
In addition to Williams and Swift, freshman right fielder Trevor Hauver also had a pair of singles on the afternoon.
Junior outfielder Gage Canning continued his now 16-game hitting streak with a double in the fifth inning. Canning now has a hit in every game so far this season.
Next: ASU Baseball: Bullpen falters in 9-0 loss vs. UNC Wilmington
“I don’t want to lose, but I will take the effort,” Smith said after the loss. “I thought we battled.”
All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.