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ASU Baseball: Sam Romero’s solid start solidifies rotation

By Alex Weiner

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 23: Members of the Arizona State Sun Devils wait on the mound for their manager to arrive during Game 13 of the 59th College World Series against the Florida Gators at Rosenblatt Stadium on June 23, 2005 in Omaha, Nebraska. The Gators defeated the Sun Devils 6-3. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 23: Members of the Arizona State Sun Devils wait on the mound for their manager to arrive during Game 13 of the 59th College World Series against the Florida Gators at Rosenblatt Stadium on June 23, 2005 in Omaha, Nebraska. The Gators defeated the Sun Devils 6-3. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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ASU baseball has seemingly found their three-man rotation for Pac-12 series going forward with the ascension of Sam Romero.

ASU’s team ERA in 2017 was 5.54. That was the second worst in the conference. After last season’s poor performance pitching-wise, it was probable that this season would consist of trial and error when it came to the rotation.

The Sun Devils’ opening series consisted of starts for Spencer Van Scoyoc, Eli Lingos and freshmen Boyd Vander Kooi and Brady Corrigan.

Van Scoyoc was the opening night starter. He was someone who the Devils relied on in 2017 as he posted a 3.86 ERA and started eight games.

However, Van Scoyoc’s first two starts totaled 7.1 innings with seven runs (four earned) and 10 walks. He was demoted to the bullpen where he has given up three earned runs in just 0.1 innings.

Lingos was a work-horse last season, starting 16 games with an ERA of 4.21 posting a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio with 2.4 strikeouts per walk.

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This season, he has improved. Through four starts, Lingos has a 3.70 ERA with 25 strikeouts and just eight walks.

Boyd Vander Kooi has been terrific to start off his college career. He has three starts to this point equating to 20.1 innings tallying 21 strikeouts,1.33 ERA and just seven walks.

Walks were a major issue in 2017 as ASU finished ninth in the Pac-12 in that category. Limiting walks was a major key heading into the season, according to head coach Tracy Smith so having starters like Lingos and Vander Kooi that can limit their walks and attack batters is a major plus.

Corrigan didn’t make it out of the second inning of his start and hasn’t started again since. He will most likely be relooked at for the rotation in future seasons.

ASU needed a third starter in their rotation for conference play. Fitz Stadler, Alec Marsh and Sam Romero have all gotten opportunities. It seems like Romero will stick. The Phoenix College transfer has started the opening game of the last three series, including in ASU’s win on Friday over Oregon.

In his first start, Romero tossed six innings while giving up just one run on five hits and striking out seven against Oklahoma State.

He had his struggles against UNC-Wilmington allowing four runs in 4.1 innings, but didn’t walk anybody.

On Friday, Romero looked solid again throwing 6.1 innings and allowed just three earned runs, all in the third inning. He once again did not walk anyone striking out seven.

His performance kept ASU’s struggling offense within striking distance. The offense put together five runs in the eighth inning, and the Devils won the game.

The back end of the bullpen is solidifying with Dellan Raish and Chaz Montoya having breakout seasons.

Next: ASU Baseball: Sun Devils come back to defeat Oregon in Pac-12 opener

If ASU’s starters can go deep into games while keeping the Devils in them, then they should be in good shape, especially if the struggling Connor Higgins (7.45 ERA) and Spencer Van Scoyoc can turn it around.

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