ASU Baseball: Devils blow late lead to add to growing list of heartbreaking losses

ASU baseball took a 4-2 lead into the ninth inning, but Cal State Fullerton scored five runs in the ninth to secure a come-from-behind 7-6 win.

A late collapse led to Arizona State’s sixth loss in eight games against the Cal State Fullerton Titans 7-6.

Both of these teams came into Tuesday needing a momentum boost. ASU had lost back-to-back conference series to UCLA and Washington State, while the Titans had dropped four of their last five games.

ASU seemed like they were in perfect position to get the win while up 4-2 with one out and no runners on in the ninth inning.

Then two singles and a walk loaded the bases. Titan outfielder Mitchell Berryhill then hit a sharp ground ball to the first baseman Spencer Torkelson, setting up a routine double-play opportunity. Torkelson bobbled the ball and threw it into left field, thus allowing two runners to score and the game was tied.

A bunt single, another error by Torkelson and a wild pitch later and the Devils found themselves down 7-4.

The Devils rallied in the bottom of the inning but came up one run short, losing 7-6. Four out of ASU’s last five losses have been by just one run.

Head Coach Tracy Smith accredited the blow up late in the game to inexperience and self-doubt.

“What troubles me is that you cannot let the nervousness creep in and affect your play,” Smith said. “We’re capable of beating anyone in the country. It looks like we don’t know that yet.”

Sophomore outfielder Hunter Bishop added, “You got to want to be in that situation and want the ball. At the end of the day it is up to the players, this one’s on us.”

Sam Romero got the start for the Devils despite a couple of dreadful outings in a row. He only lasted 1.1 innings in each of his last two starts giving up a total of nine runs, but he was a bright spot today for ASU.

Romero bounced back and provided five solid innings for the Devils, allowing just one earned run on four hits. He also consistently stayed in the strike zone as 50 of his 79 pitches were strikes and he only walked one batter.

Dellan Raish provided two scoreless innings of relief after replacing Romero. Raish has the most innings pitched for ASU this season out of any pitcher who has not started a game. It was his eighth scoreless appearance out of 11 this year.

Offensively, Spencer Torkelson nailed home run No. 14 on the year and Gage Canning hit his ninth triple. Torkelson is now tied for the most home runs in the NCAA while Canning added to his lead at the top of the triples category.

Next: ASU Baseball: Sun Devils open weekday series against Cal State Fullerton

The Devils take on Fullerton once again on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. with the game televised on Pac-12 Network.

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