Carter Aldrete lifted ASU baseball to a game one win over the Utah Utes with a two-RBI double in the eighth inning that finally gave Dellan Raish a lead in the latter stages of the game.
Raish came into the game in a 4-4 tie with the Utes in the fourth inning after starter Alec Marsh gave up a two-run home run to Wade Gulden that tied the game up. Raish took over and allowed just two baserunners in the five innings of work including eight strikeouts.
Raish battled with the Utes bullpen man Jacob Reebar who threw 3.2 innings and ended up getting credited with the loss. Reebar did have a stretch where he retired eight consecutive Sun Devil batters at one point.
The ASU offense started off hot for the first time in a few games scoring two runs in each of the first two innings. Aldrete came around to score on a Lyle Lin single in the first inning followed by Taylor Lane later in the inning on a Utah throwing error.
In the second Spencer Torkelson scored the first of the inning after doubling himself and then being brought around by an Aldrete single that tallied his first RBI of the night. Lane then drove in Canning to give the Sun Devils the 4-0 lead early on.
The Utes struck back however with two runs of their own in the third and fourth innings to tie the game up. The game moved along quickly with both bullpen pitchers moving through the lineups with ease up until the eighth inning.
Canning drove in one to break the tie and give ASU the 5-4 lead, and then Aldrete tripled to the right center field gap to extend the lead to 7-4. That lead was all Raish needed to finish off the masterful relief appearance and pick up his second win on the season.
Next: ASU Baseball: Sun Devils look to end losing skid against Utah
Game two is tonight at Phoenix Municipal Stadium as Sam Romero (1-1, 5.31 ERA) takes on Tanner Thomas (2-2, 4.56 ERA) at 6:30 p.m. PT.