Junior pitcher Billy Young delivers a pitch against Oregon on April 7. Young could be the starting pitcher for the Sun Devils mid-week game against UA Tuesday. (Photo by Molly J. Smith)At media day, ASU baseballplayers were quick to mention they were the last team to beat UA before the Wildcats went on to win the 2012 national championship.
No. 9 ASU (22-10-1, 8-7 Pac-12) faces off against the Wildcats (23-12, 8-7 Pac-12) for the first time this season Tuesday night.
The game is a lone mid-week game, but that will not take anything away from the Territorial Cup rivalry and the extra motivation the Wildcats created when they won the national championship last year.
Both teams have been hot as of lately. The Sun Devils won their past three Pac-12 series and the Wildcats won eight of their past nine conference games after starting 0-6 in the Pac-12.
The Wildcats are a tough team to beat at home, compiling a 20-7 record at Hi Corbett Field this season.
Five Wildcat hitters are currently hitting above .340 on the year, led by junior infielder Brandon Dixon at .386.
The Wildcats hit .311 as a team and will test the Sun Devil pitching staff. ASU has pitched well recently in mid-week games.
No starter has been named yet, but redshirt junior Zak Miller and junior Billy Young are the most likely candidates.
Miller pitched last Wednesday at UNLV and went five innings and allowed only three runs in an 11-3 Sun Devil victory.
Young struggled in his most recent start, giving up five runs in 2.1 innings in his start against Oregon on April 7.
Offensively, the Sun Devils have been very streaky on the road, recording one-hit games twice already in Pac-12 play.
ASU hit .284 as a team and is led by road warrior and redshirt sophomore outfielder Trever Allen, who has hit all six of his home runs away from Packard Stadium.
The Wildcats have also not named a starter, but have compiled a 3.57 team ERA so far this season.
The game is at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu or follow on twitter @Danny__Shapiro
