A two-out single to center field by ASU junior center fielder Gage Canning in the eighth scored the go ahead run and ASU defeated the Utah Utes, 7-4, on Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
After freshman third baseman Gage Workman ran out an infield single to start the inning, freshman first baseman Spencer Torkelson was walked intentionally. Canning made the Utes pay with his third hit of the day.
"It's kind of nice to be in that situation to get the big hit," Canning said. "It's a good feeling especially after we hadn't been winning a lot of games."
Sophomore right fielder Carter Aldrete drove in two more runs with a triple, and the Sun Devils (15-22, 7-9 Pac-12) snapped a six-game losing streak.
“Tonight, I thought we played good baseball,” head coach Tracy Smith said. “We didn’t make any errors … we got the big hit when we needed it, and pitching was good enough to get it done.”
ASU got on the board early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Sophomore catcher Lyle Lin hit a single with two outs to score the first run, and a throwing error later in the inning made it 2-0 Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils' offense kept the foot on the gas pedal against Utah junior left-handed starter Joshua Tedeschi. Three straight hits in the second inning led to a RBI single by Aldrete made it 3-0. One batter later, a two-out RBI single by senior designated hitter Taylor Lane gave ASU a 4-0 lead.
The Utes cut ASU’s lead in half in the third. After a leadoff walk, Utah junior center fielder DaShawn Keirsey hit a ball that popped in and out of the glove of ASU sophomore left fielder Myles Denson, but it was scored a double.
The next batter hit a sacrifice ground ball and a run scored. A wild pitch by sophomore right-handed starter Alec Marsh scored the second run of the inning, and ASU led 4-2 after two and a half innings.
A two-run home run over the center field fence by Utes senior first baseman Wade Gulden tied the game up at four in the top of the fourth.
Freshman left-handed reliever Dellan Raish pitched five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits. He picked up his second win of the season.
Marsh only went four innings. He allowed four earned runs on four hits, struck out four and walked two.
Smith said Marsh tweaked his back on a bunt play in the fourth inning, and he was taken out of the game.
Raish Rescues the Pen
Raish turned in a stellar performance, saving the bullpen and giving the offense a chance to win the game.
The lefty did not have a stressful inning. He allowed two hits, struck out eight and threw 45 of his 62 pitches for strikes.
“For Raish to come in and shut that thing down and take over the baseball game was a huge lift for our team,” Smith said. “(He) competed in the zone, being aggressive and going after and attacking hitters.
“I knew we would get at least three (innings) out of him,” Smith said. “I thought he was really effective and continued to throw the ball down in the zone. It was his baseball game.”
Raish, who lowered his ERA to 3.14,has been one of the most reliable arms in the bullpen.
“Here’s a guy that was promised nothing but an opportunity to be at Arizona State,” Smith said. “He worked hard to get in the position that he’s in. He didn’t take anything for granted. He looks at every opportunity as a privilege.”
Two-out Production
The Sun Devils' offense has struggled to find timely hits with runners in scoring position in recent games, but that was not an issue in this game, as ASU scored six of their seven runs with two outs.
The two through five hitters did the damage. Aldrete led the way with three RBI and three hits. Canning, Lin and Lane each had 1 RBI.
“You have to simplify it,” Aldrete said about hitting with two outs. “The bigger the situation, the smaller the approach. I’m not trying to do too much. Stay middle of the field and good things will happen.”
Up Next
ASU and Utah resume the series with game two on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.
Reach the reporter at jpjacqu1@asu.edu or follow @joejacquezaz on Twitter.
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