Sun Devils Complete Sweep of Eagles
BC fell to No. 8 ASU by the same 8-4 scoreline on both Saturday and Sunday, suffering its first series sweep of the year.
After a four-run fourth from No. 8 Arizona State broke open the series opener on Friday night, Boston College was looking to avoid those so-called “crooked number” innings in the next two games.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, a pitching staff that has now allowed 38 total runs in its last four games couldn’t get the job done. On Saturday night, BC briefly took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning, but the Sun Devils scored six runs in the next two frames and pulled away for an 8-4 win. That same trend repeated itself on Sunday afternoon, with the Eagles tying it with a three-run fifth only to see ASU rattle off four unanswered runs in another 8-4 victory.
Throughout the weekend, BC (3-4) was able to hang with the host Sun Devils (5-3) in the early innings, but then were largely shut down by a strong ASU bullpen while the Eagles’ relievers couldn’t contain the likes of Spencer Torkelson, Trevor Hauver, and the rest of a deep lineup for too long. While the weekend was a disappointing one—BC wasn’t able to steal a win from a top-10 opponent on the road—it was still a promising one.
The Eagles had a mixed bag of pitching performances, but some players impressed, while the lineup showcased at times just how dangerous it can be. Ultimately, though, it felt like more of a game of constant catch-up for Mike Gambino’s side, as ASU shook off a 2-3 start to the year and righted its offensive ship in a big way.
Sunday
Last weekend, Emmet Sheehan made his season debut and didn’t make it out of the third inning, struggling mightily with control. Gambino was optimistic about the sophomore righthander entering his second start, but the same issues quickly popped up against the Sun Devils. Sheehan walked five of the eight batters he faced before turning it over to reliever Joey Walsh, allowing three earned runs.
BC chipped away at the early deficit with a Cody Morissette RBI double and eventually took a lead in the fifth behind run-scoring singles from Brian Dempsey and Morissette, which were then followed by a RBI groundout from Jack Cunningham. That lead lasted all of an inning change, though, as a throwing error from Morissette allowed a game-tying run to come across in the bottom of the fifth.
Locked in a one-run game, Gambino turned to Will Hesslink out of the bullpen in the sixth. Hesslink got two quick outs, bringing up the ever-dangerous Torkelson. The Eagles opted to intentionally walk the slugger, and it quickly backfired. Hauver launched an 0-2 pitch from Hesslink over the right-center fence, staking the Sun Devils to a three-run lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Torkelson tacked on another home run in the eighth, punctuating the weekend sweep.
Saturday
Much like the eventual Sunday loss, BC had a lead in this one in the middle innings. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth—and struggling to crack ASU starter Tyler Thornton—Sal Frelick strode to the plate and launched a leadoff home run over the 385-foot sign in straightaway center. Luke Gold added a RBI single later in the inning, and the Eagles briefly held a 2-1 lead.
That didn’t last a single pitch, as starter Joe Mancini returned to the mound in the bottom of the frame and gave up a game-tying solo home run to Hunter Jump. He was pulled after the next two batters reached for Michael Marzonie, who got two quick outs before Torkelson was again intentionally walked. With the bases juiced and a tie ballgame, Marzonie needed just one crucial out, but instead allowed three runs—one on a wild pitch, two on a two-run single from Hauver. The Sun Devils added two more in the seventh off Marzonie to stretch their lead to a comfortable five runs.
The Eagles made it interesting in the top of the eighth, with Morissette and Suozzi hitting back-to-back doubles before an error brought in another run. ASU turned to closer RJ Dabovich for the six-out save, though, and he stepped up. He got a double play and a strikeout to end the eighth, and then once Drew Swift added insurance with a RBI single, Dabovich returned for the ninth and set down the side in order.
Next Up
BC is spending an extended weekend in Greensboro, N.C. The Eagles face North Carolina A&T (2-5) on Friday, then Fairfield (0-3) on Saturday and Sunday, then face the Aggies again on Monday. All four games have daytime starts, with the opener at 4 p.m. and the next three scheduled for 1 p.m.
Image courtesy of ASU Athletic Communications