Heading into the team’s series with New Mexico at Isotopes Park, the ASU pitching staff had been nothing short of stellar.
In the first contest of the two-game set Monday night, the Sun Devils’ (19–13, 6–6 Pac-12) arms — which came into Albuquerque with a combined 2.62 ERA on the season — were rocked for nine earned runs, 18 hits and three walks in a 15–6 drubbing at the hands of the unranked Lobos (16–16, 5–1 Mountain West).
The game started on a high note for the No. 21 Sun Devils as they scored a run in each of the first two frames to take an early 2–0 lead.
Junior second baseman Joey DeMichele had a sacrifice fly in the first to score junior centerfielder Andrew Aplin after he doubled to lead off the game. In the second, redshirt freshman right fielder Trever Allen had a two-out, full-count RBI single to bring home junior catcher Max Rossiter.
After that, it was all downhill for the Sun Devils.
New Mexico got on the scoreboard in the second with three hits and a run that managed to chase ASU sophomore starter Zak Miller from the game with no outs in the inning. Junior right-hander Billy Young, who replaced Miller, was eventually pegged with the loss.
The Sun Devils surrendered their lead in the third when the Lobos, sparked by a leadoff triple from freshman right fielder Ryan Padilla, put up four runs on three hits to go ahead 5–2.
Junior shortstop Deven Marrero, who has been solid with the glove lately, had an uncharacteristic throwing error in the third that led to three unearned runs. ASU had five errors on the night. Marrero and DeMichele each had two and Miller had one in what was a sloppy game defensively for the Sun Devils.
In the fourth inning, the game started to get away from ASU when New Mexico put up four more runs. Junior catcher Mitch Garver and senior designated hitter Ben Woodchick each had RBI hits before senior first baseman Trey Porras hit a two-run homer to center to make it a 9–2 ballgame.
New Mexico extended their lead thanks to another two-run dinger by sophomore third baseman DJ Peterson in the fifth and then four runs on two errors in the sixth.
The score was 15–2 by the time sophomore designated hitter James McDonald doubled to bring home a third run for the Sun Devils in the seventh. Three more runs in the eighth via back-to-back doubles from freshmen left fielder Jake Peevyhouse and third baseman Drew Stankiewicz were not enough to overcome the enormous deficit.
ASU and New Mexico finish up the series Tuesday at Isotopes Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Reach the reporter at kjnewma2@asu.edu
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