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ASU baseball completes weekend sweep with 8-4 win over Boston College

The Sun Devils notched 26 runs and seven home runs across the three-game series

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ASU junior infielder Gage Workman (14) celebrates after scoring against Boston College on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.


ASU baseball completed a three-game sweep of Boston College with an 8-4 win Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Five Sun Devil relievers combined to hold the Eagles scoreless over the final four innings of the ballgame.

Junior first baseman Spencer Torkelson and junior left fielder Trevor Hauver both hit home runs for ASU.

“Last year we were defined so much by our offense,” head coach Tracy Smith said. “Now, we keep hammering home that we will win on pitching and defense … We played solid baseball.”

On the mound for ASU was junior left-hander Justin Fall, who impressed in his Sun Devil debut by tossing six scoreless innings against Villanova last weekend.

The native of Toms River, New Jersey was sharp early on, allowing a single, a walk and no runs through his first two innings.

Boston College sophomore right-hander Emmet Sheehan struggled with control in his start for the Eagles, walking five Sun Devils in the first inning, including a bases-loaded walk to freshman second baseman Nathan Baez to get ASU on the board.

“We had a good plan going up to the plate,” Torkelson said. “It goes with not trying to do too much. We were trying to stay in the middle of the field and keep things simple.”

Junior center fielder Drew Swift then followed Baez with a bases-loaded single to right center field to tack on an additional two runs.

Sheehan failed to get through the inning and was replaced by redshirt junior left-hander Joey Walsh after issuing a walk to freshman designated hitter Brian Kalmer.

The Eagles notched their first run in the top of the third on an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Cody Morissette, but the Sun Devils quickly got it back in the bottom of the frame as junior third baseman Gage Workman swiftly dodged a tag along the third baseline to steal home.

It was the first time a Sun Devil has successfully stolen home since the 2016 season.

Fall ran into trouble in the top of the fifth, allowing two runs on two singles and a walk and failing to record an out before being replaced by sophomore right-hander Will Levine.

Boston College notched an additional run on a double and a groundout, which tied the game at four. 

However, the Sun Devils responded promptly in the bottom of the inning, scoring Hauver on a throwing error to reclaim the lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hauver launched a no-doubt, two-run home run — his second of the series — to deep right center field to extend the Sun Devil lead to 7-4.

“I’m getting more and more comfortable as the season and the games go on,” Hauver said. “I was fired up. It was a rough first weekend, and just knowing that my swings have been a lot better, I was super excited.”

Two innings later, Torkelson hit an opposite-field, solo blast over the NCAA National Champions sign to further increase the lead.

A bullpen combination of freshman Cam Dennie, sophomore Luke La Flam, freshman Bryce Barnett, freshman Christian Bodlovich and junior RJ Dabovich held the Eagles scoreless over the final four innings to complete the sweep for ASU.

The Sun Devils finished the series with 26 total runs on 27 hits, including seven home runs.

“We are sticking to our approach and staying confident,” Torkelson said. “It is a testament to all of our hard work in the cages leading up to the games.”

The team will have a day off before returning to Phoenix Municipal Stadium to face New Mexico State Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. MST.


Reach the reporter at hcroton@asu.edu or follow @thecrote on Twitter.

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