TEMPE, Ariz. - Despite reaching three Arizona State pitchers for six runs and 12 hits in the second game of a doubleheader, the Tigers (1-5) dropped a doubleheader to second-ranked Arizona State (6-0) at Packard Stadium on Saturday afternoon. After being held to four hits in the opener, a 9-1 loss, the Tigers dropped the nightcap, 11-6.
"We are playing a very good team," said Coach Mike Gottlieb. "That's why we came out here. Hopefully, it will make us a better team down the road."
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Tigers spotted the Sun Devils a 5-0 first inning lead as ASU scored three unearned runs. Shortstop Drew Maggi reached base to open the inning on a throwing error by Tiger shortstop Nick Natoli. When Zach MacPhee followed with a single, the Sun Devils had a 1-0 lead. Rightfielder Kole Calhoun's double put runners on second and third. When Riccio Torrez lined a two-run double to leftfield, the Sun Devils had a 3-0 lead. Back-to-back walks to Matt Newman and Andrew Applin loaded the bases. A two-run single by Raoul Torrez upped the lead to 5-0 before Charlie Cononie pitched out of the inning.
In the top of the second inning, the Tigers cut into the Arizona State lead. After senior Kevin Collins singled, junior leftfielder Steve Rice launched a two-run homer over the left field fence to make it a 5-2 deficit.
In the third inning, the Tigers rallied to tie the game. After Chris Wychock singled, senior first baseman Steve Yarsinsky drew a walk. Wychock came around to score when junior Austin Harclerode singled to centerfield. Freshman Cody Reeves cut the deficit to 5-3 when his RBI singled plated Yarsinsky. When Rice hit an RBI single, Harclerode scored the tying run to make it a 5-5 game.
However, the game did not remain tied for very long. Catcher Austin Barnes led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo homer, giving the Sun Devils a 6-5 lead. The Sun Devils added three more runs in the inning as Riccio Torrez lined a two-run single centerfield. An RBI double by Newman gave Arizona State a 9-5 lead.
Brady Rodgers came out of the ASU bullpen and threw five shutout innings, allowing five hits. He allowed one run and struck out seven Tigers.
The Sun Devils added two unearned runs in the seventh inning to increase their lead to 11-5.
Towson cut its deficit to 11-6 in the eighth inning when catcher Andrew Parker reached on an error and went to third base on a double by Natoli. Parker scored when Ben Winter grounded out.
Rice led the Tigers' 12-hit attack as he went two-for-three with three RBI's. Wychock, Harclerode and Collins also had two hits for the Tigers.
In the first game, sophomore righthander Tyler Austin shut out Arizona State on two hits through the first three innings. However, a walk to rightfielder Calhoun and a two-run homer by Riccio Torrez gave the Sun Devils a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Arizona State extended its lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning when Raoul Torrez was hit by a pitch, stole second base and stole third base before scoring on a wild pitch.
In the seventh inning, the Sun Devils upped their lead to 5-0 when catcher Xorge Carrillo led off with a home run and MacPhee hit an RBI triple down the rightfield line.
Meanwhile, Jake Borup and Mitchell Lambson shut out the Tigers on one hit through seven innings. Yarsinsky led off the eighth inning with a solo home run to cut the Tigers' deficit to 5-1. It was his second home run of the season.
Arizona State settled the issue by scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Borup earned his second win of the season by pitching six shutout innings. He allowed one base hit while walking two and striking out six. Lambson earned a save by pitching three innings while giving up one run on three hits. He did not walk anyone and had three strikeouts.
The Tigers and the Sun Devils conclude their four-game series with a single game on Sunday afternoon.
