Devils Lose Final Series but Stand Proud on Tough Season

Mike Stockman

PHOENIX, AZ (May 24, 2018) - The Arizona State University Sun Devils hosted Pac-12 rival California Golden Bears for the final three game series of the season that featured the two top home run hitters in NCAA Baseball. Freshman Spencer Torkelson of the Devils leads NCAA with 25 home runs this year and the Bears' sophomore Andrew Vaughn has cleared the fence 23 times.

Devils win game one in walk off single, 5-4.

In game one on Thursday night, Devils' Gage Canning added to his total hit count of 17 doubles on the season.

In the bottom of the second inning, Gage Workman hit a two run home run over left field wall giving the Devils a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the third, the Bears' Korey Lee slams a home run over center field making the score 2-1.

The Devils extended the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Spencer Torkelson scored from first base on an RBI double to the left field corner by Carter Aldrete.

The Bears score one in the sixth inning. In the seventh with bases loaded, the Bears add  two to take the lead 4-3. 

In the bottom of the ninth with one out, Lyle Lin hit an RBI double tying the game.  Hunter Bishop hit a hard shot up the middle allowing Lin to score from second, ending game one by a score of 5-4.

Devils get shut out in final game 3-0 to the Bears

Game two featured Torklenson's 19th multi-hit outing this season which contributed to two of the four runs posted by the Devils.  The Devils would fall to the Bears in the ninth inning with two outs when a two run RBI made the score 6-4 in favor of the Bears. The Devils were unable to repeat Thursday's walk-off win.

The final game of the season was uneventful until a two error play allowed one runner and the batter Jonah Davis to score, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

In the top of the fourth, the Bears' Andrew Vaughn hit an RBI single extending the score to 3-0 over the Devils.

In the final inning of the season, with one out, the Devils' Carter Aldrete hit a single up the middle, sparking the crowd. The Devils were shut out when Lyle Lin hit into a double play, ending the game 3-0 in favor of the Bears. 

After the game, Head Coach Tracy Smith held a 20 minute press conference in which he stated 'I can't say enough about those five seniors...because of their experience will probably make them better...they're gonna win in life - I can tell you that". When talking about the things that he wish would have been better this year, he mention ' defensively - you get better or you get worse. I think we're gonna get better".  When asked what he thought he accomplished most this year he said "I know we were gonna be up and down...". He then stated "treating these guys the right way - treating them with respect" explaining that is what he was the proudest of "that's a strong locker room. They held together".

Coach Smith wanted his seniors to experience their last game and cherish the moment. 
Eli Lingos, a senior pitched 6.0 innings, giving up three hits, one walk, and six strike outs.
Grant Schneider was the starting pitcher, going 2.2 innings allowing two hits, two walks, on run, and three strike outs.

Lingos and Schneider talk about lessons learned at ASU

When the seniors were asked what they learned from their experience putting the uniform on for the very first time to this last time, Eli Lingos responded - "you wanna go out on a good note...I wish we could have gotten a W but it was good." He had this to say to the younger players - "you wanna stay positive, maintain a better feeling through the year." As for what he learned, he commented "never give in, stay on it, learn to push thru...". Grant Schneider added "it's a grind, 6am in the weight room, 7am classes, degree - it's hard." He learned "how important it is to be a good person".

The Devils (23-32, 13-17) complete their season, finishing seventh in the Pac 12.