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In their last two games, the Arizona State Sun Devils have scored just three runs.
They’re also 2-0.
The Sun Devils (4-4) knocked off the Long Beach State Dirtbags 1-0 at Blair Field in Long Beach Tuesday behind a dominant pitching effort across five arms.
ASU didn’t need to score much, but the Sun Devils got what they needed nearly immediately.
Following a leadoff single and stolen base by junior centerfielder Gage Canning, freshman left fielder Scott Mehan drilled a single to chase him home for a 1-0 lead.
That was all the pitching staff would need.
Senior Jake Godfrey started the game with two scoreless innings, followed up by a sterling outing by sophomore Alec Marsh.
ASU cruised behind its dominant pitching for nearly seven full innings before Long Beach State began a two-out rally with a double for freshman third baseman Chris Jimenez, followed by a walk from catcher Antonio Torres, chasing Marsh.
Head coach Tracy Smith turned to junior Connor Higgins to escape danger and he promptly induced a ground ball out by junior pinch-hitter Domenic Colacchio to end the threat.
Junior Sam Romero then breezed through the eighth inning, giving way to sophomore Chaz Montoya for a chance at his second save in a row.
This opportunity, though, did not go as smoothly as his effort Sunday.
Montoya allowed a one-out single and two-out double, putting two men in scoring position, giving junior pinch-hitter Shaq Robinson a chance to win the game.
On a 2-2 pitch from Montoya, Robinson lined a ball into shallow left field, but freshman left fielder Trevor Hauver — who entered the game in the eighth inning — made a diving snag to seal the victory.
The Sun Devils and Dirtbags conclude their two-game set Wednesday night before ASU returns home for a three-game series with Oklahoma State over the weekend.
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