Arizona State (4-5) led 3-1, before a 10-run fifth inning from Long Beach State (3-6) doomed the Sun Devils in a 16-4 loss on Wednesday night at Blair Field.
The Sun Devils took a 3-1 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning when freshman outfielder Hunter Jump hit into a double play, scoring in freshman second baseman Alika Williams in the third. Freshman left fielder Spencer Torkelson rocketed his fifth home run of the season, as he and sophomore designated hitter Lyle Lin scored in the top of the fifth.
Then, the Dirtbag bats came alive.
Junior 6-foot-9 right-handed pitcher Fitz Stadler gave up two runs in four innings, before he was pulled for freshman right-hander Brandon Corrigan.
Corrigan, sophomore left-hander Spencer Van Scoyoc, senior right-hander Grant Schneider and senior righty Ryan Hingst gave up a combined 10 runs on five hits, three walks and one hit batsmen all in the fifth inning.
The Dirtbags would strike twice more, scoring two in the sixth and three in the eighth. Arizona State’s fourth run came on a Torkelson’s sixth homer of the year, when he hit a solo shot down the left field line in the seventh inning.
The loss comes a night after Arizona State beat the Dirtbags 1-0.
ASU had 11 hits compared to Long Beach State’s 12, and left 12 runners on base opposed to the Dirtbags’ two.
Junior center fielder Gage Canning and Torkelson each notched 3-for-5 nights. Canning improved his average to .585 with 24 hits in 41 at-bats.
The Sun Devils return to action against Oklahoma State (5-2), opening the three-game series on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.