Peterson Homers Twice in Aztecs' 6-2 Defeat to No. 22/25 Arizona State
San Diego State’s Tyce Peterson smacked two solo home runs on Monday, but it wasn’t enough, as the Aztecs dropped a 6-2 decision to No. 22/25 Arizona State in a non-conference game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
PHOENIX – San Diego State’s Tyce Peterson smacked two solo home runs on Monday, but it wasn’t enough, as the Aztecs dropped a 6-2 decision to No. 22/25 Arizona State in a non-conference game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
With the loss, the Aztecs slip to 15-15 on the season, while the Sun Devils improve to 21-8 overall.
Despite Peterson’s efforts, the rest of the SDSU lineup was held largely in check, as three ASU pitchers combined on a five-hitter, with doubles by Jake Jackson and Anthony Marnell IV and a Zach Justice single accounting for the Aztecs’ remaining three hits.
In addition, the Sun Devils featured a big bat of their own, as Landon Hairston belted two homers on the night, including a two-run shot in the fifth that put the host school in front for good at 4-2.
Colin Linder (2-1) picked up the victory with four innings of spotless middle relief, offsetting one hit and one walk with five strikeouts, while Simon Lemke (0-2) absorbed the loss after yielding the go-ahead runs in the fateful fifth.
In all, SDSU utilized seven pitchers, including Alito McBean, Nick Falla, Evan Miranda and Issac Araiza, each of whom tossed a scoreless inning against the high-octane ASU lineup after starter Jake Frohn pitched the first two frames.
Peterson gave the Aztecs some early momentum in the first when his deep shot off Sun Devil starter Easton Barrett on a 2-2 pitch cleared the fence in left field with two outs.
However, Arizona State responded with Brody Briggs’ two-run double in the second, which plated Dean Toigo and PJ Moutzouridis, who previously walked and singled, respectively.
Peterson went the opposite way in the fourth for his team-leading seventh home run on an 0-2 delivery from Barrett that curled around the foul pole in right, knotting the score at 2-2. The blast was initially ruled a foul ball, but an SDSU challenge prompted a review and the call was reversed.
The Aztecs were unable to seize the upper hand, however, as Linder replaced Barrett to start the fifth and retired 11 consecutive batters.
In the interim, the Sun Devils vaulted in front to stay in the fifth when Beckett Zavorek beat out an infield hit before circling bases ahead of Hairston’s homer to right field.
ASU closed out the scoring in the seventh when Hairston launched his 17th home run of the season, a solo shot to right, while Garrett Michel raced home on Toigo’s RBI single after reaching second moments earlier when his towering pop-up along the first-base line landed untouched in fair territory.
SDSU finally mustered a threat against Linder with two outs in the eighth when Marnell entered as a pinch hitter and cranked a double to right, while Zane Kelly drew a walk. However, Linder kept the Scarlet and Black off the scoreboard with a strikeout to end the inning.
The Aztecs also stranded a pair of runners in the ninth off Finn Edwards when Justice singled and Jackson followed with a double off the wall in deep right field. However, Edwards avoided trouble after receiving a strikeout and a flyout to end the game.
San Diego State returns to the diamond later this week when it opens a three-game Mountain West series against conference-leading Air Force, April 2-4, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.