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Arizona State took advantage of a pair of Longhorn errors tonight in the third inning to pull out a 3-1 victory over Texas in the first game of their 2011 Super Regional in Austin. Brady Rodgers (10-4) took the win, while Taylor Jungmann (13-2) was saddled with his second consecutive loss in what could amount to his final collegiate game. Here are a few notes and observations from the game:
- Arizona State SP Brady Rodgers entered the game with an 83/9 K/BB ratio, and picked up four strikeouts with no walks in 6.2 innings of work. Rodgers faced a three-ball count five times during the game, and kept the Longhorns from reaching base each time.
- Arizona State SS Deven Marrero is very flashy in the hole. He made one play ranging towards second, spun, and threw to first to get the out. Definitely a player to watch in 2012.
- Arizona State 3B Riccio Torrez made a few nice plays himself. On seperate occasions, Torrez made diving stops, and fired the ball to first in time. One throw was a bit off-target, leading to a single, but still some nice leather.
- Mitchell Lambson improved on his previous outings against Texas from the 2009 College World Series. In two appearances Lambson allowed four runs, included three solo homeruns against the Longhorns. Tonight, Lambson shut down Texas in 2.1 innings of work to get the save.
- DH Joey DeMichele was the hitter of the night for the Sun Devils. DeMichele picked up an RBI double in the third, then brought in the insurance run in the eighth on an RBI single.
- Texas SP Taylor Jungmann lost his final two games at Disch-Falk Field this season after going a perfect 13-0 in 15 starts during the regular season and conference tournament. Tonight’s loss was due to a pair of Longhorn errors in the third that led to the first two runs, as opposed to the Kent State loss last week, which saw Jungmann allow seven runs over 5.2 innings.
- As a team, Texas put eight men on base, but only brought one around to score. Left seven stranded, four in scoring position, and Jacob Felts was tagged out at home on a grounder to third.
- Texas SS Brandon Loy didn’t let the Sun Devils have all the spotlight on defense. As is his usual, Loy made a few wow plays on the night. I have yet to see a better defensive player this year than Loy.
- There wasn’t much positive for the Longhorn offense tonight, but a lot of that is because of the performances put down by Rodgers and Lambson on the mound.
- Tomorrow’s game has been a confirmed match up between RHP Cole Green and RHP Kramer Champlin.
- Tonight’s win was a big one for Arizona State. Aside from the obvious lead in the series, the Sun Devils gained a lot of confidence beating a pitcher like Taylor Jungmann, especially considering their performances against other top-flight pitchers like Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer (10-3, 7-0 losses, 23 combined strikeouts).
