Arizona State baseball pulled starting pitcher Cooper Benson after the first inning Friday night due to an apparent injury issue and lost 3-2 to Hawaii despite more strong relief pitching.
ASU coach Tracy Smith had no post-game report on Benson or on pitcher Boyd Vander Kooi, who threw just 2/3 of an inning last week.
The Sun Devils (2-2) led 2-0 after two innings at Phoenix Municipal Stadium but like a week earlier against Sacramento State could not close out the game. Hawaii scored in the fifth, seventh and ninth to win its season opener.
Standout performers
ASU redshirt freshman Christian Bodlovich threw four innings after Benson's surprise exit, giving up two hits and one run and strike out four.