The long-awaited return to the diamond for Sun Devil baseball arrived on Friday night as ASU (0-1) played host to Sacramento State (1-0) nearly one year after a potential College World Series run in 2020 was cut short by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two pitching staffs dueled as hits were scarce throughout the game. Sun Devil head coach Tracy Smith sent out redshirt freshman Cooper Benson as the starting pitcher, where he was matched opposite Hornets starter Scott Randall.
Benson picked up where he left off from his impressive freshman campaign last season by pitching six innings, allowing only one baserunner on a measly single.