Through two games, Arizona State’s offense just hasn’t had an answer for No. 2 Oregon State’s pitching. In 18 innings, the Sun Devils have tallied just one run on a combined six hits.

The result has been two losses. On Friday, Oregon State (16-1, 2-0 Pac-12) scored early and used a four-run sixth to pull away from ASU (9-9, 0-2) in a 10-1 win at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The Sun Devils hung around in Thursday’s 2-0 loss because junior lefty Eli Lingos was stellar after giving up two first-inning runs. Freshman left-hander Spencer Van Scoyoc gave up a pair of runs in the first inning on Friday, but only made it to the fifth inning.

He struggled with his command once again as he walked three and threw just 43 strikes in his 77 pitches.

“This league’s too good,” said ASU head coach Tracy Smith. “Baseball has been around a long time. If you continue to give people free bases, it eventually catches up with you. That’s the frustrating piece. He’s good enough. Teams don’t hit him, his batting average against, his ERA in spite of all the walks is really good.”

In the third inning, ASU had a sure double play until freshman shortstop Carter Aldrete dropped a throw from Van Scoyoc. The runner who made it safely was then brought home on Beavers designated hitter Trevor Larnach’s sacrifice fly.

Junior righty Jake Godfrey, who relieved Van Scoyoc, was rolling until the sixth inning. Oregon State’s Cadyn Grenier and Nick Madrigal both singled to start the inning before left fielder Christian Donahue doubled to right field to make it 5-0 Beavers.

Then, ASU mistakes allowed two more runs to score. One scored on a wild pitch from Godfrey and the other on an error by third baseman Jackson Willeford.

The Beavers then added to their lead in the seventh inning with Larnach’s 2-RBI single to complete a 3-RBI day. ASU scored its only run of the series in the bottom half when junior center fielder Andrew Shaps — who singled earlier in the inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games — scored on a wild pitch.

At that point, the run proved futile. However, Smith said his team still put together good at-bats.

“Good pitching will zap the energy out of you in a second,” Smith said.

Grenier homered to left off freshman righty Alec Marsh in the eighth inning for the Beavers’ 10th run of the game.

Luke Heimlich carried the Beavers to a win with eight shutout innings on Thursday. Friday followed much of the same script as Oregon State sophomore right-hander Bryce Fehmel gave up just one run on four hits. He used 86 pitches.

While he did not drive in any of the team’s runs, Oregon State second baseman Nick Madrigal went 3-for-4, scored four runs and drew three walks. After the game, Smith lauded his play.

But he also did so during the game. He admitted he rarely watches players from the opposing teams.

Yet, he finds himself admiring Madrigal.

“I think that kid is the best baseball player in the country, bar none,” Smith said. …” I hope at some level, all of our guys are looking at that kid. The way that he executes, the way that he works at-bats, the way that he just understands the game and plays the game. I can’t stand when we play him, but I certainly appreciate the way that young man plays the baseball game.”

Following last night’s game, Smith didn’t have any complaints. He chalked the loss up to Heimlich being better than Lingos. After Friday’s loss, he broadened the scope to focus on the entire Oregon State team.

He called himself a “realist” and said the Beavers are just a better baseball team than ASU is at this point. They are the No. 2 team in the country for a reason.

“They pitch the baseball very well, they pound the zone, they pitch ahead,” he said. “They got guys that swing the bat, they’re physical, they play defense extremely well. I look at that and that’s what we want to be, but I also look at my dugout and my roster and we’re also playing a bunch of young guys that this is their first Pac-12 games they’ve ever played.

“If you were to map it out on paper, they probably should be kicking our rear end right now.”

Smith also reflected on the season to this point. He made a wavy motion with his hand, signaling the roller-coaster ride that 2017 has been for his team.

Sweeps against Northwestern and Long Beach State. A four-game losing streak. Series losses against No. 1 TCU and now No. 2 Oregon State, which could still be a sweep.

He knows he has a young team. Regardless, he said the goal is to come out of this recent slate above .500, which can only be achieved with a win in tomorrow’s series finale.

“I might have to look at some silver lining in that,” Smith said. “We haven’t given up on those guys in the locker room. We’ve shown at times that we can play baseball at a high level. Our whole issue is the lack of consistency.”

ASU is undecided on its starter for Saturday’s game, which begins at 12 p.m. MT.