PHOENIX – The eighth-ranked Sun Devil Baseball dream dropped a pitcher's duel in a midweek tilt against No. 24 Oklahoma State, 2-1, on Tuesday night. The Sun Devils were unable to capitalize on a six-inning, 12-strikeout performance by sophomore Erik Tolman.
Tolman was electric all evening, doubling his previous career high in strikeouts while limiting the Cowboys to just two runs. The sophomore southpaw also added a base hit at the plate.
The Sun Devil pitching staff as a whole was electric, striking out 18 batters on the evening – the most since a 21-strikeout effort against a now-defunct Southern Utah program in 2001. The 18 strikeouts were the most against a Power Five opponent since 1998 against Cal.
The Cowboys got on the board in the second inning when sophomore outfielder Cade Cabbinness knocked an RBI single into left field. Cabbinness inflicted some damage again in the fourth inning, crushing a solo home run off of Tolman.
The Sun Devil's lone run on Tuesday came in the sixth inning when junior shortstop Alika Williams cut the lead in half with a sacrifice fly.
ASU had multiple chances to tie or take the lead, including the bottom of the ninth, when junior outfielder Trevor Hauver popped out with the bases loaded to end the game. All told, the Sun Devils had some impressive at-bats, but were unable to find the timely hit – stranding 11 batters on the evening.
The loss drops ASU to 2-3 on the season.
THE FINAL STRAW
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Sun Devils looked like they were going to make some noise, putting runners on first and second with just one out. Junior outfielder Hunter Jump grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with two outs and the Cowboys decided to intentionally walk junior first basemen, Spencer Torkelson, to load the bases – Torkelson's fifth intentional walk in five games. ASU was unable to tie or win the game, as Hauver popped out to put the nail in the coffin.
THE TURNING POINT
The game-deciding run came off the bat of Cabbinness in the fourth inning as he crushed a Tolman pitch past the bullpen in right field.
NOTABLES
-Erik Tolman's 12 strikeouts are the most for an ASU pitcher since Ryan Kellogg had 12 strikeouts against Oregon on May 12, 2014. It took Kellogg eight innings to get to that mark, while Tolman was able to reach the number in just six innings of work.
-It was the most strikeouts in six or fewer innings since Mitchell Lambson had 12 on March 14, 2009 against Kansas in 5 and two-thirds innings.
-ASU's 18 strikeouts on Tuesday night are the most for against a Power Five program since March 21, 1998, against Cal. It was the most, period, since a 21-strikeout effort in 2001 against a now defunct Southern Utah program.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
ASU starting pitcher Erik Tolman retired the first two Oklahoma State batters but then gave up a two-out single. That single ended up being inconsequential as Tolman got the next batter to fly out to center on the first pitch. In the bottom half, ASU's offensive struggles continued as its lineup was retired in order.
Second inning
Three consecutive singles to start the inning gave the Cowboys the game's first run, but Tolman did a nice job of damage control, striking out the final batter of the frame with the bases loaded. The Sun Devils started the bottom half promisingly by loading the bases with no outs but then two strikeouts and a lineout derailed ASU's scoring chances.
Third inning
Tolman made quick work of the Cowboys, retiring the side in order on just 11 pitches. Junior outfielder Hunter Jump started the bottom of the third with a single, but the middle of the Sun Devil order was unable to capitalize.
Fourth inning
Oklahoma State added to its lead as a two-out solo home run pushed its lead to 2-0. Cowboy starter Brett Standlee struck out his sixth Sun Devil of the night en route to another clean inning.
Fifth inning
Tolman continued to miss Cowboy bats in the top half of the fifth, striking out two for his eighth and ninth strikeout on the night, surpassing his previous career-high of six. For the third time in five innings, ASU led off the inning with a single only to eventually strand that runner.
Sixth inning
In the top of the sixth, Tolman added to his career-high in strikeouts, fanning three more Oklahoma State batters in a relatively stress-free inning for the Sun Devils. The Sun Devil bats finally showed some signs of life as junior shortstop Alika Williams cut the Oklahoma State lead to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Seventh Inning
Freshman reliever Cam Dennie entered the game with the bases loaded and one out and then got the next two Cowboy batters to strike out swinging, keeping ASU within one run. Despite having runners on first and third with no outs, the Sun Devils were unable to capitalize, as both Jump and junior first basemen Spencer Torkelson were retired.
Eighth inning
Dennie got the first two outs of the inning, before being replaced by junior reliever RJ Dabovich who proceeded to strike out the final Cowboy to end the frame. In the bottom half, ASU stranded its fifth leadoff baserunner of the night, as the Cowboys remained in the lead by a score of 2-1.
Ninth inning
Dabovich stayed on the bump for ASU during the top of the frame. He walked the bases loaded, but got the final batter to fly out to center. Two walks and a Cowboy error, helped the Sun Devils load the bases with two outs, but junior outfielder Trevor Hauver ultimately popped up to the shortstop.
Up next
The Sun Devils will try to get things right this weekend as they will host Boston College in a three-game weekend series that will get kicked off on Friday at 6:30 p.m. AZT.
Tolman was electric all evening, doubling his previous career high in strikeouts while limiting the Cowboys to just two runs. The sophomore southpaw also added a base hit at the plate.
The Sun Devil pitching staff as a whole was electric, striking out 18 batters on the evening – the most since a 21-strikeout effort against a now-defunct Southern Utah program in 2001. The 18 strikeouts were the most against a Power Five opponent since 1998 against Cal.
The Cowboys got on the board in the second inning when sophomore outfielder Cade Cabbinness knocked an RBI single into left field. Cabbinness inflicted some damage again in the fourth inning, crushing a solo home run off of Tolman.
The Sun Devil's lone run on Tuesday came in the sixth inning when junior shortstop Alika Williams cut the lead in half with a sacrifice fly.
ASU had multiple chances to tie or take the lead, including the bottom of the ninth, when junior outfielder Trevor Hauver popped out with the bases loaded to end the game. All told, the Sun Devils had some impressive at-bats, but were unable to find the timely hit – stranding 11 batters on the evening.
The loss drops ASU to 2-3 on the season.
THE FINAL STRAW
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Sun Devils looked like they were going to make some noise, putting runners on first and second with just one out. Junior outfielder Hunter Jump grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with two outs and the Cowboys decided to intentionally walk junior first basemen, Spencer Torkelson, to load the bases – Torkelson's fifth intentional walk in five games. ASU was unable to tie or win the game, as Hauver popped out to put the nail in the coffin.
THE TURNING POINT
The game-deciding run came off the bat of Cabbinness in the fourth inning as he crushed a Tolman pitch past the bullpen in right field.
NOTABLES
-Erik Tolman's 12 strikeouts are the most for an ASU pitcher since Ryan Kellogg had 12 strikeouts against Oregon on May 12, 2014. It took Kellogg eight innings to get to that mark, while Tolman was able to reach the number in just six innings of work.
-It was the most strikeouts in six or fewer innings since Mitchell Lambson had 12 on March 14, 2009 against Kansas in 5 and two-thirds innings.
-ASU's 18 strikeouts on Tuesday night are the most for against a Power Five program since March 21, 1998, against Cal. It was the most, period, since a 21-strikeout effort in 2001 against a now defunct Southern Utah program.
INNING-BY-INNING
First inning
ASU starting pitcher Erik Tolman retired the first two Oklahoma State batters but then gave up a two-out single. That single ended up being inconsequential as Tolman got the next batter to fly out to center on the first pitch. In the bottom half, ASU's offensive struggles continued as its lineup was retired in order.
Second inning
Three consecutive singles to start the inning gave the Cowboys the game's first run, but Tolman did a nice job of damage control, striking out the final batter of the frame with the bases loaded. The Sun Devils started the bottom half promisingly by loading the bases with no outs but then two strikeouts and a lineout derailed ASU's scoring chances.
Third inning
Tolman made quick work of the Cowboys, retiring the side in order on just 11 pitches. Junior outfielder Hunter Jump started the bottom of the third with a single, but the middle of the Sun Devil order was unable to capitalize.
Fourth inning
Oklahoma State added to its lead as a two-out solo home run pushed its lead to 2-0. Cowboy starter Brett Standlee struck out his sixth Sun Devil of the night en route to another clean inning.
Fifth inning
Tolman continued to miss Cowboy bats in the top half of the fifth, striking out two for his eighth and ninth strikeout on the night, surpassing his previous career-high of six. For the third time in five innings, ASU led off the inning with a single only to eventually strand that runner.
Sixth inning
In the top of the sixth, Tolman added to his career-high in strikeouts, fanning three more Oklahoma State batters in a relatively stress-free inning for the Sun Devils. The Sun Devil bats finally showed some signs of life as junior shortstop Alika Williams cut the Oklahoma State lead to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Seventh Inning
Freshman reliever Cam Dennie entered the game with the bases loaded and one out and then got the next two Cowboy batters to strike out swinging, keeping ASU within one run. Despite having runners on first and third with no outs, the Sun Devils were unable to capitalize, as both Jump and junior first basemen Spencer Torkelson were retired.
Eighth inning
Dennie got the first two outs of the inning, before being replaced by junior reliever RJ Dabovich who proceeded to strike out the final Cowboy to end the frame. In the bottom half, ASU stranded its fifth leadoff baserunner of the night, as the Cowboys remained in the lead by a score of 2-1.
Ninth inning
Dabovich stayed on the bump for ASU during the top of the frame. He walked the bases loaded, but got the final batter to fly out to center. Two walks and a Cowboy error, helped the Sun Devils load the bases with two outs, but junior outfielder Trevor Hauver ultimately popped up to the shortstop.
Up next
The Sun Devils will try to get things right this weekend as they will host Boston College in a three-game weekend series that will get kicked off on Friday at 6:30 p.m. AZT.