PHOENIX – Sun Devil Baseball's inability to close out innings or field the ball efficiently would prove the team's undoing in a tough 16-6 loss to UC Irvine in the series opener on Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU had four errors in the field, leading to 10 unearned runs while also allowing 12 two-out RBIs to totally offset the Sun Devils' season-best 15 hits in the game.
Ryan Campos, Jacob Tobias and Isaiah Jackson all homered for ASU – but all came on solo shots as the Sun Devils struggled to find the big hits with runners on base. Tobias and Luke Hill finished with a team-best three hits on the evening.
TURNING POINT
After the Sun Devils took an early 1-0 lead on a Jacob Tobias RBI single in the first, the team couldn't put the Anteaters away with two outs in the second inning as UCI rallied for five runs aided by two walks to take a 5-1 lead.
BIG MOMENT
Isaiah Jackson's solo shot in the second immediately cut into that deficit to make it a three-run game but, again, ASU couldn't get out of its own way. Back-to-back two-out errors in the top of the third spiraled into a disastrous six-run frame for the Anteaters – all unearned – to make it an 11-2 game.
FINAL STRAW
ASU showed some heart to score four unanswered runs to cut UCI's lead back to five runs at 11-6 following a three-run fifth inning with homers from Ryan Campos and Jacob Tobias. Unfortunately, the Anteaters would drive the nail home behind another error in the top of the seventh as ASU sailed a ball into the outfield while trying to turn a double play, leading to four more unearned UCI runs to make it an insurmountable 16-6 ballgame.
NOTABLES
First Inning
Ross Dunn worked around a two-out error and walk to escape the frame unscathed. The Sun Devils responded two-out singles from Ryan Campos, Ethan Long and Jacob Tobias – the last of which got the Sun Devils on the board first.
Second Inning
UCI came right back with a massive two-out rally of its own, scoring five runs with two outs, keyed by two walks to take a 5-1 advantage, keyed by a bases loaded triple. Isaiah Jackson had a response in the bottom half of the frame with a solo shot to dead center to get back within 5-2.
Third Inning
The unforced errors bit the Sun Devils again in a massive way as back-to-back two-out errors at pitcher and second base spiraled into a disastrous six-run frame for the Anteaters. Tobias recorded a two-out single but that was the extent of the ASU action.
Fourth Inning
Matt Tieding set the side down on five pitches – all groundouts. Luke Hill led off with an infield single and came across on a two-out Luke Keaschall RBI single back up the middle.
Fifth Inning
Tieding again set the side down in order. Ryan Campos led off with a homer and two batters later, Tobias did the same. A single from Kien Vu and double from Luke Hill would lead to a run on an Isaiah Jackson sack fly to bring ASU back within 11-6.
Sixth Inning
Tieding continued to eat up valuable innings to save the bullpen, making it 10 straight batters retired with a 1-2-3 frame. Unfortunately, the Sun Devils went down in order as well, unable to capitalize on the momentum it had built in the previous frame.
Seventh Inning
UCI recorded four more unearned runs in another crooked numbered inning to effectively put the nail in the coffin and a 15-6 lead. Kien Vu worked a two-out walk and went first to third on a bloop single from Luke Hill but Isaiah Jackson's rocket shot to center died in the night sky at the warning track to end the threat.
Eighth Inning
Tyler Valdez worked around a leadoff walk and single to get out of the inning unscathed. The Sun Devils went down in order.
Ninth Inning
A single and double led to an RBI groundout for UCI to extend the lead to double digits. Reese Beheler add a single to improve his average to 2-for-2 on the season.
ON DECK
The Devils will look to even the series on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. AZT first pitch. Khristian Curtis will toe the rubber for ASU. The game will be available through the Pac-12/ASU Live Stream and over the airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM.
ASU had four errors in the field, leading to 10 unearned runs while also allowing 12 two-out RBIs to totally offset the Sun Devils' season-best 15 hits in the game.
Ryan Campos, Jacob Tobias and Isaiah Jackson all homered for ASU – but all came on solo shots as the Sun Devils struggled to find the big hits with runners on base. Tobias and Luke Hill finished with a team-best three hits on the evening.
TURNING POINT
After the Sun Devils took an early 1-0 lead on a Jacob Tobias RBI single in the first, the team couldn't put the Anteaters away with two outs in the second inning as UCI rallied for five runs aided by two walks to take a 5-1 lead.
BIG MOMENT
Isaiah Jackson's solo shot in the second immediately cut into that deficit to make it a three-run game but, again, ASU couldn't get out of its own way. Back-to-back two-out errors in the top of the third spiraled into a disastrous six-run frame for the Anteaters – all unearned – to make it an 11-2 game.
FINAL STRAW
ASU showed some heart to score four unanswered runs to cut UCI's lead back to five runs at 11-6 following a three-run fifth inning with homers from Ryan Campos and Jacob Tobias. Unfortunately, the Anteaters would drive the nail home behind another error in the top of the seventh as ASU sailed a ball into the outfield while trying to turn a double play, leading to four more unearned UCI runs to make it an insurmountable 16-6 ballgame.
NOTABLES
- UCI's two-out RBI single in the top of the second was the first run allowed by Ross Dunn this season.
- ASU's three home runs were its most in a single game this season. Jackson, Campos and Tobias all added their second homers of the season.
- The Devil tagged UCI start David Vizcaino for six earned runs, easily the most he had allowed in his career. Vizcaino had only given up 10 total earned runs in 50 innings pitched in his career, entering the night with a 1.80 career ERA.
- ASU notched three homers off Vizcaino, who had only given up four total in his career entering the night.
- ASU's 15 hits were a season high but timely hitting again seemed to evade the Sun Devils as the team registered three solo home runs to bring its tally to 13 solo homers on 16 total home runs this season.
- Luke Hill added his second three-hit game of the season to bring his total to a team-leading six multi-hit games.
- Jacob Tobias notched his first three-hit game of the year and with his two RBIs he now owns the team lead for nine on the season.
- Isaiah Jackson has shaken off a forgettable trip to Mississippi with two hits in each of the last two games, adding a homer and two RBIs tonight.
First Inning
Ross Dunn worked around a two-out error and walk to escape the frame unscathed. The Sun Devils responded two-out singles from Ryan Campos, Ethan Long and Jacob Tobias – the last of which got the Sun Devils on the board first.
Second Inning
UCI came right back with a massive two-out rally of its own, scoring five runs with two outs, keyed by two walks to take a 5-1 advantage, keyed by a bases loaded triple. Isaiah Jackson had a response in the bottom half of the frame with a solo shot to dead center to get back within 5-2.
Third Inning
The unforced errors bit the Sun Devils again in a massive way as back-to-back two-out errors at pitcher and second base spiraled into a disastrous six-run frame for the Anteaters. Tobias recorded a two-out single but that was the extent of the ASU action.
Fourth Inning
Matt Tieding set the side down on five pitches – all groundouts. Luke Hill led off with an infield single and came across on a two-out Luke Keaschall RBI single back up the middle.
Fifth Inning
Tieding again set the side down in order. Ryan Campos led off with a homer and two batters later, Tobias did the same. A single from Kien Vu and double from Luke Hill would lead to a run on an Isaiah Jackson sack fly to bring ASU back within 11-6.
Sixth Inning
Tieding continued to eat up valuable innings to save the bullpen, making it 10 straight batters retired with a 1-2-3 frame. Unfortunately, the Sun Devils went down in order as well, unable to capitalize on the momentum it had built in the previous frame.
Seventh Inning
UCI recorded four more unearned runs in another crooked numbered inning to effectively put the nail in the coffin and a 15-6 lead. Kien Vu worked a two-out walk and went first to third on a bloop single from Luke Hill but Isaiah Jackson's rocket shot to center died in the night sky at the warning track to end the threat.
Eighth Inning
Tyler Valdez worked around a leadoff walk and single to get out of the inning unscathed. The Sun Devils went down in order.
Ninth Inning
A single and double led to an RBI groundout for UCI to extend the lead to double digits. Reese Beheler add a single to improve his average to 2-for-2 on the season.
ON DECK
The Devils will look to even the series on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. AZT first pitch. Khristian Curtis will toe the rubber for ASU. The game will be available through the Pac-12/ASU Live Stream and over the airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM.