STILLWATER – Sun Devil Baseball couldn't shake off a five-run third inning despite battling back late in a 7-4 loss at #13 Oklahoma State on Wednesday afternoon in Stillwater.
Willie Cano got his first start in the Maroon and Gold and responded with a two-run shot to make it a three-run game in the seventh inning. ASU had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth but couldn't get the big knock to tighten the gap.
All told, the Sun Devil bullpen performed admirably, allowing just one run over the final five innings. Jonah Giblin tossed three innings with two strikeouts and just one run allowed while Dylan Gardner, Brock Peery and Jesse Wainscott combined for two scoreless frames. ASU stranded eight total OSU batters in the game
The difference in the game came as Oklahoma State notched five straight two-out hits in the third inning – one of which a three-run shot – to take a 5-1 lead early in the game. THE TURNING POINT
In a 1-1 game in the bottom of the third, the two-out bug bit ASU in a bit way. A two-out walk put two runners on and a big three run homer put OSU on top 4-1. The bleeding didn't stop there as four straight singles followed that homer to allow two more runs to score and gave the Cowboys a commanding 6-1 lead. THE BIG MOMENT
Willie Cano kept things interesting with his two-run shot in the seventh inning to bring ASU back within 7-4. After Brock Peery stranded a pair in scoring position in two 8+ pitch at-bats, ASU would then load the bases with one out in the top of the eighth to put the go-ahead run at the plate. But a strikeout and flyout squandered the opportunity THE FINAL STRAW
ASU had one last shot in the ninth that started with a leadoff walk by Cano against the nation's leader in saves. But an incredibly one-out diving stab at first base to rob Ryan Campos of a hit proved to be the dagger as a strikeout brought the game to a close. NOTABLES
First Inning
Wyatt Crenshaw lead the game off with a hustle double and took third on a Hill flyout. Campos brought him home with an RBI single and Luke Keaschall worked a one-out walk but back-to-back strikeouts ended the Sun Devil threat with just a 1-0 lead. OSU wasted no time evening things up with a one-out solo shot.
Second Inning
The Devils went down in order in the second. A pair of two-out singles put runners on the corners, though one was a cheapy on a jam shot but Stevenson got a groundout to escape the threat.
Third Inning
Campos drew a two-out walk but a pop-out kept ASU from capitalizing. A single and two-out walk lead to the bane of ASU's last week of action with a three-run home run that made it 4-1. Four straight-straight two-out singles followed that to plate another pair of runs to make it 6-1.
Fourth Inning
All three Sun Devil batters went down swinging. Jonah Giblin entered and worked around a leadoff walk efficiently without any damage caused.
Fifth Inning
Kien Vu got a one-out bunt single before that was wiped off the basepath with a double play. Giblin stranded a one-out single.
Sixth Inning
Luke Hill notched a one out double and scored on two wild pitches. A tough infield single to the pitcher was followed by a wild pitch and advanced on a ground out, scoring on a sac fly to cancel out the ASU run and make it 7-2.
Seventh Inning
Will Rogers led the inning off with a double and Willie Cano followed with a one-out oppo taco for his first Sun Devil homer in his first start for the Sun Devils, cutting the lead to 7-4. ASU found itself in trouble with a pair of leadoff walks moving into scoring position on a groundout. Brock Peery entered and had two big battles, getting a pivotal strikeout following a seven-pitch at-bat and then won a massive 11-pitch at-bat with a flyout to center to keep it a three-run game.
Eighth Inning
Luke Hill drew a leadoff walk followed by an exceptional diving play from the OSU second baseman to save a hit from Ryan Campos. Keaschall got a one-out single to put runners on the corners and induce a pitching change with the tying run at the plate. A four-pitch walk loaded the bases and forced another pitching change. But a strikeout and flyout ended the threat. Jesse Wainscott entered for the Sun Devils and retired his side in order.
Ninth Inning
Willie Cano drew a leadoff walk but ASU couldn't do anything more than that ON DECK
Sun Devil Baseball will look to get back on the winning side of things with a three-game weekend series against UC Davis at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. AZT. All three games will be broadcast live through the Pac-12 Live Stream and available over the airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM.
Willie Cano got his first start in the Maroon and Gold and responded with a two-run shot to make it a three-run game in the seventh inning. ASU had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth but couldn't get the big knock to tighten the gap.
All told, the Sun Devil bullpen performed admirably, allowing just one run over the final five innings. Jonah Giblin tossed three innings with two strikeouts and just one run allowed while Dylan Gardner, Brock Peery and Jesse Wainscott combined for two scoreless frames. ASU stranded eight total OSU batters in the game
The difference in the game came as Oklahoma State notched five straight two-out hits in the third inning – one of which a three-run shot – to take a 5-1 lead early in the game. THE TURNING POINT
In a 1-1 game in the bottom of the third, the two-out bug bit ASU in a bit way. A two-out walk put two runners on and a big three run homer put OSU on top 4-1. The bleeding didn't stop there as four straight singles followed that homer to allow two more runs to score and gave the Cowboys a commanding 6-1 lead. THE BIG MOMENT
Willie Cano kept things interesting with his two-run shot in the seventh inning to bring ASU back within 7-4. After Brock Peery stranded a pair in scoring position in two 8+ pitch at-bats, ASU would then load the bases with one out in the top of the eighth to put the go-ahead run at the plate. But a strikeout and flyout squandered the opportunity THE FINAL STRAW
ASU had one last shot in the ninth that started with a leadoff walk by Cano against the nation's leader in saves. But an incredibly one-out diving stab at first base to rob Ryan Campos of a hit proved to be the dagger as a strikeout brought the game to a close. NOTABLES
- Willie Cano had his first home run as a Sun Devil while also making his first start at ASU.
- ASU recorded a season-high three doubles in the contest.
- ASU held OSU to 1-for-5 hitting with two outs after the troublesome third inning and a stat that has plagued the Devils over the last week.
First Inning
Wyatt Crenshaw lead the game off with a hustle double and took third on a Hill flyout. Campos brought him home with an RBI single and Luke Keaschall worked a one-out walk but back-to-back strikeouts ended the Sun Devil threat with just a 1-0 lead. OSU wasted no time evening things up with a one-out solo shot.
Second Inning
The Devils went down in order in the second. A pair of two-out singles put runners on the corners, though one was a cheapy on a jam shot but Stevenson got a groundout to escape the threat.
Third Inning
Campos drew a two-out walk but a pop-out kept ASU from capitalizing. A single and two-out walk lead to the bane of ASU's last week of action with a three-run home run that made it 4-1. Four straight-straight two-out singles followed that to plate another pair of runs to make it 6-1.
Fourth Inning
All three Sun Devil batters went down swinging. Jonah Giblin entered and worked around a leadoff walk efficiently without any damage caused.
Fifth Inning
Kien Vu got a one-out bunt single before that was wiped off the basepath with a double play. Giblin stranded a one-out single.
Sixth Inning
Luke Hill notched a one out double and scored on two wild pitches. A tough infield single to the pitcher was followed by a wild pitch and advanced on a ground out, scoring on a sac fly to cancel out the ASU run and make it 7-2.
Seventh Inning
Will Rogers led the inning off with a double and Willie Cano followed with a one-out oppo taco for his first Sun Devil homer in his first start for the Sun Devils, cutting the lead to 7-4. ASU found itself in trouble with a pair of leadoff walks moving into scoring position on a groundout. Brock Peery entered and had two big battles, getting a pivotal strikeout following a seven-pitch at-bat and then won a massive 11-pitch at-bat with a flyout to center to keep it a three-run game.
Eighth Inning
Luke Hill drew a leadoff walk followed by an exceptional diving play from the OSU second baseman to save a hit from Ryan Campos. Keaschall got a one-out single to put runners on the corners and induce a pitching change with the tying run at the plate. A four-pitch walk loaded the bases and forced another pitching change. But a strikeout and flyout ended the threat. Jesse Wainscott entered for the Sun Devils and retired his side in order.
Ninth Inning
Willie Cano drew a leadoff walk but ASU couldn't do anything more than that ON DECK
Sun Devil Baseball will look to get back on the winning side of things with a three-game weekend series against UC Davis at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. AZT. All three games will be broadcast live through the Pac-12 Live Stream and available over the airwaves on KDUS 1060 AM.