STILLWATER – Sun Devil Baseball again struggled to close out innings allow eight two-out runs in an 8-4 decision at #13 Oklahoma State on Tuesday afternoon in Stillwater.
Seven different Sun Devils recorded a hit with Luke Keaschall leading the way with his two RBIs. ASU was unable to get the big knock however, stranding nine baserunners and managing just two hits with runners in scoring position.
It was a tale of the start an end of innings on the mound with Oklahoma State batting just 2-for-18 with zero or two outs but 7-for-15 with two outs as ASU simply couldn't manage to get off the field. THE TURNING POINT
ASU scored three runs in the top of the third inning to make it 3-1 and had the bases loaded but was unable to get the key hit to blow the inning open. Instead Oklahoma State came right back with a two-out RBI double and single to even the game back at 3-3 and end the Sun Devil momentum. THE BIG MOMENT
Wafter a quick two outs in the bottom of the fifth, a single and a walk put a pair on for OSU. ASU piecemealed the rest of the inning for the Cowboys after an RBI single turned into another run on an error. ASU then misplayed a double steal attempt by OSU that allowed another to cross in a decisive three-run frame that made it 6-3. THE FINAL STRAW
ASU kept things interesting with an RBI double from Isaiah Jackson in the eighth to cut the lead to 6-4. Jackson was left stranded at third, however. A one-out walk in the bottom half took second on a wild pitch but ASU got a strikeout for the second out. However, back-to-back steals put both runners in scoring position and the Sun Devils were struck with some bad luck as a softly hit blooper found green grass in between the infielders and outfield for a two-RBI single to drive the nail in the coffin. NOTABLES
First Inning
Ryan Campos drew a two-out walk, his team-leading 10th of the season but a strikeout ended the threat. ASU's two-out woes continued in the bottom of the frame with OSU striking first with a solo home run with two outs but Tieding kept the damage to a run after stranding another batter on the base path.
Second Inning
ASU drew another two-out walk courtesy of Will Rogers but couldn't do anything with it. Matt Tieding responded by setting the Cowboy side down in order on just eight pitches.
Third Inning
The Devils squared things up in the third with a one-out from Wyatt Crenshaw, who took second on a wild pitch before being brought home on a Luke Hill RBI single. A Kien Vu double put two runners in scoring position and Luke Keaschall brought the duo home with him RBI single. ASU would load the bases after a walk and HBP but couldn't get the big knock to blow the inning open.
Oklahoma State responded with a pair of two-out RBIs of their own to immediately even the game back at 3-3. Tieding did manage to strand a pair in scoring position to limit the damage.
Fourth Inning
ASU had a pair of baserunners with singles from Crenshaw and Campos but couldn't bring anyone home. ASU found itself in trouble after an error and an infield single led to two runners in scoring position with one out after a sac bunt. Blake Pivaroff entered the game with a strikeout before getting a huge groundout with the bases loaded against OSU's .400+ hitting David Mendham in the three hole to escape the frame unscathed and keep it a 3-3 game.
Fifth Inning
ASU got two base runners on walks from Vu and Tobias and had them in scoring position with two outs. Isaiah Jackson gave one a ride to the warning track but the left fielder was there for the final out. Yet again ASU struggled to get out of its way with two outs, this time aided by an outfield error and misplaying a double steal to lead to three Cowboy runs – two of which were unearned – to make it a 6-3 game.
Sixth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order for the first time in the game. The Devils responded with a 1-2-3 frame of their own.
Seventh Inning
Kien Vu was hit by a pitch but thrown out trying to take second on a ball in the dirt for the final out of the inning. Manning spun a scoreless seventh capped by a nice over the shoulder catch by Crenshaw in right for the final out of the frame.
Eighth Inning
Will Rogers knocked a one-out RBI single and Isaiah Jackson plated him from first with his RBI double to the left center gap to get ASU back within two runs but Jackson was left stranded at third to end the inning. A two-out two-RBI Texas Leaguer from Oklahoma State was the response, making it a four-run game.
Ninth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order. ON DECK
Sun Devil Baseball returns to action looking to splits the midweek series on tomorrow at 11 a.m. AZT/12 p.m. local on ESPN+ and over the airwaves in Phoenix on KAZG 1440 AM.
Seven different Sun Devils recorded a hit with Luke Keaschall leading the way with his two RBIs. ASU was unable to get the big knock however, stranding nine baserunners and managing just two hits with runners in scoring position.
It was a tale of the start an end of innings on the mound with Oklahoma State batting just 2-for-18 with zero or two outs but 7-for-15 with two outs as ASU simply couldn't manage to get off the field. THE TURNING POINT
ASU scored three runs in the top of the third inning to make it 3-1 and had the bases loaded but was unable to get the key hit to blow the inning open. Instead Oklahoma State came right back with a two-out RBI double and single to even the game back at 3-3 and end the Sun Devil momentum. THE BIG MOMENT
Wafter a quick two outs in the bottom of the fifth, a single and a walk put a pair on for OSU. ASU piecemealed the rest of the inning for the Cowboys after an RBI single turned into another run on an error. ASU then misplayed a double steal attempt by OSU that allowed another to cross in a decisive three-run frame that made it 6-3. THE FINAL STRAW
ASU kept things interesting with an RBI double from Isaiah Jackson in the eighth to cut the lead to 6-4. Jackson was left stranded at third, however. A one-out walk in the bottom half took second on a wild pitch but ASU got a strikeout for the second out. However, back-to-back steals put both runners in scoring position and the Sun Devils were struck with some bad luck as a softly hit blooper found green grass in between the infielders and outfield for a two-RBI single to drive the nail in the coffin. NOTABLES
- ASU drew three walks in the first 10 batters of the game against Oklahoma State starter Janzen Keisel, who had allowed just two this season entering the game. ASU would chase Keisel after his fourth walk of the game in the third – also hitting a batter.
- Timmy Manning bounced back from a tough and short outing on Sunday to hold OSU to just 1-for-9 hitting over three innings, spoiled by a fluke single in the bottom of the eighth that allowed two runs.
- ASU stranded 10 Oklahoma State baserunners, keeping on track in a stat where they are averaging 8.4 stranded opponents per game this season.
First Inning
Ryan Campos drew a two-out walk, his team-leading 10th of the season but a strikeout ended the threat. ASU's two-out woes continued in the bottom of the frame with OSU striking first with a solo home run with two outs but Tieding kept the damage to a run after stranding another batter on the base path.
Second Inning
ASU drew another two-out walk courtesy of Will Rogers but couldn't do anything with it. Matt Tieding responded by setting the Cowboy side down in order on just eight pitches.
Third Inning
The Devils squared things up in the third with a one-out from Wyatt Crenshaw, who took second on a wild pitch before being brought home on a Luke Hill RBI single. A Kien Vu double put two runners in scoring position and Luke Keaschall brought the duo home with him RBI single. ASU would load the bases after a walk and HBP but couldn't get the big knock to blow the inning open.
Oklahoma State responded with a pair of two-out RBIs of their own to immediately even the game back at 3-3. Tieding did manage to strand a pair in scoring position to limit the damage.
Fourth Inning
ASU had a pair of baserunners with singles from Crenshaw and Campos but couldn't bring anyone home. ASU found itself in trouble after an error and an infield single led to two runners in scoring position with one out after a sac bunt. Blake Pivaroff entered the game with a strikeout before getting a huge groundout with the bases loaded against OSU's .400+ hitting David Mendham in the three hole to escape the frame unscathed and keep it a 3-3 game.
Fifth Inning
ASU got two base runners on walks from Vu and Tobias and had them in scoring position with two outs. Isaiah Jackson gave one a ride to the warning track but the left fielder was there for the final out. Yet again ASU struggled to get out of its way with two outs, this time aided by an outfield error and misplaying a double steal to lead to three Cowboy runs – two of which were unearned – to make it a 6-3 game.
Sixth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order for the first time in the game. The Devils responded with a 1-2-3 frame of their own.
Seventh Inning
Kien Vu was hit by a pitch but thrown out trying to take second on a ball in the dirt for the final out of the inning. Manning spun a scoreless seventh capped by a nice over the shoulder catch by Crenshaw in right for the final out of the frame.
Eighth Inning
Will Rogers knocked a one-out RBI single and Isaiah Jackson plated him from first with his RBI double to the left center gap to get ASU back within two runs but Jackson was left stranded at third to end the inning. A two-out two-RBI Texas Leaguer from Oklahoma State was the response, making it a four-run game.
Ninth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order. ON DECK
Sun Devil Baseball returns to action looking to splits the midweek series on tomorrow at 11 a.m. AZT/12 p.m. local on ESPN+ and over the airwaves in Phoenix on KAZG 1440 AM.