PHOENIX – After not leading the entire game, Isaiah Jackson and the No. 19 Sun Devil Baseball team walked it off in grand fashion, defeating the No. 21 Oregon State Beavers, 11-7, and evening the series on Saturday evening at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Jackson became the first Sun Devil to walk off a game with a grand slam since before the 1998 season (as far back as readily accessible records go), doing so on his second home run of the night. It was ASU's fourth walk-off win of the season after it had none a year ago and especially notable as Oregon State had allowed just four ninth inning runs all season before entering the contest.
After a four (unearned)-run Oregon State (26-12, 11-9) fourth inning, the Sun Devils (26-12, 12-4) trailed 6-2 and then 7-3 before rallying in the sixth inning with a four-run inning of their own, tying the game at seven. Luke Hill started the rally with a two-out single that drove in two. Two at-bats later, Luke Keaschall drove in Hill and McLain with an RBI double to tie the game at seven. The Sun Devils loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before Jackson sent the Phoenix Municipal Stadium crowd home happy with his mammoth blast deep into the Valley night.
Jacob Tobias went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and home run, the second time this season he has had multiple extra base hits in the same game and second time in the last four games. Luke Hill went 2-for-5 and has multiple hits in three of his last four games. Luke Keaschall banged two doubles on a 2-for-5 night, extending his Pac-12 lead in two-baggers with 18 on the season. No one else has more than 15. Ten of ASU's 11 runs on the evening came with two-outs.
Blake Pivaroff was the hero on the pitching side, inherited a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning with just one out and Oregon State's dangerous two- and three-hole hitters at the plate. Pivaroff got a strikeout and groundout the leave them stranded - part of 13 runners left on base by Sun Devil pitchers in the contest - and giving ASU a chance for the walk-off win.
TURNING POINT
Trailing 7-3 in the sixth inning, ASU got a pair of leadoff runners on, but a groundout and strikeout put ASU in danger of stranding the duo in scoring position. Down to its last strike in the frame, Luke Hill shook off an incredibly forgettable three-error night at short stop by lacing a two-RBI double down the right field line to extend the inning and bring the Sun Devils back within a pair. Nick McLain drew a walk and Luke Keaschall welcomed Oregon State reliever Ben Ferrer into the game with a bases-clearing double down the left field line to tie the game at 7-7.
BIG MOMENT
After the big sixth inning, ASU looked in danger of giving the lead right back as Blake Pivaroff entered in top top of the seventh, inheriting a bases-loaded jam with one out. Facing OSU's two-hole hitter Garret Forrester, who had homered twice last night and leads the Beavers in RBIs this season, Pivaroff got a massive punchout on an inside offspeed offering. He then got the three-hole hitter Micah McDowell to ground out to first to strand the bases loaded and keep ASU in the contest. Pivaroff then delivered a massive 1-2-3 frame in the eighth to keep the Sun Devils tied and in a place to walk off the contest.
FINAL STRAW
Owen Stevenson stranded a pair of OSU baserunners in the top of the ninth to give ASU a chance to walk it off. Oregon State turned to its electric closer Ryan Brown, who had allowed just a single run in 19.1 innings this season (and a sub 0.50 ERA entering the tilt) and the Pac-12 conference leader with eight saves. Brown got the first two outs of the frame on just three pitches. But a four-pitch walk to Jacob Tobias extended the inning. Kien Vu singled to right and Nu'u Contrades drew a hit by pitch to load the bases for Isaiah Jackson. Jackson worked ahead to a 2-1 count before launching an massive homer deep over the Sun Devil bullpen in right field for the first home run allowed by Brown all season and the walk-off grand slam victory for the Sun Devils.
NOTABLES
First Inning
Khristian Curtis walked the first batter he faced, but followed it up with a strikeout. With two on and one out, Curtis forced a strikeout looking on a filthy offspeed pitch and a lazy fly ball to left, ending the frame.
Nick McLain barreled up a base hit to right field, but the Sun Devils were unable to move him any further in the home half of the first.
Second Inning
Oregon State striked first with a solo home run to give them the early 1-0 advantage. A costly error and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with two outs for the Beavers, but Khristian Curts delivered a clutch strikeout to escape the jam. The Beavers led 1-0.
Jacob Tobias and the Sun Devils answered immediately with a solo home run to deep center field. The Devils could not add on and stranded a pair of baserunners. The game was tied 1-1.
Third Inning
Curtis struck out two in another scoreless frame. In the bottom half, Luke Keaschall doubled with two down, but Jacob Tobias lifted a soft fly ball to left, ending the frame.
Fourth Inning
A costly two-out error by Luke Hill paved the way for a four spot for the Beavers. They led 5-1. Isaiah Jackson answered in the bottom half with a solo homerun to dead center. The Sun Devils cut the deficit to three headed to the fifth.
Fifth Inning
Curtis was relieved by Timmy Manning with a runner on second, one out and a run already in. The southpaw fanned the next two hitters, making it 6-2 Beavers. Hill led off the bottom half with a single for his first hit of the contest. Then, with two outs, Tobias laced an RBI double for his second extra base hit of the evening.
Sixth Inning
A couple of walks then a one-out RBI single extended Oregon State's lead to four. Timmy Manning induced an inning ending double play to limit the damage. The Beavers led 7-3.
The Sun Devils had baserunners on first and second thanks to a Nu'u Contrades double and a hit-by-pitch to Isaiah Jackson. Bronson Balholm advanced the runners to second and third via a groundout. Then with two outs, Luke Hill delivered a clutch two-RBI single to cut the deficit in half. A Nick McLain walk ensued and then Luke Keaschall roped a 2-RBI double down the left field line to tie this game up, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch it. The game was tied at seven headed into the seventh.
Seventh Inning
After a leadoff strikeout, ASU loaded the bases on two hits and an error. Blake Pivaroff entered for Manning, who forced a strikeout and groundout to end the frame, taking the contest knotted at seven into the stretch. ASU went down in order in the bottom half.
Eighth Inning
Blake Pivaroff sat the Beavers down in order for an easy one-two-three inning. The game was tied at seven.
A lone single by Bronson Bahlmom was all the Sun Devils had to show offensively in the eighth. The game was tied at seven headed to the ninth.
Ninth Inning
Beavers had runners on first and second thanks to a hit-by-pitch and a single, but new pitcher Owen Stevenson was able to shut down the threat. The game was tied at seven headed into the ninth.
With two-outs and the bases loaded, Isaiah Jackson hits a grand slam to walk it off for the Sun Devils. They won 11-7.
ON DECK:
Sun Devil baseball will seek its second series win over the Beavers since 2015 tomorrow afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium at 12:30pm MST. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream and can be heard on KDUS 1060 AM.
Jackson became the first Sun Devil to walk off a game with a grand slam since before the 1998 season (as far back as readily accessible records go), doing so on his second home run of the night. It was ASU's fourth walk-off win of the season after it had none a year ago and especially notable as Oregon State had allowed just four ninth inning runs all season before entering the contest.
After a four (unearned)-run Oregon State (26-12, 11-9) fourth inning, the Sun Devils (26-12, 12-4) trailed 6-2 and then 7-3 before rallying in the sixth inning with a four-run inning of their own, tying the game at seven. Luke Hill started the rally with a two-out single that drove in two. Two at-bats later, Luke Keaschall drove in Hill and McLain with an RBI double to tie the game at seven. The Sun Devils loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before Jackson sent the Phoenix Municipal Stadium crowd home happy with his mammoth blast deep into the Valley night.
Jacob Tobias went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and home run, the second time this season he has had multiple extra base hits in the same game and second time in the last four games. Luke Hill went 2-for-5 and has multiple hits in three of his last four games. Luke Keaschall banged two doubles on a 2-for-5 night, extending his Pac-12 lead in two-baggers with 18 on the season. No one else has more than 15. Ten of ASU's 11 runs on the evening came with two-outs.
Blake Pivaroff was the hero on the pitching side, inherited a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning with just one out and Oregon State's dangerous two- and three-hole hitters at the plate. Pivaroff got a strikeout and groundout the leave them stranded - part of 13 runners left on base by Sun Devil pitchers in the contest - and giving ASU a chance for the walk-off win.
TURNING POINT
Trailing 7-3 in the sixth inning, ASU got a pair of leadoff runners on, but a groundout and strikeout put ASU in danger of stranding the duo in scoring position. Down to its last strike in the frame, Luke Hill shook off an incredibly forgettable three-error night at short stop by lacing a two-RBI double down the right field line to extend the inning and bring the Sun Devils back within a pair. Nick McLain drew a walk and Luke Keaschall welcomed Oregon State reliever Ben Ferrer into the game with a bases-clearing double down the left field line to tie the game at 7-7.
BIG MOMENT
After the big sixth inning, ASU looked in danger of giving the lead right back as Blake Pivaroff entered in top top of the seventh, inheriting a bases-loaded jam with one out. Facing OSU's two-hole hitter Garret Forrester, who had homered twice last night and leads the Beavers in RBIs this season, Pivaroff got a massive punchout on an inside offspeed offering. He then got the three-hole hitter Micah McDowell to ground out to first to strand the bases loaded and keep ASU in the contest. Pivaroff then delivered a massive 1-2-3 frame in the eighth to keep the Sun Devils tied and in a place to walk off the contest.
FINAL STRAW
Owen Stevenson stranded a pair of OSU baserunners in the top of the ninth to give ASU a chance to walk it off. Oregon State turned to its electric closer Ryan Brown, who had allowed just a single run in 19.1 innings this season (and a sub 0.50 ERA entering the tilt) and the Pac-12 conference leader with eight saves. Brown got the first two outs of the frame on just three pitches. But a four-pitch walk to Jacob Tobias extended the inning. Kien Vu singled to right and Nu'u Contrades drew a hit by pitch to load the bases for Isaiah Jackson. Jackson worked ahead to a 2-1 count before launching an massive homer deep over the Sun Devil bullpen in right field for the first home run allowed by Brown all season and the walk-off grand slam victory for the Sun Devils.
NOTABLES
- Sun Devil Baseball is tied for the lead atop the Pac-12 at 12-4 in league play. The win, coupled with Stanford's loss, moved ASU into a half-game lead for first in the conference. The team's 26 wins already match its total from a year ago.
- Isaiah Jackson's five RBIs and two home runs are career highs. It is also the first time this season an opposing player has hit multiple homers in the same game off of Oregon State.
- The walkoff grand slam was first of kind since at least the 1998 season (as far back as readily-accessible record go).
- Oregon State allowed double digit runs in the first two games of the series, marking the first time they have done that in consecutive games since February 24 and 25, 2012. That instance was two separate teams. The last time OSU allowed double digit runs in consecutive games against the same team was against Cal on April 30 and May 1, 2010.
- It's the Sun Devils fourth walk-off win this season.
- ASU has trailed in 12 of the team's last 16 victories and in 15 of the squad's victories overall. Arizona State has trailed by at least three runs in seven victories this season (four tonight).
- Ryan Brown, the OSU pitcher who allowed the walkoff, had only allowed one run this entire season over 19.1 innings coming into the contest. It was also the first home run allowed this season and just the third of his career in 46 appearances in three seasons.
- Opposing offenses have scored only four runs combined against the OSU bullpen this season in the ninth inning. The Sun Devils put up four in the ninth on the grand slam.
- In fact, this season, opposing bullpens are throwing to a 7.17 ERA with 5-9 record in decisions and giving up .304 batting average.
- Arizona State has forced the Beaver bullpen into allowing 14 runs over 7.2 innings in two games this series. That's good for a 17.50 ERA. That tally is notable as entering the weekend, OSU's bullpen over the mont of April was 6-1 with a 1.81 ERA over 59.2 innings. For the season, the Beaver bullpen was 17-2 with a 2.74 ERA.
- The 11 runs marked the second time Oregon State has allowed 10 or more runs in a game this season, both against Arizona State.
- Nick McLain went 1-for-4 and has recorded at least one hit in his first six games in his collegiate career, racking up a .346 average over that span.
- In fact, he is the first Sun Devil to start off his Arizona State career with a six-game hitting streak since at least 2015. He surpassed teammate Jacob Tobias, who began his career with a five game hitting streak last season.
- Blake Pivaroff has inherited nine runners this season, including five in the last two games, and none have scored. After the Oklahom State contest on March 7, Pivaroff had a 7.56 ERA over six appearances. Since that point, he has made a team-leading 13 appearances over the last 26 games. recprdomg a 2.03 ERA with a 2-0 record and 11 strikeouts to two walks with a paltry .130 average against.
- Oregon State, who allowed the second-fewest home runs among Power Five schools entering today (22), had not given up more than four home runs in a three-game series this season. It took the Sun Devils just 13 innings to surpass that.
- Oregon State entered the weekend leading the Pac-12 in allowing just 18 home runs this season. ASU has recorded six in two games (three in each). It marks the first time Oregon State has allowed three or more home runs in consecutive games since doing so in three straight games on the Gainesville Regional in 2010 (FIU twice and Florida once). In fact Oregon State had only allowed 3+ homers 13 total times since 2010 entering this weekend.
- Additionally, the Sun Devils have recorded a multi-home run game in eight of its last nine games and 15 times this season. ASU is 14-4 when hitting multiple home runs in a game.
- Of Luke Hill's last 11 RBI, 9 have come in three different games when the Sun Devils have trailed by 3+ runs. ASU has come back to win two of these games.
- Owen Stevenson has allowed just five earned runs over his last 12 appearances that has spanned 20 innings. In that time, he has struck out 26 while walking just four.
- Bronson Balholm has reached base safely six times in his first two starts this season with the Sun Devils.
- Arizona State was without the services of Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List Ryan Campos, who is day-to-day with an oblique injury.
First Inning
Khristian Curtis walked the first batter he faced, but followed it up with a strikeout. With two on and one out, Curtis forced a strikeout looking on a filthy offspeed pitch and a lazy fly ball to left, ending the frame.
Nick McLain barreled up a base hit to right field, but the Sun Devils were unable to move him any further in the home half of the first.
Second Inning
Oregon State striked first with a solo home run to give them the early 1-0 advantage. A costly error and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with two outs for the Beavers, but Khristian Curts delivered a clutch strikeout to escape the jam. The Beavers led 1-0.
Jacob Tobias and the Sun Devils answered immediately with a solo home run to deep center field. The Devils could not add on and stranded a pair of baserunners. The game was tied 1-1.
Third Inning
Curtis struck out two in another scoreless frame. In the bottom half, Luke Keaschall doubled with two down, but Jacob Tobias lifted a soft fly ball to left, ending the frame.
Fourth Inning
A costly two-out error by Luke Hill paved the way for a four spot for the Beavers. They led 5-1. Isaiah Jackson answered in the bottom half with a solo homerun to dead center. The Sun Devils cut the deficit to three headed to the fifth.
Fifth Inning
Curtis was relieved by Timmy Manning with a runner on second, one out and a run already in. The southpaw fanned the next two hitters, making it 6-2 Beavers. Hill led off the bottom half with a single for his first hit of the contest. Then, with two outs, Tobias laced an RBI double for his second extra base hit of the evening.
Sixth Inning
A couple of walks then a one-out RBI single extended Oregon State's lead to four. Timmy Manning induced an inning ending double play to limit the damage. The Beavers led 7-3.
The Sun Devils had baserunners on first and second thanks to a Nu'u Contrades double and a hit-by-pitch to Isaiah Jackson. Bronson Balholm advanced the runners to second and third via a groundout. Then with two outs, Luke Hill delivered a clutch two-RBI single to cut the deficit in half. A Nick McLain walk ensued and then Luke Keaschall roped a 2-RBI double down the left field line to tie this game up, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch it. The game was tied at seven headed into the seventh.
Seventh Inning
After a leadoff strikeout, ASU loaded the bases on two hits and an error. Blake Pivaroff entered for Manning, who forced a strikeout and groundout to end the frame, taking the contest knotted at seven into the stretch. ASU went down in order in the bottom half.
Eighth Inning
Blake Pivaroff sat the Beavers down in order for an easy one-two-three inning. The game was tied at seven.
A lone single by Bronson Bahlmom was all the Sun Devils had to show offensively in the eighth. The game was tied at seven headed to the ninth.
Ninth Inning
Beavers had runners on first and second thanks to a hit-by-pitch and a single, but new pitcher Owen Stevenson was able to shut down the threat. The game was tied at seven headed into the ninth.
With two-outs and the bases loaded, Isaiah Jackson hits a grand slam to walk it off for the Sun Devils. They won 11-7.
ON DECK:
Sun Devil baseball will seek its second series win over the Beavers since 2015 tomorrow afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium at 12:30pm MST. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream and can be heard on KDUS 1060 AM.