PHOENIX – No. 19 Sun Devil Baseball thrived in a hectic and chaotic rubber match, taking the series over No. 21 Oregon State, 12-10, on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium after overcoming separate deficits of five and four runs on the day.
The Sun Devils (27-12, 13-4) became one of only five teams in Power 5 Conferences that have not lost a conference series and are a half game in front of Stanford for the Pac-12 lead. In the process of winning the series, ASU snapped a four-series winning streak by Oregon State (26-13, 11-10) and eclipsed its win total from the 2022 campaign with 27. ASU became the first team to score double digits against the Beavers in each game of a series since CSUN in 2001.
Luke Keaschall and Nick McLain each had three-RBI performances, while Keaschall extended his Pac-12 lead in doubles to 19. McLain was 2-3 with two doubles, three driven in and two walks. Kein Vu also contributed two walks along with two runs scored. Bronson Balholm was 1-3 with a walk, reaching base at a .615 clip for the weekend while being magnificent as a backstop in the place of injured Golden Spike Award Watch List member Ryan Campos.
Arizona State trailed by as many as five in the early innings before storming back in a six-run third, taking a 6-5 lead in an inning that included a three-run homer by Keaschall.
The edge would not last long, as OSU rallied for a five-run fifth, taking a 10-6 lead. After getting one back in the bottom half of the frame, ASU then scored three runs on two RBI doubles by Wyatt Crenshaw and McLain in a chaotic sixth inning that yielded two video reviews on the same play, tying the game at 10.
The Sun Devils took the lead for good in the seventh, plating one run on a wild pitch and an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Crenshaw, good for the 12-10 final score.
TURNING POINT
Oregon State jumped on ASU early, taking a 5-0 lead in the first 2.5 innings. The Sun Devil offense exploded in the third, plating six runs in the third inning on RBI doubles from Luke Hill and McLain as well as a three-run homer from Keaschall, taking a 6-5 lead. Arizona State pitching proceeded to record its first scoreless frame of the contest in the fourth.
BIG MOMENT
Oregon State used a five-run fifth to jump back in front, 10-6. ASU picked a run back up in the bottom of the fifth. A raucous home half sixth inning ensued at Muni with the Sun Devils getting one one on an RBI double from Wyatt Crenshaw. Crenshaw would then attempt to advance home on a fielder's choice with one out, initially being ruled out at the plate before ASU's replay review overturned it and he was called safe to cut the lead to 10-9. Oregon State challenged the challenge and the play was reversed yet again with Crenshaw being marked out for the second out. Unfazed, Luke Hill drew a two-out walk before Nick McLain poked a base-clearing double to right center to tie the game at 10-10 and put the momentum sole back in ASU's court.
FINAL STRAW
ASU struggled to put zeroes on the board all weekend, but closed the game out with four of them. Owen Stevenson entered and sat Oregon State down without a run crossing in the top of the seventh. The Devils would load the bases with no outs in the bottom half and take the lead for good with a wild pitch and sac fly. Stevenson returned for his second inning of work in the eighth, and stranded a Beaver on third with his fifth strikeout of the six outs he recorded. In the ninth, Blake Pivaroff allowed the first two baserunners aboard, but recorded the final three outs on a flyout, caught stealing and soft line drive to shortstop.
NOTABLES
First Inning
Jonah Giblin was tagged for three runs on a blast by the Beavers in a 30-pitch first inning. Kien Vu led off the game with a seven-pitch walk and Nick McLain also took a free pass with one out, but Luke Keaschall grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Second Inning
Giblin gave up a run on a two-out RBI double but managed to strand runners on second and third, escaping the inning with a 4-0 deficit. The Sun Devils were retired in order courtesy of two flyouts and a strikeout.
Third Inning
Giblin conceded one more on a solo shot to left center, making it 5-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
Wyatt Crenshaw and Bronson Balholm led off the frame with consecutive singles. Vu worked an eight-pitch walk and with the bases loaded, Luke Hill laced a two-RBi double to left, making it 5-2 Beavers. Nick McLain laced an RBI double of his own that made it 5-3. ASU loudly took the lead on a rocket home run by Luke Keaschall and the Devils held a 6-3 lead through three frames.
Fourth Inning
Giblin was relieved for Josh Hansell, who did not allow a run in the fourth. He struck out one and stranded two. The Sun Devils went down in order.
Fifth Inning
After allowing two walks, Hansell was replaced by Brock Peery with one out in the inning. Peery was tagged for three hits, including a grand slam, to increase the Beaver lead to 10-6. He retired to straight batters to end the inning. The Sun Devils reached base twice with a double and a walk and scored on an RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 10-7.
Sixth Inning
Matt Tieding navigated a leadoff base hit to retire the next three Beavers. Nu'u Contrades led off the bottom half with a single and was followed by Crenshaw, who laced an RBI double into the right center field gap, cutting the deficit to 10-8. With one out and Crenshaw on third, Vu grounded into a fielder's choice and Crenshaw was cut down at the plate. Hill walked, and with runners on first and third and two outs, McLain ripped a double into right center and plated two, knotting the game at 10 into the seventh.
Seventh Inning
Owen Stevenson entered for Matt Tieding. He walked the leadoff batter and allowed one hit before escaping the frame without harm. The Sun Devils loaded the bases with its first three batters with three singles before a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run. Crenshaw followed with a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to two, forcing a Beaver pitching change. The Beavers escaped the inning without further damage.
Eighth Inning
After allowing a leadoff walk, Stevenson struck out the next three to end the inning. Luke Keaschall worked a one-out walk in the bottom half and advanced to second on a bad pickoff by Oregon State. Nothing came of it after two consecutive flyouts to end the inning.
Ninth Inning
Blake Pivaroff entered the game in the ninth inning. He retired two batters and Trey Newman gunned down a runner at second base to secure the 12-10 win.
ON DECK:
Arizona State is back in action for a two-game midweek series Tuesday and Wednesday against Cal State Fullerton at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6:00 p.m. MST.
The Sun Devils (27-12, 13-4) became one of only five teams in Power 5 Conferences that have not lost a conference series and are a half game in front of Stanford for the Pac-12 lead. In the process of winning the series, ASU snapped a four-series winning streak by Oregon State (26-13, 11-10) and eclipsed its win total from the 2022 campaign with 27. ASU became the first team to score double digits against the Beavers in each game of a series since CSUN in 2001.
Luke Keaschall and Nick McLain each had three-RBI performances, while Keaschall extended his Pac-12 lead in doubles to 19. McLain was 2-3 with two doubles, three driven in and two walks. Kein Vu also contributed two walks along with two runs scored. Bronson Balholm was 1-3 with a walk, reaching base at a .615 clip for the weekend while being magnificent as a backstop in the place of injured Golden Spike Award Watch List member Ryan Campos.
Arizona State trailed by as many as five in the early innings before storming back in a six-run third, taking a 6-5 lead in an inning that included a three-run homer by Keaschall.
The edge would not last long, as OSU rallied for a five-run fifth, taking a 10-6 lead. After getting one back in the bottom half of the frame, ASU then scored three runs on two RBI doubles by Wyatt Crenshaw and McLain in a chaotic sixth inning that yielded two video reviews on the same play, tying the game at 10.
The Sun Devils took the lead for good in the seventh, plating one run on a wild pitch and an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Crenshaw, good for the 12-10 final score.
TURNING POINT
Oregon State jumped on ASU early, taking a 5-0 lead in the first 2.5 innings. The Sun Devil offense exploded in the third, plating six runs in the third inning on RBI doubles from Luke Hill and McLain as well as a three-run homer from Keaschall, taking a 6-5 lead. Arizona State pitching proceeded to record its first scoreless frame of the contest in the fourth.
BIG MOMENT
Oregon State used a five-run fifth to jump back in front, 10-6. ASU picked a run back up in the bottom of the fifth. A raucous home half sixth inning ensued at Muni with the Sun Devils getting one one on an RBI double from Wyatt Crenshaw. Crenshaw would then attempt to advance home on a fielder's choice with one out, initially being ruled out at the plate before ASU's replay review overturned it and he was called safe to cut the lead to 10-9. Oregon State challenged the challenge and the play was reversed yet again with Crenshaw being marked out for the second out. Unfazed, Luke Hill drew a two-out walk before Nick McLain poked a base-clearing double to right center to tie the game at 10-10 and put the momentum sole back in ASU's court.
FINAL STRAW
ASU struggled to put zeroes on the board all weekend, but closed the game out with four of them. Owen Stevenson entered and sat Oregon State down without a run crossing in the top of the seventh. The Devils would load the bases with no outs in the bottom half and take the lead for good with a wild pitch and sac fly. Stevenson returned for his second inning of work in the eighth, and stranded a Beaver on third with his fifth strikeout of the six outs he recorded. In the ninth, Blake Pivaroff allowed the first two baserunners aboard, but recorded the final three outs on a flyout, caught stealing and soft line drive to shortstop.
NOTABLES
- Sun Devil Baseball remains a half game ahead of Stanford for the Pac-12 lead at 12-4 in league play. The team's 27 wins already surpasses its total from a year ago.
- The Sun Devils series win continues their streak of not having lost a Pac-12 series this season. Arizona State is one of five Power 5 teams that has not lost a conference series this season (No. 2 Wake Forest, Indiana, Maryland, No. 1 LSU, No. 19 ASU).
- The victory marked ASU's first series win over a Top-25 opponent (as ranked by D1Baseball) since taking two of three against No. 15 Cal in the 2017 season.
- ASU has won three games after trailing by five-or-more runs this season. ASU has trailed in 13 of the team's last 17 victories and in 16 of the squad's victories overall. Arizona State has trailed by at least three runs in eight victories this season (trailing by five and four today).
- ASU is 15-3 in games decided by three runs or less. It was just 14-16 in those games a year ago.
- Arizona State snapped Oregon States' four-series winning streak.
- Oregon State starting pitcher AJ Lattery had allowed 5 ER in 27 IP before today. He allowed six to Arizona State in just 2.1 IP. Additionally, he held batters to an impressive .167 average with runners in scoring position in 11 appearances this season prior to today. ASU hitters hit 4-for-6 (.667) with RISP off him this afternoon.
- Today marked the third time Oregon State has allowed 10 or more runs in a game this season, all against Arizona State. It i the first time the Beavers have allowed 10+ runs in three consecutive games since Feb. 2-4, 2001 at Cal-State Northridge and the first time it has happened in a conference game since May 12-14, 2000 against USC.
- ASU's 34 runs this weekend is tied for the most runs Oregon State has allowed in a three-game series in the last 20 seasons. The Beavers have allowed 30-or-more runs in a three-game series just five times in that span.
- ASU is 5-1 when Jonah Giblin takes the bump. Giblin tied his Sun Devil high with four strikeouts against his former team.
- The Sun Devils improve to 18-3 in games with recording double-digit hits.
- Of Luke Hill's last 13 RBI, 11 have come in five different games when the Sun Devils have trailed by 3+ runs. ASU has come back to win four of these games.
- Bronson Balholm has reached base safely eight times in his first three starts this season with the Sun Devils. He was 5-10 with three walks and reached base at a .615 clip, the highest on the team this weekend. His .500 average also tied for the highest on the team over the weekend.
- Nick McLain went 2-for-3 and recorded at least one hit in his first seven games in his collegiate career, racking up a .379 average over that span.
- McLain has RBI in four of his first seven collegiate games and the seven game hitting streak is the longest to begin a Sun Devil career since at least 2015.
- Owen Stevenson has allowed just five earned runs over his last 13 appearances that has spanned 22 innings. In that time, he has struck out 31 – including five of six outs recorded today – while walking just six.
- Arizona State has forced the Beaver bullpen into allowing 20 runs over 13.1 innings in three games this series. That's good for a 13.50 ERA with an 0-2 record in decisions. They only struck out 11 sun Devils and walked nine, allowing a .296 batting average against. That tally is notable as entering the weekend, OSU's bullpen over the month 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.
- Luke Keaschall's three-run blast in the third inning was his tenth homer of the season, making him the first Sun Devil to reach double-digits in 2023. Additionally, his 19th double of the season is tops in the Pac-12.
- Arizona State put up six runs in the third inning, the 11th time this season ASU has scored at least five runs scored in a single inning.
- ASU's seven home runs this series are the most Oregon State has given up in a three-game regular season series since Stanford cranked 11 from April 8 - April 10, 2004.
- Oregon State's three strikeouts is the fewest in a single game since May 16, 2021, when they lost to the Sun Devils.
- In fact, this season opposing bullpens are 5-10 with a 7.24 ERA and giving up a .304 average to ASU. Additionally, opposing bullpens have only 159 strikeouts to 86 walks over 177.2 innings.
- Arizona State won the series over the No. 21 team in the country without the services of Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List Ryan Campos, who is day-to-day with an oblique injury.
First Inning
Jonah Giblin was tagged for three runs on a blast by the Beavers in a 30-pitch first inning. Kien Vu led off the game with a seven-pitch walk and Nick McLain also took a free pass with one out, but Luke Keaschall grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Second Inning
Giblin gave up a run on a two-out RBI double but managed to strand runners on second and third, escaping the inning with a 4-0 deficit. The Sun Devils were retired in order courtesy of two flyouts and a strikeout.
Third Inning
Giblin conceded one more on a solo shot to left center, making it 5-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
Wyatt Crenshaw and Bronson Balholm led off the frame with consecutive singles. Vu worked an eight-pitch walk and with the bases loaded, Luke Hill laced a two-RBi double to left, making it 5-2 Beavers. Nick McLain laced an RBI double of his own that made it 5-3. ASU loudly took the lead on a rocket home run by Luke Keaschall and the Devils held a 6-3 lead through three frames.
Fourth Inning
Giblin was relieved for Josh Hansell, who did not allow a run in the fourth. He struck out one and stranded two. The Sun Devils went down in order.
Fifth Inning
After allowing two walks, Hansell was replaced by Brock Peery with one out in the inning. Peery was tagged for three hits, including a grand slam, to increase the Beaver lead to 10-6. He retired to straight batters to end the inning. The Sun Devils reached base twice with a double and a walk and scored on an RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 10-7.
Sixth Inning
Matt Tieding navigated a leadoff base hit to retire the next three Beavers. Nu'u Contrades led off the bottom half with a single and was followed by Crenshaw, who laced an RBI double into the right center field gap, cutting the deficit to 10-8. With one out and Crenshaw on third, Vu grounded into a fielder's choice and Crenshaw was cut down at the plate. Hill walked, and with runners on first and third and two outs, McLain ripped a double into right center and plated two, knotting the game at 10 into the seventh.
Seventh Inning
Owen Stevenson entered for Matt Tieding. He walked the leadoff batter and allowed one hit before escaping the frame without harm. The Sun Devils loaded the bases with its first three batters with three singles before a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run. Crenshaw followed with a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to two, forcing a Beaver pitching change. The Beavers escaped the inning without further damage.
Eighth Inning
After allowing a leadoff walk, Stevenson struck out the next three to end the inning. Luke Keaschall worked a one-out walk in the bottom half and advanced to second on a bad pickoff by Oregon State. Nothing came of it after two consecutive flyouts to end the inning.
Ninth Inning
Blake Pivaroff entered the game in the ninth inning. He retired two batters and Trey Newman gunned down a runner at second base to secure the 12-10 win.
ON DECK:
Arizona State is back in action for a two-game midweek series Tuesday and Wednesday against Cal State Fullerton at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6:00 p.m. MST.