LOS ANGELES – Sun Devil Baseball again struggled to find any offensive mojo, dropping the series finale to the USC Trojans, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon.
Ross Dunn matched his season-high with six innings, allowing just two runs, striking out four and working out of numerous jams throughout the afternoon as ASU would strand 10 USC baserunners in the contest.
Luke Hill recorded the lone RBI for ASU and had two hits for the Sun Devils, who managed just four hits in the contest.
TURNING POINT
After ASU got on the board first on Luke Hill's two-out RBI single in the fourth and runners on the corners, Isaiah Jackson laced the hardest hit ball of the day to right field that looked like it might have scored at least another run off the bat. But the USC right fielder was playing deep and the ball died at the warning track for the final out. The Trojans came right back in the bottom half of the frame with a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
BIG MOMENT
Tied at 1-1 in the seventh, A leadoff walk would doom the Devils after a sac bunt and ground out moved him to third. The Trojans executed a perfect bunt single with the infield playing back, plateing the go-ahead run and making it 2-1.
FINAL STRAW
USC tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth inning to effectively close out the game, making it 5-1.
ON DECK
The Sun Devils will look to gain some momentum heading into the postseason, hosting UCLA at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in the final regular season series of the year, beginning Thursday.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
ASU drew a two-out HBP and walk from Keaschall and Tobias but were unable to capitalize. ASU found itself in early trouble with runners on the corners and no outs after a leadoff walk and single. But Doss induced a shallow fly ball to left to hold the runner at third. USC then failed to properly execute a double steal and Bronson Balholm easily hosed the runner going to second and then Dunn got a swinging strikeout to keep USC off the board.
Second Inning
Nick McLain drew a leadoff walk but a double play wiped it off the board right after and a ground out led to the minimum coming to the plate. USC had a pair of two-out singles up the middle to put runners on the corners but a first pitch flyout ended the threat.
Third Inning
Nu'u Contrades got a one-out single but ASU ran into bad luck on a hit-and-run that went right into the glove of the USC third baseman who easily doubled up Contrades back at first as he had already round second by that point. Dunn worked his first 1-2-3 frame of the game, including a pair of strikeouts.
Fourth Inning
Keaschall led off the inning with his second hit-by-pitch of the contest. Keaschall would steal second after a pair of flyouts to center and Nick McLain drew a walk. Luke Hill responded with a RBI single poke through the right side to plate Keaschall and score the first run of the contest. Jackson gave a ball a ride to the warning track in right but the USC defender was in perfect position for the play, leaving it a 1-0 game for ASU.
Again, ASU couldn't get a stop after a score however. A pair of singles led to a runner at third after one out after a nice defensive play to get the second single thrown out at second. ASU would then issue a run down on the runner at third to get the second out but it allowed the fielder's choice to reach second and that would prove decisive with a two-out single to right plating the runner and evening the score at 1-1 before Ross got a groundout to end the frame.
Fifth Inning
Balholm led the frame off with a first-pitch single but a first pitch flyout and a first pitch double play made it a three-pitch inning. USC looked to blow the game open in the frame after loaded the bases with no outs thanks to two misplayed bunts from the Sun Devils with no one covering first on one and a collision between the pitcher and third baseman on the other. But Dunn got a strikeout and an infield fly for two quick outs. USC's Cole Gabrielson laced a sinking liner to left field but Ryan Campos made an impressive diving play to save multiple runs and keep the game tied at 1-1.
Sixth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order. Dunn hit the leadoff batter but bounced back with three-straight out – aided by a fantastic play in foul territory by Nick McLain with a leaning grab over the tarp for the first out.
Seventh Inning
ASU got a one-out single from Hill but he was thrown out trying to turn a hustle double after video review and the Sun Devils would only put the minimum at the plate in the frame. A leadoff walk would doom the Devils after a sac bunt and ground out moved him to third. The Trojans executed a perfect bunt single with the infield playing back to plate the go-ahead run.
Eighth Inning
Ryan Campos drew a two-out walk but a groundout ended the frame. USC plated three insurance runs in the frame to put the game away.
Ninth Inning
Nick McLain drew a two-out walk but that was the extent of the action.
Ross Dunn matched his season-high with six innings, allowing just two runs, striking out four and working out of numerous jams throughout the afternoon as ASU would strand 10 USC baserunners in the contest.
Luke Hill recorded the lone RBI for ASU and had two hits for the Sun Devils, who managed just four hits in the contest.
TURNING POINT
After ASU got on the board first on Luke Hill's two-out RBI single in the fourth and runners on the corners, Isaiah Jackson laced the hardest hit ball of the day to right field that looked like it might have scored at least another run off the bat. But the USC right fielder was playing deep and the ball died at the warning track for the final out. The Trojans came right back in the bottom half of the frame with a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
BIG MOMENT
Tied at 1-1 in the seventh, A leadoff walk would doom the Devils after a sac bunt and ground out moved him to third. The Trojans executed a perfect bunt single with the infield playing back, plateing the go-ahead run and making it 2-1.
FINAL STRAW
USC tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth inning to effectively close out the game, making it 5-1.
ON DECK
The Sun Devils will look to gain some momentum heading into the postseason, hosting UCLA at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in the final regular season series of the year, beginning Thursday.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
ASU drew a two-out HBP and walk from Keaschall and Tobias but were unable to capitalize. ASU found itself in early trouble with runners on the corners and no outs after a leadoff walk and single. But Doss induced a shallow fly ball to left to hold the runner at third. USC then failed to properly execute a double steal and Bronson Balholm easily hosed the runner going to second and then Dunn got a swinging strikeout to keep USC off the board.
Second Inning
Nick McLain drew a leadoff walk but a double play wiped it off the board right after and a ground out led to the minimum coming to the plate. USC had a pair of two-out singles up the middle to put runners on the corners but a first pitch flyout ended the threat.
Third Inning
Nu'u Contrades got a one-out single but ASU ran into bad luck on a hit-and-run that went right into the glove of the USC third baseman who easily doubled up Contrades back at first as he had already round second by that point. Dunn worked his first 1-2-3 frame of the game, including a pair of strikeouts.
Fourth Inning
Keaschall led off the inning with his second hit-by-pitch of the contest. Keaschall would steal second after a pair of flyouts to center and Nick McLain drew a walk. Luke Hill responded with a RBI single poke through the right side to plate Keaschall and score the first run of the contest. Jackson gave a ball a ride to the warning track in right but the USC defender was in perfect position for the play, leaving it a 1-0 game for ASU.
Again, ASU couldn't get a stop after a score however. A pair of singles led to a runner at third after one out after a nice defensive play to get the second single thrown out at second. ASU would then issue a run down on the runner at third to get the second out but it allowed the fielder's choice to reach second and that would prove decisive with a two-out single to right plating the runner and evening the score at 1-1 before Ross got a groundout to end the frame.
Fifth Inning
Balholm led the frame off with a first-pitch single but a first pitch flyout and a first pitch double play made it a three-pitch inning. USC looked to blow the game open in the frame after loaded the bases with no outs thanks to two misplayed bunts from the Sun Devils with no one covering first on one and a collision between the pitcher and third baseman on the other. But Dunn got a strikeout and an infield fly for two quick outs. USC's Cole Gabrielson laced a sinking liner to left field but Ryan Campos made an impressive diving play to save multiple runs and keep the game tied at 1-1.
Sixth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order. Dunn hit the leadoff batter but bounced back with three-straight out – aided by a fantastic play in foul territory by Nick McLain with a leaning grab over the tarp for the first out.
Seventh Inning
ASU got a one-out single from Hill but he was thrown out trying to turn a hustle double after video review and the Sun Devils would only put the minimum at the plate in the frame. A leadoff walk would doom the Devils after a sac bunt and ground out moved him to third. The Trojans executed a perfect bunt single with the infield playing back to plate the go-ahead run.
Eighth Inning
Ryan Campos drew a two-out walk but a groundout ended the frame. USC plated three insurance runs in the frame to put the game away.
Ninth Inning
Nick McLain drew a two-out walk but that was the extent of the action.