TUCSON - Looking for its first series sweep in Tucson since 1998, Sun Devil Baseball (9-10, 3-3 Pac-12) was unable to get big hits in big moments against Arizona (8-10, 3-3 Pac-12) as it dropped the series finale on Sunday, 14-3.
Jacob Tobias went 5-for-5 on the day to pace the Sun Devil offense, which finished with 11 hits but struggled to get those in key moments - going just 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position while Arizona was 8-for-16 in the category. Harris Williams added two doubles in the contest.
Hunter Omlid and Wyatt Halvorson were the only particularly effective pitchers in the game. Omlid tossed a scoreless inning of relief after inheriting two runners in scoring position with no outs and bases loaded with one out. Halvorson went 1.1 innings without a run allowed and striking out a team-best three batters.
TURNING POINT
Arizona showed off the bats early, leading off the bottom of the second with a monster solo shot and batting around the order to make it 5-0. While ASU would rally with three more in top of the third to close the gap back to two, it was the big Wildcat frame that set the tone for the game.
BIG MOMENT
Trailing 5-3, the Sun Devils put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out on an Ondina walk and Williams double to bring up the heart of the ASU order. But a strikeout and groundout to first ended that threat with no runs pushed across. Arizona made ASU pay in the bottom half of the frame, with a infield single, RBI triple and sac fly quickly pushing the lead back to four runs and taking away any ASU momentum.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils stranded nine runners throughout the game, getting plenty of base knocks and base runners but simply not getting the big hit down the stretch to close the gap while the WIldcats did, slowly extending their lead down the stretch - capped by a five-run seventh to effectively put the game out of reach.
NOTABLES
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Campos drew a one-out walk to extend his reached base streak to 29 games and ASU had put runners on the corners with a two-out Tobias single, taking second on a stolen base before a groundout to pitcher ended the threat. Behrens put together a 1-2-3 frame with a flyout, foul out and putting his PFP work to use covering first for the final out.
Second Inning
Vu reached on a dropped third strike with two outs and stole second. Ondina hit a hard-struck ball directly at the shortstop, who was able to corral it just in time to make the throw to first to strand Vu. Arizona struck first with a leadoff homer, followed by three straight singles to make it 2-0 before Behrens finally got a strikeout for the first out. A one-out Wildcat double plated both runs to make it 4-0 and chase Behrens from the game. Another Arizona single would bring its fifth run of the inning across to make it 5-0 as the Wildcats bat around in the frame.
Third Inning
The Sun Devils mounted a nice rally in response, with back-to-back leadoff doubles from Williams and Campos getting ASU on the board. A one-out Tobias double brought another across and a Mendoza single made it 5-3. Kien Vu made an incredible diving catch in center on the first pitch of the frame. Tieding worked around a one-out single with a lineout to short to keep Arizona off the board in the frame.
Fourth Inning
An Ondina walk and and a one-out Williams double put two runners in scoring position but ASU was unable to capitalize, stranding them both. Arizona tacked one on with a one-out RBI triple just past the outstretched glove of Williams in left followed by a sac fly to extend the lead back to four at 7-3.
Fifth Inning
Tobias led off with a single but a double play quickly put ASU two outs into the hole. Compton singled but a fielder's choice made it a scoreless frame. Arizona added two more in the fifth, though the damage was largely limited after Arizona had two in scoring position with one out and the bases loaded with one out. ASU almost got out of the frame with what looked like it could have been a double play if not for obstruction at second. The play went to replay review with an outcome that resulted in head coach Willie Bloomquist watching the remainder of the game from the clubhouse.
Sixth Inning
A strikeout and two groundouts to the pitcher made it an uneventful sixth for ASU. Cole Carlon worked around a two-out single for a scoreless frame as well.
Seventh Inning
With two outs, Tobias recorded his fourth hit of the game and Mendoza put another on with an HBP but a first pitch groundout to the new Wildcat pitcher ended the threat. The Wildcats drove the nail in the coffin with five hits and another five-spot in the bottom of the frame to put the game out of reach.
Eighth Inning
Kevin Karstetter notched a leadoff double but the next three Sun Devils went down in order to strand him at second. Halvorson worked around a leadoff single to retire the side and added a pair of strikeouts in the process.
Ninth Inning
McLain drew a walk and Tobias added his fifth hit of the game but ASU couldn't push any runs across.
ON DECK:
ASU will have a pair of midweek non-conference tilts against Utah Valley at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. AZT before heading back on the road for a three-game Pac-12 series in Pullman against Washington State beginning Friday.
Jacob Tobias went 5-for-5 on the day to pace the Sun Devil offense, which finished with 11 hits but struggled to get those in key moments - going just 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position while Arizona was 8-for-16 in the category. Harris Williams added two doubles in the contest.
Hunter Omlid and Wyatt Halvorson were the only particularly effective pitchers in the game. Omlid tossed a scoreless inning of relief after inheriting two runners in scoring position with no outs and bases loaded with one out. Halvorson went 1.1 innings without a run allowed and striking out a team-best three batters.
TURNING POINT
Arizona showed off the bats early, leading off the bottom of the second with a monster solo shot and batting around the order to make it 5-0. While ASU would rally with three more in top of the third to close the gap back to two, it was the big Wildcat frame that set the tone for the game.
BIG MOMENT
Trailing 5-3, the Sun Devils put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out on an Ondina walk and Williams double to bring up the heart of the ASU order. But a strikeout and groundout to first ended that threat with no runs pushed across. Arizona made ASU pay in the bottom half of the frame, with a infield single, RBI triple and sac fly quickly pushing the lead back to four runs and taking away any ASU momentum.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils stranded nine runners throughout the game, getting plenty of base knocks and base runners but simply not getting the big hit down the stretch to close the gap while the WIldcats did, slowly extending their lead down the stretch - capped by a five-run seventh to effectively put the game out of reach.
NOTABLES
- Ryan Campos' first inning walk extended his active reached base streak to 29 games dating back to last season. He has now reached base in 99-of-108 career games (91.6 percent) with the Sun Devils.
- ASU reached 10 hits in the game, hitting double digits in the category for the 12th time in 19 games this season.
- Jacob Tobias' five-hit day was a career-best, surpassing his previous best of four (two times) from his freshman season in 2022.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Campos drew a one-out walk to extend his reached base streak to 29 games and ASU had put runners on the corners with a two-out Tobias single, taking second on a stolen base before a groundout to pitcher ended the threat. Behrens put together a 1-2-3 frame with a flyout, foul out and putting his PFP work to use covering first for the final out.
Second Inning
Vu reached on a dropped third strike with two outs and stole second. Ondina hit a hard-struck ball directly at the shortstop, who was able to corral it just in time to make the throw to first to strand Vu. Arizona struck first with a leadoff homer, followed by three straight singles to make it 2-0 before Behrens finally got a strikeout for the first out. A one-out Wildcat double plated both runs to make it 4-0 and chase Behrens from the game. Another Arizona single would bring its fifth run of the inning across to make it 5-0 as the Wildcats bat around in the frame.
Third Inning
The Sun Devils mounted a nice rally in response, with back-to-back leadoff doubles from Williams and Campos getting ASU on the board. A one-out Tobias double brought another across and a Mendoza single made it 5-3. Kien Vu made an incredible diving catch in center on the first pitch of the frame. Tieding worked around a one-out single with a lineout to short to keep Arizona off the board in the frame.
Fourth Inning
An Ondina walk and and a one-out Williams double put two runners in scoring position but ASU was unable to capitalize, stranding them both. Arizona tacked one on with a one-out RBI triple just past the outstretched glove of Williams in left followed by a sac fly to extend the lead back to four at 7-3.
Fifth Inning
Tobias led off with a single but a double play quickly put ASU two outs into the hole. Compton singled but a fielder's choice made it a scoreless frame. Arizona added two more in the fifth, though the damage was largely limited after Arizona had two in scoring position with one out and the bases loaded with one out. ASU almost got out of the frame with what looked like it could have been a double play if not for obstruction at second. The play went to replay review with an outcome that resulted in head coach Willie Bloomquist watching the remainder of the game from the clubhouse.
Sixth Inning
A strikeout and two groundouts to the pitcher made it an uneventful sixth for ASU. Cole Carlon worked around a two-out single for a scoreless frame as well.
Seventh Inning
With two outs, Tobias recorded his fourth hit of the game and Mendoza put another on with an HBP but a first pitch groundout to the new Wildcat pitcher ended the threat. The Wildcats drove the nail in the coffin with five hits and another five-spot in the bottom of the frame to put the game out of reach.
Eighth Inning
Kevin Karstetter notched a leadoff double but the next three Sun Devils went down in order to strand him at second. Halvorson worked around a leadoff single to retire the side and added a pair of strikeouts in the process.
Ninth Inning
McLain drew a walk and Tobias added his fifth hit of the game but ASU couldn't push any runs across.
ON DECK:
ASU will have a pair of midweek non-conference tilts against Utah Valley at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. AZT before heading back on the road for a three-game Pac-12 series in Pullman against Washington State beginning Friday.