TUCSON – Despite another midweek gem from the pitching staff, Sun Devil Baseball was unable to get the big hit when it mattered in a 3-2 decision at rival Arizona on Tuesday evening at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson.
For the fifth consecutive midweek game of the year, the Sun Devil pitching staff didn't allow more than four earned runs and held the potent Arizona offense to three runs on the night. Jonah Giblin was electric in relief with 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, no walks and no just two hits allowed. With the effort, ASU now has a 2.09 ERA in midweek games this season.
The Sun Devil struggled to get the bats going throughout the game with six scoreless innings to start as the team fell in a 3-0 hole before Jacob Tobias broke through with a two-out RBI double in the seventh inning. Josiah Cromwick kept the momentum going with an RBI single in the eighth and ASU was able to get the tying run on base in the ninth but ASU's third double play of the game ended the threat. ASU outhit Arizona 9-8 but was 2-for-17 with runners on base.
Tobias, Kien Vu and Landon Hairston all finished with two base hits.
The Sun Devils open up Big 12 play on the road with a three- game series at TCU beginning on Friday, before heading back to Tempe for a mid-week matchup versus former Pac-12 foe USC.
TURNING POINT
The turning point came on the first three pitches of the game for Arizona, picking up two seeing-eye doubles that squeaked through the right side of the diamond and leading to a 1-0 lead right away. Easton Barrett struggled with command, eventually walking in another run to make it 2-0 but stranding the bases loaded after that to limit the damage.
BIG MOMENT
Trailing 3-1, Kien Vu led off the eighth inning with an RBI single as ASU tried to mount a late rally. A suspect called strike three on a check swing by the first base umpire quickly stymied the ASU momentum. ASU was able to drive the run in on a Jacob Tobias RBI double with two outs but was unable to do more than that.
FINAL STRAW
Landon Hairston reached on a one-out single in the ninth for his second hit of the game to put the tying run on the base path. However, ASU would hit into its third double play of the game to end the contest.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jonah Giblin gave the Sun Devils some much needed length after entering the game in the second inning, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings of relief after Arizona jumped out to a 2-0 lead to keep ASU within striking distance. Giblin struck out four with no walks and allowing just two hits to give ASU a chance for the late rally. Giblin has yet to allow a run in 11.1 innings over four midweek appearances, striking out 14 to just two walks and not allowing a single run.
NOTABLES
First Inning
The Sun Devils got a leadoff infield single from Kien Vu but a flyout and double play led to the minimum in the frame. Arizona led off with back-to-back doubles that snuck just past Contrades at third, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead right out the gate. Arizona would load the bases with two outs as Barrett lost some control, walking in a run but was able to get a strikeout to limit the damage in the frame to 2-0.
Second Inning
Contrades drew a 12-pitch, one out walk but a pair of groundouts kept ASU off the board. The Wildcats again put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out but stranded them there with strikeouts by Barrett and Jonah Giblin against Arizona's three- and four-hole hitters.
Third Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order. Arizona got a leadoff double but ASU made a nice play on fielder's choice to get the out at third PFP and strikeout stranded a runner at third.
Fourth Inning
ASU got another leadoff baserunner on a walk but a double play wiped it off the board. Tobias singled but the runner was stranded on a flyout. Giblin worked the first 1-2-3 inning of the game for the Sun Devils.
Fifth Inning
Isaiah Jackson led the frame off with a single. Hairston put a good piece on one but it died in the night air and Cromwick struck out while Jackson stole second. A great diving stab at first would strand the runner in scoring position.
Sixth Inning
Compton reached on a two-out infield single but Tobias just missed on a fly ball to right to strand him. Arizona added an insurance run after a leadoff walk scored on a double down the left field line to make it 3-0.
Seventh Inning
ASU mounted a two-out rally to get on the board headed into the stretch behind a Hairston double and Cromwick RBI single to make it 3-1.Carlon added a pair of strikeouts to retire the heart of the Arizona side in order.
Eighth Inning
Vu beat the shift for a leadoff single. A suspect check swing called strike three by the first base ump would lead to head coach WIllie Bloomquist being ejected for pleading his case. Kien Vu stole second and took third on a nice read on a groundout and Tobias doubled just over the right fielders glove to bring him home and bring ASU with a run. Schaefer came in for ASU on the mound and battled some control issues to strand runners on the corners and keep it a one-run game.
Ninth Inning
Landon Hairston reached on a one-out single but Garza pinch hit into a double play - ASU's third of the game - to end the contest.
For the fifth consecutive midweek game of the year, the Sun Devil pitching staff didn't allow more than four earned runs and held the potent Arizona offense to three runs on the night. Jonah Giblin was electric in relief with 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, no walks and no just two hits allowed. With the effort, ASU now has a 2.09 ERA in midweek games this season.
The Sun Devil struggled to get the bats going throughout the game with six scoreless innings to start as the team fell in a 3-0 hole before Jacob Tobias broke through with a two-out RBI double in the seventh inning. Josiah Cromwick kept the momentum going with an RBI single in the eighth and ASU was able to get the tying run on base in the ninth but ASU's third double play of the game ended the threat. ASU outhit Arizona 9-8 but was 2-for-17 with runners on base.
Tobias, Kien Vu and Landon Hairston all finished with two base hits.
The Sun Devils open up Big 12 play on the road with a three- game series at TCU beginning on Friday, before heading back to Tempe for a mid-week matchup versus former Pac-12 foe USC.
TURNING POINT
The turning point came on the first three pitches of the game for Arizona, picking up two seeing-eye doubles that squeaked through the right side of the diamond and leading to a 1-0 lead right away. Easton Barrett struggled with command, eventually walking in another run to make it 2-0 but stranding the bases loaded after that to limit the damage.
BIG MOMENT
Trailing 3-1, Kien Vu led off the eighth inning with an RBI single as ASU tried to mount a late rally. A suspect called strike three on a check swing by the first base umpire quickly stymied the ASU momentum. ASU was able to drive the run in on a Jacob Tobias RBI double with two outs but was unable to do more than that.
FINAL STRAW
Landon Hairston reached on a one-out single in the ninth for his second hit of the game to put the tying run on the base path. However, ASU would hit into its third double play of the game to end the contest.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jonah Giblin gave the Sun Devils some much needed length after entering the game in the second inning, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings of relief after Arizona jumped out to a 2-0 lead to keep ASU within striking distance. Giblin struck out four with no walks and allowing just two hits to give ASU a chance for the late rally. Giblin has yet to allow a run in 11.1 innings over four midweek appearances, striking out 14 to just two walks and not allowing a single run.
NOTABLES
- The Sun Devils fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, giving up a first inning run for the first time since the fifth game of the season, ending a streak of 11 consecutive games without allowing a first inning run where the team outscored opponents 14-0.
- Derek Schaefer (9.1 IP) and Lucas Kelly (8.0 IP) have still yet to allow a run this season. ASU has not had two pitchers with 5.0+ innings of work 17 games into the season with a 0.00 ERA since 2012 Matthew Dunbar (11.0) and Adam McCreery (8.0).
- At 4.38, the Sun Devils have their lowest team ERA for any week in a season since they had a 3.23 ERA after six games in the 2023 season.
- In five midweek games this season, the Sun Devils have a 2.09 ERA, holding opponents to a .194 average against with 51 strikeouts in 43.0 innings. For perspective, the Sun Devils had a 6.21 ERA in midweeks last season with a .282 average against.
- ASU held Arizona to 1-for-13 hitting with runners in scoring position (.077) and 3-for-17 with an runners (.176).
- The team's nine runs allowed over the last five games is the lowest since a five-game stretch in 2021 where the team allowed just six total runs from March 6-March 14.
- Jacob Tobias added his team-leading 20th RBI of the season.
- Nu'u Contrades has reached base safely in all 17 games this season.
- The Sun Devils have recorded at least one double in 16 of 17 games. To take that a step further, it was the 13th game of 17 with multiple doubles.
- The Sun Devils posted their 12th game this season without an error and have quietly put up a .988 fielding percentage on the year - good for fourth in the country. ASU ranked outside the Top-100 in each of the last three seasons in the category.
- ASU has six straight games without an error - the first time accomplishing the feat since a nine-game stretch to conclude the 2015 season.
First Inning
The Sun Devils got a leadoff infield single from Kien Vu but a flyout and double play led to the minimum in the frame. Arizona led off with back-to-back doubles that snuck just past Contrades at third, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead right out the gate. Arizona would load the bases with two outs as Barrett lost some control, walking in a run but was able to get a strikeout to limit the damage in the frame to 2-0.
Second Inning
Contrades drew a 12-pitch, one out walk but a pair of groundouts kept ASU off the board. The Wildcats again put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out but stranded them there with strikeouts by Barrett and Jonah Giblin against Arizona's three- and four-hole hitters.
Third Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order. Arizona got a leadoff double but ASU made a nice play on fielder's choice to get the out at third PFP and strikeout stranded a runner at third.
Fourth Inning
ASU got another leadoff baserunner on a walk but a double play wiped it off the board. Tobias singled but the runner was stranded on a flyout. Giblin worked the first 1-2-3 inning of the game for the Sun Devils.
Fifth Inning
Isaiah Jackson led the frame off with a single. Hairston put a good piece on one but it died in the night air and Cromwick struck out while Jackson stole second. A great diving stab at first would strand the runner in scoring position.
Sixth Inning
Compton reached on a two-out infield single but Tobias just missed on a fly ball to right to strand him. Arizona added an insurance run after a leadoff walk scored on a double down the left field line to make it 3-0.
Seventh Inning
ASU mounted a two-out rally to get on the board headed into the stretch behind a Hairston double and Cromwick RBI single to make it 3-1.Carlon added a pair of strikeouts to retire the heart of the Arizona side in order.
Eighth Inning
Vu beat the shift for a leadoff single. A suspect check swing called strike three by the first base ump would lead to head coach WIllie Bloomquist being ejected for pleading his case. Kien Vu stole second and took third on a nice read on a groundout and Tobias doubled just over the right fielders glove to bring him home and bring ASU with a run. Schaefer came in for ASU on the mound and battled some control issues to strand runners on the corners and keep it a one-run game.
Ninth Inning
Landon Hairston reached on a one-out single but Garza pinch hit into a double play - ASU's third of the game - to end the contest.