WACO, Texas – An inauspicious three-error seventh inning on defense for Sun Devil Baseball proved to be the difference in a 7-4 loss at Baylor in a rain-delayed season opener on Friday evening at Baylor Ballpark.
In a game that was delayed an hour due to thunderstorms in the area, the Sun Devils (30-17, 14-8 Big 12) were unable to capitalize on their four-run sixth inning, as the team managed just five hits in the game while posting four errors.
Six of Baylor's runs came on unearned runs in the seven inning after three errors in the field on an otherwise exceptional day for the Sun Devil pitchers.
Ben Jacobs struck out 10 while allowing just one run in 5.0 innings of work, becoming the first Sun Devil to record three straight games with double-digit strikeouts since Mike Leake had three in 2009.
Lucas Kelly, Cole Carlon, Josh Butler and Sean Fitzpatrick didn't allow any earned runs over the final 3.0 innings and added five strikeouts.
The Sun Devils will look to even the series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. AZT/2 p.m. locally.
TURNING POINT
After struggling to get the offense going through five innings, the bats came alive in the fifth with the Sun Devils recording a pair of two-run homers from Isaiah Jackson and Kyle Walker with no outs to take a 4-1 lead. ASU could have continued piling on with another no-out walk but the team's third double play of the game quickly put two outs on the board. Jacob Tobias recorded a single, stole second and took third on an error but was thrown out at home on a delayed double steal as the Sun Devils couldn't put the game out of reach in the frame.
BIG MOMENT
The bottom of the seventh saw ASU record three errors and another mental error in the frame, inevitably leading to six unearned runs after the Sun Devils had a chance to get out of the inning with no damage done, instead coming out in a 7-4 hole.
FINAL STRAW
ASU struggled to solve the slider of Big 12 saves leader Gabe Craig, though the Sun Devils did put two runners on with one out in the top of the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately a pair of strikeouts ended that threat.
NOTABLES
First Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order, though Matt King put a good swing on a line drive to left center that Baylor was shifted perfectly for. Jacobs stranded a one-out single thanks to a pair of solid defensive plays from Contrades at third base in the scoreless frame.
Second Inning
Tobias absolutely smoked a ball in the leadoff spot, 105.3 off the bat, but the ball just stayed in the thick air for a harmless out in right and ASU went down in order for the second straight frame. Jacobs faced his first jam of the game with a leadoff walk and an infield single that hit the second-base umpire. A strikeout and groundout led to runners on second and third and the bases were loaded on a two-out walk but Jacobs stranded all of them with a infield popout to Tobias.
Third Inning
Brandon Compton almost took one over the center field wall to lead off the frame but a leaping grab to rob the homer kept ASU off the board in yet another 1-2-3 frame. The free baserunners came back to bite Jacobs finally with a leadoff walk moving into scoring position on Jacobs' throwing error on a pickoff to first. A two-out double plated the run to give Baylor the 1-0 lead early though Jacobs stranded another baserunner with his fifth strikeout.
Fourth Inning
ASU got its first baserunner of the game with a Kyle Walker walk. He would steal second with an incredible dodge of the tag on a strikeout to give ASU its first runner in scoring position but another tough luck line drive by King right to the third baseman led to an inning-ending double play. Another pair of walks for Jacobs put two on with two outs but Briggs made a great play to cut down a runner drying to take third on a dirty ball to get out of the frame and keep it at one run.
Fifth Inning
Kien Vu picked up the first hit of the game on a one-out chopper back up the middle but ASU ground into a double play as yet again, ASU only brought the minimum to the plate. Jacobs stranded a two-out walk by striking out the side.
Sixth Inning
Compton worked a leadoff walk in the sixth and the bats finally came alive for the Sun Devils. Isaiah Jackson battled back from a 1-2 count to work the count full before getting the biggest swing of the night, a shot to right center to plate a pair of runs and get ASU on the board and with the lead. Brody Briggs reached on an error on a bunt attempt and took second to turn the order around before Kyle Walker also launched a two-run shot to left center and make it 4-1. ASU would then draw another walk but a double play wiped it off the board. ASU tried to manufacture another run as Tobias singled, stole second and took third on an error. An attempted double steal saw Tobias thrown out at home for the final out of the frame, however.
Lucas Kelly came in in relief of Jacobs and worked ASU's first 1-2-3 frame of the night, including a pair of strikeouts.
Seventh Inning
Brandon Compton laced a one-out double down the opposite left field line but that was the extent of the ASU action in the frame after a great play in the hole by the Baylor on a Briggs grounder ended the frame. Baylor took advantage of a disastrous frame at third base where three errors and another misplayed grounder led to six two-out unearned runs.
Eighth Inning
ASU was unable to get a rally going the next inning, going down in order. Baylor notched a walk and single but Butler picked up two strikeouts and Fitzpatrick came in to get the final out to keep ASU within three.
Ninth Inning
ASU was able to bring the tying run to the plate thanks to a one-out HBP and walk but a pair of strikeouts ended the ASU threat and the game.
In a game that was delayed an hour due to thunderstorms in the area, the Sun Devils (30-17, 14-8 Big 12) were unable to capitalize on their four-run sixth inning, as the team managed just five hits in the game while posting four errors.
Six of Baylor's runs came on unearned runs in the seven inning after three errors in the field on an otherwise exceptional day for the Sun Devil pitchers.
Ben Jacobs struck out 10 while allowing just one run in 5.0 innings of work, becoming the first Sun Devil to record three straight games with double-digit strikeouts since Mike Leake had three in 2009.
Lucas Kelly, Cole Carlon, Josh Butler and Sean Fitzpatrick didn't allow any earned runs over the final 3.0 innings and added five strikeouts.
The Sun Devils will look to even the series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. AZT/2 p.m. locally.
TURNING POINT
After struggling to get the offense going through five innings, the bats came alive in the fifth with the Sun Devils recording a pair of two-run homers from Isaiah Jackson and Kyle Walker with no outs to take a 4-1 lead. ASU could have continued piling on with another no-out walk but the team's third double play of the game quickly put two outs on the board. Jacob Tobias recorded a single, stole second and took third on an error but was thrown out at home on a delayed double steal as the Sun Devils couldn't put the game out of reach in the frame.
BIG MOMENT
The bottom of the seventh saw ASU record three errors and another mental error in the frame, inevitably leading to six unearned runs after the Sun Devils had a chance to get out of the inning with no damage done, instead coming out in a 7-4 hole.
FINAL STRAW
ASU struggled to solve the slider of Big 12 saves leader Gabe Craig, though the Sun Devils did put two runners on with one out in the top of the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately a pair of strikeouts ended that threat.
NOTABLES
- Ben Jacobs recorded his third consecutive game with 10 or more strikeouts (13, 11, 10). He became the first Sun Devil pitcher to do so in three-straight games since Mike Leake did it in three games in 2009 (12, 12, 15).
- Vu extended his on-base streak to 25 games with his fifth-inning single.
- Kyle Walker extended his on-base streak to 36 games with his fourth-inning walk.
- Isaiah Jackson's sixth-inning home run marked the first time in his career homering in four-straight games. He is now the first Sun Devil to homer in three consecutive games since Nick McClain (5, April 30-May 5, 2024).
- He has five home runs over his last four games
- It was Jackson's 11th home run of the season, matching the team lead in the category.
- Jackson has 52 RBIs on the season - the first Sun Devil to reach the 50-RBI mark. This is also notable as he had 59 RBIs TOTAL in his first two seasons at ASU. Jackson drove in two more runs tonight and now has 13 RBIs over his past four games.
- The Sun Devils launched two home runs in the contest, marking the 18th time in 47 games with multiple home runs.
- ASU is 15-3 when hitting two home runs in a game.
- Big innings have been the theme of ASU's season as the team has now scored in 170 halves of an inning on the year and have plated two or more runs in 109 of those.
- The Sun Devils have put up 59 innings this season where the team has scored at least three runs, 27 with four or more and 17 with 5 or more.
- Arizona State pitchers have struck out double digit batters in 30 of the team's 47 games thus far this season. With 15 punchouts, it was the seventh time this season ASU struck out 15 or more batters in a game.
First Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order, though Matt King put a good swing on a line drive to left center that Baylor was shifted perfectly for. Jacobs stranded a one-out single thanks to a pair of solid defensive plays from Contrades at third base in the scoreless frame.
Second Inning
Tobias absolutely smoked a ball in the leadoff spot, 105.3 off the bat, but the ball just stayed in the thick air for a harmless out in right and ASU went down in order for the second straight frame. Jacobs faced his first jam of the game with a leadoff walk and an infield single that hit the second-base umpire. A strikeout and groundout led to runners on second and third and the bases were loaded on a two-out walk but Jacobs stranded all of them with a infield popout to Tobias.
Third Inning
Brandon Compton almost took one over the center field wall to lead off the frame but a leaping grab to rob the homer kept ASU off the board in yet another 1-2-3 frame. The free baserunners came back to bite Jacobs finally with a leadoff walk moving into scoring position on Jacobs' throwing error on a pickoff to first. A two-out double plated the run to give Baylor the 1-0 lead early though Jacobs stranded another baserunner with his fifth strikeout.
Fourth Inning
ASU got its first baserunner of the game with a Kyle Walker walk. He would steal second with an incredible dodge of the tag on a strikeout to give ASU its first runner in scoring position but another tough luck line drive by King right to the third baseman led to an inning-ending double play. Another pair of walks for Jacobs put two on with two outs but Briggs made a great play to cut down a runner drying to take third on a dirty ball to get out of the frame and keep it at one run.
Fifth Inning
Kien Vu picked up the first hit of the game on a one-out chopper back up the middle but ASU ground into a double play as yet again, ASU only brought the minimum to the plate. Jacobs stranded a two-out walk by striking out the side.
Sixth Inning
Compton worked a leadoff walk in the sixth and the bats finally came alive for the Sun Devils. Isaiah Jackson battled back from a 1-2 count to work the count full before getting the biggest swing of the night, a shot to right center to plate a pair of runs and get ASU on the board and with the lead. Brody Briggs reached on an error on a bunt attempt and took second to turn the order around before Kyle Walker also launched a two-run shot to left center and make it 4-1. ASU would then draw another walk but a double play wiped it off the board. ASU tried to manufacture another run as Tobias singled, stole second and took third on an error. An attempted double steal saw Tobias thrown out at home for the final out of the frame, however.
Lucas Kelly came in in relief of Jacobs and worked ASU's first 1-2-3 frame of the night, including a pair of strikeouts.
Seventh Inning
Brandon Compton laced a one-out double down the opposite left field line but that was the extent of the ASU action in the frame after a great play in the hole by the Baylor on a Briggs grounder ended the frame. Baylor took advantage of a disastrous frame at third base where three errors and another misplayed grounder led to six two-out unearned runs.
Eighth Inning
ASU was unable to get a rally going the next inning, going down in order. Baylor notched a walk and single but Butler picked up two strikeouts and Fitzpatrick came in to get the final out to keep ASU within three.
Ninth Inning
ASU was able to bring the tying run to the plate thanks to a one-out HBP and walk but a pair of strikeouts ended the ASU threat and the game.