STILLWATER – Oklahoma State's three home-run seventh inning proved to be the difference in a 7-4 defeat for Sun Devil Baseball on Saturday afternoon in Stillwater, Okla.
Despite 11 hits, ASU (35-21, 18-12) stranded 10 runners on base and was unable to close out the Cowboys (27-22, 15-12) after taking its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh.
Every Sun Devil starter recorded a hit, with Matt King and Kien Vu recording two - the latter including a solo homer.
ASU will now set its sights on its first appearance in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, scheduled to begin next Wednesday at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
TURNING POINT
After the Sun Devils rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh, Oklahoma State immediately responded with a leadoff walk and two-run homer to take the lead back at 5-4.
BIG MOMENT
The Sun Devils went to the bullpen after a gutty effort from reliever Cole Carlon but it didn't alleviate things as the Cowboys added two more homers in the seventh to take a 7-4 lead.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth to bring the go-ahead run to the plate but a pop-up run ended the threat without ASU making a dent in the deficit.
NOTABLES
First Inning
Matt King recorded his seventh hit of the weekend with a two out single. Tobias put a drive into one in the left center gap that carried just a bit too long, allowing the left fielder to make the play without ASU getting on the board. Oklahoma State led off the frame with a pair of singles but Barrett limited the damage to just one run on a fielder's choice.
Second Inning
Vu immediately responded with a leadoff solo shot to opposite left field to even the game at 1-1. A four-walk inning put OSU back on top without having to put a ball in the play but Barrett was able to strand the bases loaded with a lineout to right.
Third Inning
Hairston recorded a one-out single and Tobias notched a bloop single to put runners at first and third with two out but a popout ended the threat. Carlon entered in relief and put together an efficient 5-pitch inning to keep ASU with 2-1.
Fourth Inning
Jackson notched a two-out single and stole second but a lineout to right stranded him there. OSU drew a leadoff walk but a double play and foul out led to the minimum coming to the plate.
Fifth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order for the first time. OSU led off its half of the inning with a double before stealing third with one out and home with two outs to make it a 3-1 lead for the Cowboys.
Sixth Inning
Vu notched a one-out triple and Compton followed that with an RBI double to bring ASU back within a run. Ryan notched his first his of the weekend with a single to put runners on first and third and send OSU to the bullpen. A Jackson RBI groundout evened things up at 3-3. Carlon shook off a one-out single by picking off the runner and then striking out two batters to keep things even.
Seventh Inning
Walker singled, took second on a balk and moved to third on a groundout and King singled to bring him home and give ASU its first lead of the game. King stole second and moved to third on a passed ball with two outs but would end up stranded there. A leadoff walk and three homers immediately exchanged the lead back to OSU with a 7-4 advantage.
Eighth Inning
ASU took advantage of a couple of two-out muscles by OSU to load the bases but a popout ended the threat. Giblin worked around a leadoff single to record three outs and keep ASU within three.
Ninth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order.
Despite 11 hits, ASU (35-21, 18-12) stranded 10 runners on base and was unable to close out the Cowboys (27-22, 15-12) after taking its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh.
Every Sun Devil starter recorded a hit, with Matt King and Kien Vu recording two - the latter including a solo homer.
ASU will now set its sights on its first appearance in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, scheduled to begin next Wednesday at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
TURNING POINT
After the Sun Devils rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh, Oklahoma State immediately responded with a leadoff walk and two-run homer to take the lead back at 5-4.
BIG MOMENT
The Sun Devils went to the bullpen after a gutty effort from reliever Cole Carlon but it didn't alleviate things as the Cowboys added two more homers in the seventh to take a 7-4 lead.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth to bring the go-ahead run to the plate but a pop-up run ended the threat without ASU making a dent in the deficit.
NOTABLES
- Matt King recorded his team-leading 27th multi-hit game of the year.
- Kien Vu extended his on-base streak to 34 games with his second inning homer.
- Isaiah Jackson has recorded an RBI in 34 of the teams' 56 games.
- Jackson leads the team with his 65 RBIs this season - notable as he hasn't played a single game higher than fifth in the batting order (once). It's also notable as he had recorded just 59 CAREER RBIs over two seasons coming into this year.
- ASU recorded double digit hits for the 33rd time this season.
- Big innings have been the theme of ASU's season as the team has now scored in 203 halves of an inning on the year and have plated two or more runs in 126 of those (.625).
First Inning
Matt King recorded his seventh hit of the weekend with a two out single. Tobias put a drive into one in the left center gap that carried just a bit too long, allowing the left fielder to make the play without ASU getting on the board. Oklahoma State led off the frame with a pair of singles but Barrett limited the damage to just one run on a fielder's choice.
Second Inning
Vu immediately responded with a leadoff solo shot to opposite left field to even the game at 1-1. A four-walk inning put OSU back on top without having to put a ball in the play but Barrett was able to strand the bases loaded with a lineout to right.
Third Inning
Hairston recorded a one-out single and Tobias notched a bloop single to put runners at first and third with two out but a popout ended the threat. Carlon entered in relief and put together an efficient 5-pitch inning to keep ASU with 2-1.
Fourth Inning
Jackson notched a two-out single and stole second but a lineout to right stranded him there. OSU drew a leadoff walk but a double play and foul out led to the minimum coming to the plate.
Fifth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order for the first time. OSU led off its half of the inning with a double before stealing third with one out and home with two outs to make it a 3-1 lead for the Cowboys.
Sixth Inning
Vu notched a one-out triple and Compton followed that with an RBI double to bring ASU back within a run. Ryan notched his first his of the weekend with a single to put runners on first and third and send OSU to the bullpen. A Jackson RBI groundout evened things up at 3-3. Carlon shook off a one-out single by picking off the runner and then striking out two batters to keep things even.
Seventh Inning
Walker singled, took second on a balk and moved to third on a groundout and King singled to bring him home and give ASU its first lead of the game. King stole second and moved to third on a passed ball with two outs but would end up stranded there. A leadoff walk and three homers immediately exchanged the lead back to OSU with a 7-4 advantage.
Eighth Inning
ASU took advantage of a couple of two-out muscles by OSU to load the bases but a popout ended the threat. Giblin worked around a leadoff single to record three outs and keep ASU within three.
Ninth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order.