STILLWATER – A slew of two-out runs proved to be Sun Devil Baseball's undoing in a 9-6 loss at Oklahoma State on Friday in Stillwater, Okla. Arizona State will look to salvage the series finale tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m. AZT (12 p.m. local).
The Cowboys recorded seven of their nine runs with two outs while the Sun Devils stranded 10 batters and went just 2-for-11 with two outs and only 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Matt King notched another three-hit day while Landon Hairston, Jacob Tobias and Kien Vu had multi-hit days. Tobias led the way with three RBIs.
Sun Devil pitchers struck out 11 but six walks proved costly with three of those scoring - the difference in the game.
ASU will look to bounce back from the series loss and come away with a win heading in the Big 12 Tournament next week. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 10 a.m. AZT (Noon local).
TURNING POINT
After the Sun Devils took a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth, the team couldn't manage a much-needed stop after score in the bottom half. Things got off inauspiciously with a leadoff walk to OSU's .167-hitting nine-hole hitter followed by a single and one-out walk to load the bases. After getting a huge strikeout for the second out, Martinez got into an 0-2 count and one strike away from escaping the frame. Instead a two-RBI double that Landon Hairston came inches shy of an incredible diving catch but he trapped the ball instead. Another two-RBI double followed that to give OSU a 5-4 lead.
BIG MOMENT
After quickly striking out the first two batters of the sixth inning in the 5-4 games, Schaefer gave up a double and a walk before a three-run homer opened up the game for the Cowboys and a leadoff bomb in the seventh made it 9-4.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils again tried to mount another late rally in the nine, loading the bases with no outs on three straight singles. A pair of sac flies brought ASU back within three and put the tying run on deck but unfortunately ASU couldn't complete the rally.
NOTABLES
First Inning
For the second straight game, Walker led things off with a single He followed that with a stolen base. King drew a one out walk to put runners on the corners and Tobias plated a run with an RBI fielder's choice. Vu notched a hustle double to put runners on second and third with two outs but a strikeout ended the threat. Martinez worked around a leadoff single and stolen base, capped by a pair of strikeouts against the 3- and 4-hole hitters.
Second Inning
Cromwick drew an HBP to start the frame, taking second on a groundout. Walker drew a two-out walk. Hairston gave one a ride to the warning track in center but a flyout stranded two runners for the second-straight inning. OSU again led off with a single and moved the runner over on a sac bunt and to third on a flyout
Third Inning
Vu notched a two-out single but that was the extent of the action.Oklahoma State tied things on a one-out opposite field solo shot but Martinez shook off a pair of free baserunners after that to keep the game even at 1-1.
Fourth Inning
Isaiah Jackson had a response with a solo shot of his own on a deep line drive with one out to right center to quickly reclaim the lead at 2-1.Martinez worked his first 1-2-3 inning of the game with a pair of strikeouts.
Fifth Inning
Hairston and King led off the fifth with a single and double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tobias made it three straight hits as he plated both runners with his 20th double of the season to make it 4-1. Control issues came back to bite Martinez, as a lead off and one-out walk around a single loaded the bases with one out. Back-to-back two-out doubles plated four runs for the Cowboys to take a 5-4 lead and chase the senior from the game.
Sixth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order for the first time in the game in the sixth. Schaefer notched two quick strikeouts but a two-out double and walk set the table for a three-run homer to put OSU in control, 8-4.
Seventh Inning
King reached on a one-out single but that was the extent of the action. A leadoff solo homer extended the lead to 9-4. Oklahoma State would go on to load the bases behind and error and two walks but Butler was able to enter and strand the runners with a strikeout.
Eighth Inning
Compton laced a leadoff double off the wall in deep center field followed by a Cromwick walk. But a pair of strikeouts and a flyout ended the threat without cutting into the lead. Jake Neely worked a 1-2-3 inning in relief.
Ninth Inning
Hairston, King and Tobias led off the frame with singles to load the bases and sac flies from Vu and Compton brought ASU within three with two outs but a strikeout ended the threat.
The Cowboys recorded seven of their nine runs with two outs while the Sun Devils stranded 10 batters and went just 2-for-11 with two outs and only 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Matt King notched another three-hit day while Landon Hairston, Jacob Tobias and Kien Vu had multi-hit days. Tobias led the way with three RBIs.
Sun Devil pitchers struck out 11 but six walks proved costly with three of those scoring - the difference in the game.
ASU will look to bounce back from the series loss and come away with a win heading in the Big 12 Tournament next week. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 10 a.m. AZT (Noon local).
TURNING POINT
After the Sun Devils took a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth, the team couldn't manage a much-needed stop after score in the bottom half. Things got off inauspiciously with a leadoff walk to OSU's .167-hitting nine-hole hitter followed by a single and one-out walk to load the bases. After getting a huge strikeout for the second out, Martinez got into an 0-2 count and one strike away from escaping the frame. Instead a two-RBI double that Landon Hairston came inches shy of an incredible diving catch but he trapped the ball instead. Another two-RBI double followed that to give OSU a 5-4 lead.
BIG MOMENT
After quickly striking out the first two batters of the sixth inning in the 5-4 games, Schaefer gave up a double and a walk before a three-run homer opened up the game for the Cowboys and a leadoff bomb in the seventh made it 9-4.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils again tried to mount another late rally in the nine, loading the bases with no outs on three straight singles. A pair of sac flies brought ASU back within three and put the tying run on deck but unfortunately ASU couldn't complete the rally.
NOTABLES
- Since moving to the leadoff position on March 15, Kyle Walker has recorded a hit to start the game on 16 occasions, including today (37 games).
- Matt King recorded his 14th game of the season with three or more hits - seven more than any other player on the team.
- Kien Vu extended his on-base streak to 33 games with his first inning double.
- Isaiah Jackson has recorded an RBI in 33 of the teams' 55 games.
- He homered for the 10th time in the last 12 games.
- Jackson leads the team with his 464 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.
- The Sun Devil pitchers punched out double digit opponent batters for the 38th time in 55 games this season.
- ASU recorded double digit hits for the 32nd time this season.
- ASU's four doubles marked the 38th time the team has multiple doubles this year. The team entered the weekend with the national lead in the category at 136.
- Big innings have been the theme of ASU's season as the team has now scored in 200 halves of an inning on the year and have plated two or more runs in 125 of those (.625).
First Inning
For the second straight game, Walker led things off with a single He followed that with a stolen base. King drew a one out walk to put runners on the corners and Tobias plated a run with an RBI fielder's choice. Vu notched a hustle double to put runners on second and third with two outs but a strikeout ended the threat. Martinez worked around a leadoff single and stolen base, capped by a pair of strikeouts against the 3- and 4-hole hitters.
Second Inning
Cromwick drew an HBP to start the frame, taking second on a groundout. Walker drew a two-out walk. Hairston gave one a ride to the warning track in center but a flyout stranded two runners for the second-straight inning. OSU again led off with a single and moved the runner over on a sac bunt and to third on a flyout
Third Inning
Vu notched a two-out single but that was the extent of the action.Oklahoma State tied things on a one-out opposite field solo shot but Martinez shook off a pair of free baserunners after that to keep the game even at 1-1.
Fourth Inning
Isaiah Jackson had a response with a solo shot of his own on a deep line drive with one out to right center to quickly reclaim the lead at 2-1.Martinez worked his first 1-2-3 inning of the game with a pair of strikeouts.
Fifth Inning
Hairston and King led off the fifth with a single and double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tobias made it three straight hits as he plated both runners with his 20th double of the season to make it 4-1. Control issues came back to bite Martinez, as a lead off and one-out walk around a single loaded the bases with one out. Back-to-back two-out doubles plated four runs for the Cowboys to take a 5-4 lead and chase the senior from the game.
Sixth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order for the first time in the game in the sixth. Schaefer notched two quick strikeouts but a two-out double and walk set the table for a three-run homer to put OSU in control, 8-4.
Seventh Inning
King reached on a one-out single but that was the extent of the action. A leadoff solo homer extended the lead to 9-4. Oklahoma State would go on to load the bases behind and error and two walks but Butler was able to enter and strand the runners with a strikeout.
Eighth Inning
Compton laced a leadoff double off the wall in deep center field followed by a Cromwick walk. But a pair of strikeouts and a flyout ended the threat without cutting into the lead. Jake Neely worked a 1-2-3 inning in relief.
Ninth Inning
Hairston, King and Tobias led off the frame with singles to load the bases and sac flies from Vu and Compton brought ASU within three with two outs but a strikeout ended the threat.