Baseball falls to No. 23 Texas A&M to conclude Arlington trip

Turning point
After getting in an early two-run hole, the Sun Devils tied the game on a 2-run jack from Garrett Michel, his first of the season. Unfortunately, the momentum shift from the swing wasn’t enough, as Arizona State turned around and gave up a three-spot in the bottom of the second. Alba struggled with his command, walking the leadoff batter, hitting three more batters, and throwing a wild pitch, leading to the Aggies scoring two runs before recording a hit in the inning. A single followed, allowing A&M to take a lead that they would not relinquish. The Aggies then tacked on another run in the third after a bizarre play that would have been the third out, but instead put a runner on and set the table for an RBI-hit. 

Big moment
In the fourth inning, trailing 6-2, Arizona State had a chance to right the ship, getting two batters into scoring position on a Nu’u Contrades hit by pitch and stolen base, followed by Dominic Longo walking, and a double steal to move both into scoring position. However, Contrades and Longo were left stranded, as a strikeout and a flyout followed. In the fifth, the Sun Devils once again got two runners on, but couldn’t put together a rally. 

Final straw
Down three, after a Dominic Longo home run cut the deficit, ASU looked to keep it close, but a series of misfortunes caused the game to get out of hand. Relief pitcher Easton Barrett issued three walks to load the bases before being relieved in favor of Josh Butler. Butler then surrendered an RBI-groundout that pushed A&M’s lead to 7-3, and a bloop single followed that scored two and made the score 9-3. 

The big number
13- The Sun Devils were not able to play the most clean baseball, as the pitching staff surrendered seven walks, and three hit batters, and the defense tacked on an error. Arizona State issued 11 free passes to an already potent A&M offense, and two wild pitches gave the Aggies a few extra free bases, putting ASU into a hole of its own creation.

Inning by inning
First inning
The Sun Devils went down in order to lead the contest off. Alba gave up his first runs of the season after a leadoff walk followed by a line drive homer just inside the opposite left field foul pole for a quick 2-0 lead for A&M.

Second inning
Contrades led off the second with a single up the middle and the Sun Devils had an immediate response as Garrett Michel went the opposite way for his first homer of the year to tie the game at 2-2. ASU had a couple other hard-hit balls in the frame but were unable to do further damage. Alba struggled with his command in the bottom of the frame, hitting three batters, walking another, having a wild pitch as A&M plated three more in a frame where it only had one hit. 

Third inning
The top of the Sun Devil lineup went down in order for the second time in three innings. Alba looked to have gotten through a 1-2-3 frame after a line drive looked to have been caught by Alba. It turned out the ball actually went into his jersey and the play was overturned as a base hit. This was immediately followed by a single that moved the runner to third and a wild pitch to push the run across and make it a 6-2 game. 

Fourth inning
Contrades fell into a quick 0-2 count but fouled off a couple balls to stay alive and reached on a HBP. Michel nearly had his second of the game with a deep ball down the right field line but it would go foul and he would strike out. Contrades stole second and Longo walked to put two on with one out and a double steal moved both into scoring position but a strikeout and flyout squandered the opportunity. Taylor Penn came into the game and got two quick outs but A&M got a baserunner on an E5 and a full count single put runners on the corners but got a huge play on the base paths as the Aggies attempted the double steal but Niclai faked the throw down to second, drawing the runner at third into a no-man’s land for the easy out to give ASU its first zero in the game.

Fifth inning
Niclai drew a leadoff walk to turn things around to the top of the order but ASU immediately ground into a 3-6-3 double play. Moutzouridis notched a four-pitch watch and Toigo was hit while down 1-2 in the count to chase the A&M starter but a flyout ended the threat. Penn worked around a pair of one-out singles with a strikeout and a PFP to keep the score at 6-2 in favor of the Aggies. 

Sixth inning
Longo picked one back up with a solo shot in the sixth to get back within 6-3. Easton Barrett walked the bases loaded with just one walk and A&M immediately got the run back with an RBI groundout. A Texas-league single brought two more across and extended the lead to 9-3. 

Seventh inning
McGary pinch hit and wore a ball off the back for a leadoff base runner. The A&M second baseman robbed Moutzouridis of a one-out single and ASU’s offensive woes continued as the rest of the side was retired in order. Butler issued a leadoff walk but got a strikeout and groundout before handing the rock off to Fitzpatrick who got a lineout to strand the runner in scoring position.

Eighth inning
The Sun Devils couldn’t get anything going in the top of the inning, as the side was retired on five pitches, leaving Arizona State down to its final three outs, still trailing 9-3. Colby Guy came on to pitch the bottom half of the frame, retiring the first two batters he faced before issuing a four-pitch walk. Guy was able to pick up a flyout to end the inning, sending the game to the ninth. 

Ninth inning
After a quick groundout from Smaldino opened up the inning, Roellig singled up the middle, and moved over to third on a two-out single from Hairston. Moutzouridis then struck out swinging to end the game.