Inning by inning
First inning
In his first career start, Austin Musso worked around an early baserunner to toss a scoreless inning.
PJ Moutzouridis singled before advancing to second on a single by Dean Toigo. After reaching third on a flyout from Dominic Smaldino, Moutzouridis scored on a single from Matt Polk, and Toigo moved up to third. Despite a walk being issued to Garret Michel to load the bases, all three baserunners were left stranded to end the inning with the Sun Devils up 1-0.
Second inning
Musso got back to work in the second inning, giving up two singles but leaving both runners stranded on a strikeout and two lineouts.
Despite a walk and hit by pitch, the Sun Devils were unable to get anything going in the bottom half of the inning.
Third inning
Back on the mound for the Sun Devils, Musso gave up a walk followed by a two run home run to give UNLV a 2-1 lead. Despite this, Musso was able to end the inning with no further damage with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Back-to-back walks opened the inning for the Sun Devils, but no runs scored after the Sun Devils went down by a strikeout and double play.
Fourth inning
Josh Butler was the first man out of the bullpen for the Sun Devils, giving up a single and a hit by pitch, followed by a two-run double to make it 4-1. An error allowed another run to score, extending the Rebels’ lead to four runs. Butler then sent the next three batters down in order via a strikeout and two flyouts to end the frame.
Arizona State couldn’t get anything going in the fourth, going down in order.
Fifth inning
Butler, back on the mound, gave up two consecutive singles, where both runners moved into scoring position on a sac bunt. Brady Louck was called in from the bullpen, hitting the first batter he faced to load the bases. A wild pitch brought in another run, before Louck got a strikeout and a groundout to limit the damage to one run, down 6-1.
Landon Hairston opened the frame for the Sun Devils, doubling to center field before advancing to third on a flyout by Moutzouridis. Hairston came around to score on an RBI-groundout from Toigo. Smaldino struck out to end the frame, trailing 6-2.
Sixth inning
After a single opened up the inning, the Sun Devils went to the bullpen again, bringing in Eli Buxton. Buxton struck out the first batter he faced, but a wild pitch allowed the runner to advance to second. The runner was then picked off for the third out.
The Sun Devils went down in order to end the inning.
Seventh inning
Buxton went back to work, striking out the side.
Brody Briggs walked to open up the bottom of the seventh. Beckett Zavorek reached base on a fielder’s choice before he scored on an RBI-double from Hairston. An error moved Hairston over to third, and Moutzouridis walked on four pitches. After UNLV brought in a new pitcher, a passed ball allowed Hairston to score, making it a 6-4 ballgame. Smaldino then flew out to end the frame.
Eighth inning
Finn Edwards came on to pitch for the Sun Devils, giving up a leadoff double. A wild pitch moved the runner to third, and a walk put a runner on first. A bizarre fielder’s choice led to a double play, as the runner on third was caught in a pickle between third and home and tagged out, before Longo tagged out the runner going from first to third. A strikeout ended the scoreless inning.
Matt Polk reached on a single and scored on an RBI-double from Longo, cutting the deficit to just one run. Coen Niclai and Zavorek both struck out to end the frame.
Ninth inning
Derek Schaefer was the next guy up for the Sun Devils, giving up a leadoff double to start the ninth. The runner advanced to third on a wild pitch before Schaefer walked the batter. A sac bunt allowed the runner to score, increasing UNLV’s lead, 7-5. Fortunately, Schaefer was able to retire the next two batters via strikeout and a groundout.
Despite a single by Toigo, the Sun Devils were unable to score in the bottom of the ninth, falling 7-5.
