With the game tied at one in the fourth, Arizona State (5-1) surrendered four runs to Mississippi State (4-3) including three with just one out. ASU could not find its bats in the late innings despite retiring the last 13 Bulldog batters in order.
THE TURNING POINT
After Arizona State took a 1-0 lead, the Bulldogs broke ASU’s starting pitchers’ scoreless streak in the third, plating a run on a single to center field.
THE BIG MOMENT
After loading the bases with one out on three walks, back-to-back singles in the fourth plated three of Mississippi States’ four runs in the frame.
THE FINAL STRAW
Christian Bodlovich has been ASU’s best pitcher with inheriting runners, but he let the fifth Bulldog run come across on a two-out, RBI single on a 2-0 count. It made the score 5-1 Bulldogs.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Luke Keaschall reached base to open the contest with a hit by pitch, the next three Sun Devils went down in order.
Khristian Curtis navigated a one-out walk with a strikeout and a ground ball to end the inning.
Second Inning
Similar to the first inning, ASU got the leadoff runner on as Ethan Long was drilled by a pitch. The next two men struck out, but Long was able to sneak to second on a wild pitch. Luke Hill smacked a single through the left side, scoring Long for ASU’s first run.
Curtis sat the Bulldogs down in order with a strikeout, lineout and groundout.
Third Inning
Nu’u Contades and Wyatt Crenshaw knocked singles, but nothing came of it for the Sun Devils.
Curtis surrendered the first run by ASU starting pitchers this season with one out. After forcing a lineout to open the inning, the Bulldogs put one on with a single. He advanced on a wild pitch and came in to score on a base hit. Curtis got the next two outs on strikeouts.
Fourth Inning
The Sun Devils went down in order in the fourth.
After two walks to start the inning, Curtis was unable to settle down. He got one out following the walks but immediately allowed another free pass, loading the bases with no outs. Back-to-back singles by Mississippi State plated three runs, but ASU picked up a key out on the bases. Curtis was pulled for Christian Bodlovich with a runner on third and two out. He surrendered one more base hit, making it 5-1 Bulldogs heading into the fifth.
Fifth Inning
ASU went down in order again on two strikeouts and a flyout. Matt Tieding entered for Bodlovich, needing just six pitches to retire three Bulldogs on three groundouts.
Sixth Inning
Ryan Campos got on with a one-out walk, but nothing came of it for the Sun Devils. Tieding forced another 1-2-3 frame on just seven pitches.
Seventh Inning
Jacob Tobias gave one a ride out of the infield, but ASU went down in order. Tieding nailed down his third straight 1-2-3 stanza in the bottom half.
Eighth Inning
A one out-single by Luke Keaschall went for nothing as ASU was retired in order after the hit.
Dylan Gardner made his first appearance in Maroon and Gold, forcing a strikeout and groundout. Austin Humphres then joined the debut-party, striking out Kellum Clark swinging.
Ninth Inning
Ethan Long led off the last chance for ASU with a base hit and Jacob Tobias worked a one-out walk, but the Bulldogs shut the door on ASU’s comeback dreams for a 5-1 ASU defeat.
ON DECK
The rubber match of this three-game set takes place Sunday in Starkville, with ASU and Mississippi State set to square off at 12:00 p.m. MST. Timmy Manning will get the nod on the mound for Sun Devil Baseball.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Schwam, Sun Devil Media Relations
Click on Logo
