(Phoenix, AZ) An almost improbable comeback just fell short for Sun Devil Baseball, which fell 13-11 to No. 21 Oregon State on Friday night.
Luke Keaschall was a bright spot for the Sun Devils (25-11, 11-4 Pac-12), with three hits and two 420+ foot home runs. His two-run shot sparked an eighth inning rally, eventually cutting the deficit to just two runs after ASU had trailed by as many as ten in the contest.
Nick McLain went 2-for-4 with a career-high five RBI, including a three-run laser in the fifth inning, to cut into the Oregon State (26-11, 11-8 Pac-12) lead. Luke Hill also had a multi-hit night going 2-for-5 with an RBI to add to his tally.
The Beavers plated five in the first inning and scored in seven of their nine offensive innings, leading by as many as 10. The Sun Devil offense put up six in the eighth on Keaschall’s second home run of the game and the fourth and fifth RBI from Nick McLain on a single to right, but could not complete the comeback. Luke Hill and Wyatt Crenshaw also drove in runs for the Sun Devils.
TURNING POINT
Oregon State came out firing with a five-run first inning which set the tone for the game as they never trailed in the game.
BIG MOMENT
The Sun Devils mounted a late game comeback with a six-run eighth via a Wyatt CrenshawRBI walk, Luke Hill RBI groundout, a two-RBI single for Nick McLain and a two-run home run from Luke Keaschall to cut the deficit to two. A Jacob Tobias hit by pitch would allow the tying run to come to the plate but ASU couldn’t get one more big knock to even things up.
FINAL STRAW
Despite a late game surge from the Sun Devils in the eighth, Oregon State’s Ryan Brown retired the Arizona State side in the ninth inning to end any hopes of a comeback, taking the first game of the series 13-11.
INNING-BY-INNING
First Inning
Oregon State found success early with three straight hits to open the game, which included a two-run blast to give the Beavers an early 2-0 lead. Then the hot bats continued with two walks and a hit, as a bases-clearing double put the Sun Devils down 5-0 after the top half of the first inning.
The Sun Devils first round at the plate came down the order, unable to generate any action on the bases.
Second Inning
In the top of the 2nd, Oregon State added on to their lead thanks to a two-out RBI double down the left field line. The Beavers extended the lead to 6-0 heading to the bottom half.
A lone walk drawn by Tobias provided the first baserunner for the Sun Devils, but they were not able to capitalize on it. The Beavers still led 6-0.
Third Inning
Dunn was able to settle in with two strikeouts in the frame, keeping the Beavers off the board to keep the deficit at six.
Bronson Balholm drew his first walk of the season, as the Sun Devils obtained their first hit of the game by Luke Hill who dropped a single between the gap, but ASU stranded two runners after Nick Mclain was unable to keep the inning alive.
Fourth Inning
The Beavers scored another run without recording a hit that inning. Back-to-back walks followed by a throwing error to 1st brought home Oregon State’s seventh run of the game. Sun Devil’s Ross Dunn was able to get out of the jam with a two-out strikeout leaving runners on second and third. The Beavers led 7-0.
The Sun Devils were able to get on the board via a Luke Keaschall solo home run to cut the deficit to six. An Isaiah Jackson walk followed, but the Sun Devils could not get him home. The Beavers led 7-1.
Fifth Inning
The Beavers kept the hot bats alive with three straight singles, and added a run off of a sacrifice fly, then topped it off with a three-run home run to take a commanding 11-1 lead.
The bats for the Sun Devils awoke with singles by Balholm and Hill to send Nick Mclain to clean up the bases with a soaring three-run moonshot to cut the deficit to seven runs, 4-11. Luke Keaschall kept the inning alive with a double down the left-field line, with Jacob Tobias’RBI single closing the deficit to six runs, but the inning ended with back-to-back strikeouts to head into the sixth inning down 11-5.
Sixth Inning
The Beavers answered the Sun Devils four-run inning with another run of their own via an RBI single. Nothing more went for them, but they held a 12-5 lead over the Sun Devils.
ASU went down in order for the second time in the game. Oregon State led 12-5.
Seventh Inning
Nolan Lebamoff relieved Tieding for the Sun Devils, and after allowing a lead-off walk he fanned the next batter he faced, and prevented the Beavers from getting a hit, sending the Sun Devils back to the plate.
Despite a walk by McLain, the Sun Devils were unable to generate any offense as the game remained 12-5 heading into the eighth inning.
Eighth Inning
The Beavers tag on another via another home run. The score was 13-5 going into the bottom frame.
The Sun Devils scored six runs in the bottom half to cut the deficit to two. Wyatt Crenshawhad an RBI walk, Luke Hill an RBI groundout, a two-RBI single for McLain and a two-run home run from Keaschall. The Beavers led 13-11 headed into the ninth.
Ninth Inning
Perry entered the game and sent Oregon State down the order to keep the game within reach, sending Isaiah Jackson to the plate the begin the last gasp for the Sun Devils.
Oregon State’s closer Ryan Brown fanned the Sun Devils, sinking any hopes of a comeback sending the order down 1-2-3 to close out the game.
ON DECK:
The Sun Devils will look to even the series over the Beavers tomorrow at 6:00 PM MST at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Zach Wargo and Keenan O’Rourke
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