(Phoenix, CA) No. 19 Sun Devil Baseball thrived in a hectic and chaotic rubber match, taking the series over No. 21 Oregon State, 12-10, on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium after overcoming separate deficits of five and four runs on the day.
The Sun Devils (27-12, 13-4) became one of only five teams in Power 5 Conferences that have not lost a conference series and are a half game in front of Stanford for the Pac-12 lead. In the process of winning the series, ASU snapped a four-series winning streak by Oregon State (26-13, 11-10) and eclipsed its win total from the 2022 campaign with 27. ASU became the first team to score double digits against the Beavers in each game of a series since CSUN in 2001.
Luke Keaschall and Nick McLain each had three-RBI performances, while Keaschall extended his Pac-12 lead in doubles to 19. McLain was 2-3 with two doubles, three driven in and two walks. Kein Vu also contributed two walks along with two runs scored. Bronson Balholm was 1-3 with a walk, reaching base at a .615 clip for the weekend while being magnificent as a backstop in the place of injured Golden Spike Award Watch List member Ryan Campos.
Arizona State trailed by as many as five in the early innings before storming back in a six-run third, taking a 6-5 lead in an inning that included a three-run homer by Keaschall.
The edge would not last long, as OSU rallied for a five-run fifth, taking a 10-6 lead. After getting one back in the bottom half of the frame, ASU then scored three runs on two RBI doubles by Wyatt Crenshaw and McLain in a chaotic sixth inning that yielded two video reviews on the same play, tying the game at 10.
The Sun Devils took the lead for good in the seventh, plating one run on a wild pitch and an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Crenshaw, good for the 12-10 final score.
TURNING POINT
Oregon State jumped on ASU early, taking a 5-0 lead in the first 2.5 innings. The Sun Devil offense exploded in the third, plating six runs in the third inning on RBI doubles from Luke Hill and McLain as well as a three-run homer from Keaschall, taking a 6-5 lead. Arizona State pitching proceeded to record its first scoreless frame of the contest in the fourth.
BIG MOMENT
Oregon State used a five-run fifth to jump back in front, 10-6. ASU picked a run back up in the bottom of the fifth. A raucous home half sixth inning ensued at Muni with the Sun Devils getting one one on an RBI double from Wyatt Crenshaw. Crenshaw would then attempt to advance home on a fielder’s choice with one out, initially being ruled out at the plate before ASU’s replay review overturned it and he was called safe to cut the lead to 10-9. Oregon State challenged the challenge and the play was reversed yet again with Crenshaw being marked out for the second out. Unfazed, Luke Hill drew a two-out walk before Nick McLain poked a base-clearing double to right center to tie the game at 10-10 and put the momentum sole back in ASU’s court.
FINAL STRAW
ASU struggled to put zeroes on the board all weekend, but closed the game out with four of them. Owen Stevenson entered and sat Oregon State down without a run crossing in the top of the seventh. The Devils would load the bases with no outs in the bottom half and take the lead for good with a wild pitch and sac fly. Stevenson returned for his second inning of work in the eighth, and stranded a Beaver on third with his fifth strikeout of the six outs he recorded. In the ninth, Blake Pivaroff allowed the first two baserunners aboard, but recorded the final three outs on a flyout, caught stealing and soft line drive to shortstop.
INNING-BY-INNING
First Inning
Jonah Giblin was tagged for three runs on a blast by the Beavers in a 30-pitch first inning. Kien Vu led off the game with a seven-pitch walk and Nick McLain also took a free pass with one out, but Luke Keaschall grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Second Inning
Giblin gave up a run on a two-out RBI double but managed to strand runners on second and third, escaping the inning with a 4-0 deficit. The Sun Devils were retired in order courtesy of two flyouts and a strikeout.
Third Inning
Giblin conceded one more on a solo shot to left center, making it 5-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
Wyatt Crenshaw and Bronson Balholm led off the frame with consecutive singles. Vu worked an eight-pitch walk and with the bases loaded, Luke Hill laced a two-RBi double to left, making it 5-2 Beavers. Nick McLain laced an RBI double of his own that made it 5-3. ASU loudly took the lead on a rocket home run by Luke Keaschall and the Devils held a 6-3 lead through three frames.
Fourth Inning
Giblin was relieved for Josh Hansell, who did not allow a run in the fourth. He struck out one and stranded two. The Sun Devils went down in order.
Fifth Inning
After allowing two walks, Hansell was replaced by Brock Peery with one out in the inning. Peery was tagged for three hits, including a grand slam, to increase the Beaver lead to 10-6. He retired to straight batters to end the inning. The Sun Devils reached base twice with a double and a walk and scored on an RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 10-7.
Sixth Inning
Matt Tieding navigated a leadoff base hit to retire the next three Beavers. Nu’u Contradesled off the bottom half with a single and was followed by Crenshaw, who laced an RBI double into the right center field gap, cutting the deficit to 10-8. With one out and Crenshaw on third, Vu grounded into a fielder’s choice and Crenshaw was cut down at the plate. Hill walked, and with runners on first and third and two outs, McLain ripped a double into right center and plated two, knotting the game at 10 into the seventh.
Seventh Inning
Owen Stevenson entered for Matt Tieding. He walked the leadoff batter and allowed one hit before escaping the frame without harm. The Sun Devils loaded the bases with its first three batters with three singles before a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run. Crenshaw followed with a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to two, forcing a Beaver pitching change. The Beavers escaped the inning without further damage.
Eighth Inning
After allowing a leadoff walk, Stevenson struck out the next three to end the inning. Luke Keaschall worked a one-out walk in the bottom half and advanced to second on a bad pickoff by Oregon State. Nothing came of it after two consecutive flyouts to end the inning.
Ninth Inning
Blake Pivaroff entered the game in the ninth inning. He retired two batters and Bronson Balholm gunned down a runner at second base to secure the 12-10 win.
ON DECK:
Arizona State is back in action for a two-game midweek series Tuesday and Wednesday against Cal State Fullerton at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6:00 p.m. MST.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Schwam, Sean Lynch
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