The game featured five different lead changes and three ties. Luke Keaschallhomored twice and Luke Hill added a three-run shot and seven different Sun Devils recorded an RBI.
Keaschall got it started with a solo shot to center field to put the Sun Devils on the board down 2-1. Later in the second inning, Isaiah Jackson tied the game with a two-out double in the right-center gap and Nick McLain drove in a go-ahead RBI with a single. Luke Hillcapped off the six-run inning with a three-run homer to give the Sun Devils a 6-2 lead.
The Cardinal erased the deficit with a seven-run third inning to retake a two-run lead.
Following two consecutive overturned calls at first base to its benefit, the Sun Devils answered with two runs to tie the game heading into the fifth inning.
In the next two innings, Jacob Tobias drove in a run on an RBI single and Jackson scored on a McLain sacrifice fly to extend to two but Stanford once again responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game, and scored a run on a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning to take the final lead of the contest.
TURNING POINT
After the Sun Devils jumped on Stanford for six runs in the second and a 7-2 lead after three, the Cardinal came roaring back with seven runs in the top of the fourth inning, all coming with no outs, to reclaim a 9-7 lead.
BIG MOMENT
ASU came right back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and had the bases loaded with just one out with the game tied at 9-9. Those bases stayed loaded behind a strikeout and a ground out and kept ASU from getting a big knock and the ability to blow the game open again. That set the table for the see-saw affair that would follow over the next couple of innings.
FINAL STRAW
Despite allowing 11 hits in the first five innings, the Cardinal bullpen allowed just one hit in the final four innings to close out the game. Stanford manufactured the winning run with a leadoff single in the eighth that moved to third on a passed ball and wild pitch. While ASU would get a double play to limit the damage in the inning, that play allowed the run to score and ASU could not find the answer over the final frames.
INNING-BY-INNING
First Inning
Stanford took an early 1-0 lead after a solo shot to left-field, but the ASU Infield kept the Cardinal from adding to their lead, stranding two runners early on second and third.
The Sun Devils went down the order to open the game despite a hard hit ball my Ryan Campos toward deep center field.
Second Inning
Similar to the inning prior for the Cardinal, a solo home run doubled the lead for Stanford putting them up 2-0.
Luke Keaschall woke up the Sun Devil faithful with a team-leading solo home run toward straight away center to cut the Stanford lead in half, 2-1. Nu’u Contrades continued the early rally with a single then stole second, as Jackson continued his success against Stanford’s pitching with an RBI-double toward the right-field wall to equalize the game 2-2. Following Kien Vu drawing a walk, it prompted a Stanford pitching change, but Nick McLain shot a single through the gap to give the Sun Devils a 3-2 lead, then to cap-off the rally Luke Hillblasted his sixth home run of the season to give ASU a 6-2 lead going into the third.
Third Inning
With the energy returning to Phoenix Municipal Stadium after the six-run rally, Curtis settled in with running Stanford down the order.
Similar to the second inning, Keaschall blasted his 16th home run toward left-field to extend the Sun Devil lead to five.
Fourth Inning
Stanford responded with a seven run inning which all came without committing an out to take a 9-7 lead as the Sun Devils tried to muster another rally.
Vu laid down a successful bunt to open the frame, then McLain was able to obtain an infield single after a successful Sun Devil challenge. Luke Hill grounded into a fielders choice, but scored Vu to put ASU within one. Following back-to-back walks by Campos and Keaschall, Jacob Tobias tied the game at nine with a bloop RBI single, but stranded the bases loaded to keep the game tied.
Fifth Inning
After the marathon that was the fourth inning, Giblin settled in and ran Stanford down the order.
Jackson continued his hot bat with a laser down the right-field line to end up at second, then after a bunt was moved to third and a deep sacrifice fly by McLain scored Jackson to give the Sun Devils a 10-9 lead.
Sixth Inning
Stanford tied the game after a lead-off double and an error by the shortstop, then re-took a one-run lead for the third time with a single with an 11-10 lead as the Sun Devils returned to the plate.
Ryan Campos got his first hit of the weekend with a single to lead-off the sixth frame, then advanced to third with a stolen base and wild pitch. Following a walk by Contrades, a delayed steal by Campos allowed the Sun Devils to tie it up at 11-all.
Seventh Inning
Josh Hansell entered the game sending Stanford down the order, but featured a behind the back gem and a routine home run robbery by Isaiah Jackson to preserve the tie.
The first time since the opening frame, ASU went down the order as the game remained tied.
Eighth Inning
The Cardinal took the lead once again with the help of a lead-off single and two free bases, but stranded a runner at second to go into the bottom half of the inning ahead 12-11.
The Sun Devils were unable to generate any scoring opportunities despite a single by Ryan Campos, as the game entered the final frame.
Ninth Inning
Despite a double by the Cardinal, Nolan Lebamoff stranded the lone runner to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.
The Sun Devils were unable to get on base as they went down the order to end the game.
ON DECK:
No. 20 Arizona State will look to salvage the series tomorrow against the No. 7 Cardinal at 12:30 p.m. MST at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in the final game of the three-game series. Coverage can be seen on Pac-12 Insider.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Sean Lynch and Zach Wargo
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