Steven Ondina led the Sun Devils offensively, going 3-for-4, hitting two singles, a home run, and two RBIs. His solo shot to left field gave ASU a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning. In the sixth, Ondina’s RBI scored Brandon Compton, who hit a leadoff double, to put the Sun Devils ahead 4-2.
ASU starting pitcher Connor Markl had seven strikeouts after throwing 81 pitches through five innings, allowing six hits, two runs in just his second start of the season.
TURNING POINT
The sixth inning started with a double off the bat of Brandon Compton, followed by a wild pitch which advanced him to third. Steven Ondina went up to the plate with one out and a speedy infield single would give him another RBI on the day. A single from Harris Williamsthen advanced Ondina to third and Ethan Mendoza followed by reaching on a throwing error which brought Ryan Campos to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Campos grounded one hard to short, which turned into a double play ball, leaving the bases full.
BIG MOMENT
Down by two, the Buckeyes found a way to climb back in the seventh inning with a two-run shot, followed by a solo-shot to tie the game, then give them the lead immediately. A double and a double steal would eventually give Ohio State some padding as an infield single scored them both.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils trailed by two runs going into the ninth inning. Ohio State loaded the bases with a triple and two walks. With no outs, the Buckeyes hit an RBI single and a grand slam to go ahead 11-4. The final frame continued to spiral away from ASU. Three batters later Ohio State hit a one-out, two-run home run to push their lead to 13-4.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Ohio State hit a two-out RBI single to center field to take a 1-0 lead. Ohio State’s leadoff single and stolen base put a runner in scoring position. Connor Markl had one strikeout, a groundout and infield fly to end the inning.
ASU scored two runs from three hits and three walks to take a 2-1 lead. Harris Williams hit a leadoff single up the middle, but was thrown out attempting to steal second base. With no runners on, Ryan Campos drew a two-out walk. First baseman Jacob Tobias hit the second pitch up the middle for a single.
Kevin Karstetter hit a shallow infield fly that was too high for the Buckeye first baseman to track. It fell safely to the infield turf, scoring Campos to tie the game. Karstetter was credited with an RBI double. Isaiah Jackson walked to put the bases loaded. Brandon Compton walked to bring home Tobias and give the Sun Devils a 2-1 lead.
Second Inning
For the second straight inning, Connor Markl struckout the next batter after allowing a leadoff single. Markl’s first walk of the game put two runners on, but he escaped the inning by forcing a flyout and groundout.
With one out, Harris Williams hit the first pitch to the right field corner for a double, his second hit of the game. The Sun Devils were unable to take advantage of having a runner in scoring position. A deep flyout to center field and strikeout ended the inning.
Third Inning
Connor Markl struckout the first batter to collect his third strikeout of the game. The next two Buckeyes flew out to right and center field to end the top of the inning.
Tobias Harris was robbed of a single up the middle after the Buckeyes’ second baseman made a spectacular dive and throw to beat Harris at first. Isaiah Jackson walked for the second time of the game to put a runner on with two outs, but an ASU strikeout extinguished the rally.
Fourth Inning
Ohio State hit a leadoff home run to left field to tie the game 2-2. Right fielder Harris Williams made a jumping catch against the outfield wall to get the first out. Connor Marklrecorded his fourth strikeout of the game to get the second out. The Buckeyes hit a two-out single, but Markl struckout the next batter to collect his fifth punch out.
With one-out, Steven Odina hit the only Sun Devil’s home run of the day to left field to give ASU a 3-2 lead. A fly out to center field and pop out to second base ended the inning.
Fifth Inning
The Buckeys opened the inning with a single, their fourth leadoff hit of the game. After conceding a steal, Connor Markl struckout the second batter for his sixth of the game. A one-out walk put an Ohio State runner on first and second base. Ohio State had runners on the corners with two-outs after a fielder’s choice, but Markl’s seventh strikeout eliminated the scoring threat.
Jacob Tobias drew a one-out walk, putting an end to the Buckeyes’ starting pitcher’s day. Facing the new Ohio State reliever, Kevin Karstetter advanced Campos to second on a grounder to third base. A groundout to the pitcher ended the inning.
Sixth Inning
Right-handed pitcher Matt Tieding opened the inning for the Sun Devils and allowed a leadoff single to center field. Tieding regrouped, striking out the next Ohio State batter. The next two Ohio State batters walked to load the bases with one out, ending Tieding’s day. Bloomquist brought in left-handed pitcher Sean Fitzpatrick to get out of the jam. Fitzpatrick did his job, forcing a double play to preserve ASU’s lead.
Brandon Compton hit a leadoff double off the wall. With one out, Compton advanced to third base after a wild pitch. Steven Ondina hit an RBI single to third to bring home Compton and extend the Sun Devils’ lead to 4-2. Harris Williams collected his third hit of the day to left-center field, putting ASU at the corners. Ethan Mendoza laid down a sacrifice bunt, and reached first base on an Ohio State throwing error to load the bases. A double play left the three runners stranded.
Seventh Inning
Ohio State scored four runs off five hits to take a 6-4 lead. After a leadoff single to right field, right-handed pitcher Hunter Omlid entered the game for the Sun Devils. The Buckeyes hit a two-run home run to right-center field, tying the game 4-4. Ohio State hit a solo-shot to right to make it back-to-back home runs, giving them their first lead since the first inning. With one out, the Buckeyes hit a double down the left field line. Righty Ryan Schieferrelieved Omlid on the mound. A double steal advanced both Ohio State runners to second and third base, but Schiefer struckout the Buckeye batter. With two outs, an infield single gave Ohio State a two-run lead.
With one out, Kevin Karstetter hit an infield single. With two outs, Brandon Compton walked for the second time of the game to put runners on first and second base, but a strikeout ended the inning.
Eighth Inning:
Ohio State hit a groundout and Ryan Schiefer tallied his second strikeout of the afternoon. The Buckeyes had a two-out walk, but the runner was caught stealing second base to end the inning.
Steven Ondina hit a leadoff single to center field. A flyout and double play ended the inning.
Ninth Inning
The Buckeyes scored seven runs off an RBI single, grand slam, and two-run home run. Ohio State’s leadoff hitter reached third base from a dropped outfield catch. Right-handed pitcher Brok Eddy made his second appearance of the season for ASU. The next two Ohio State batters walked to load the bases with no outs. The Buckeyes hit a single to bring home one run. A grand slam added four more runs to the board. A single and a home run made it 13-4.
Ryan Campos hit a single up the middle to lead off the inning, but a double play emptied the base paths. Kevin Karstetter drew a two-out walk, but a strikeout ended the game.
ON DECK
Sun Devil Baseball faces Ohio State for the final game of the four-game series on Sunday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The game will begin at 12:00 p.m. MST and will be broadcast on ASU Live Stream-2.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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