(Phoenix, AZ) Sun Devil Baseball (7-6, 1-0 Pac-12) started Pac-12 play with a win in front of 3,546 fans at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, earning a walk-off 5-4 victory over Oregon (9-4, 0-1 Pac-12) on Friday night.
Ethan Mendoza batted two runs in on the night, with the second one being an RBI groundout to second base that brought Harris Williams in for the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
Brandon Compton accounted for half of the Sun Devils’ hits and runs, as he sent two solo shots over the fences and added a game-tying, two-out RBI single in the eighth inning. Williams added two hits, including a double, but it was his walk that eventually put him in position to win the game.
ASU’s pitchers recorded 13 strikeouts, with freshman Thomas Burns earning eight in his 5.1 innings – the longest outing of his young career. Sean Fitzpatrick added two important strikeouts to escape the sixth inning tied at three after inheriting a bases-loaded jam with one out. Ryan Schiefer got three in his 2.1 innings, and Cole Carlon came in to close out the last two outs of Oregon’s ninth frame and earn the win.
TURNING POINT
The Sun Devils stymied a potent Oregon offense throughout the night, but it was the performance of its bullpen down the stretch that kept ASU in striking distance for the win. Sean Fitzpatrick, Ryan Schiefer and Cole Carlon combined for 3.2 innings without allowing an earned run against an Oregon offense ranked in the Top-35 nationally in most offensive categories to keep the game close and give the Sun Devils the opportunity for the late rally.
BIG MOMENT
Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jacob Tobias hit a leadoff double. He would score as Brandon Compton earned his second RBI with a two-out, two-strike single through the left side.
FINAL STRAW
With the score even in the bottom of the ninth, Oregon walked one and failed to complete a fielder’s choice to shortstop. Another walk loaded the bases with no outs. After one out, Ethan Mendoza ended the game with a grounder right up the middle to the second baseman to bring Harris Williams over home plate for a 5-4 ASU victory.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning:
The Sun Devils were able to manage a dangerous first frame without harm. An Oregon batter reached second after a walk and a wild pitch. Thomas Burns earned two strikeouts before allowing another walk and a balk to leave runners on second and third. Isaiah Jackson snagged a deep fly to center field for the third out. Oregon’s starter gave up two walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases for the Sun Devils with one out. Ethan Mendoza’sRBI groundout brought Ryan Campos home for the sole run of the first inning.
Second Inning:
After a single to right center, Oregon loaded the bases on two more walks. Under pressure, Burns delivered three strikeouts to escape the frame unscathed. Brandon Compton stepped up the plate and delivered a bomb over the center field fence to open up the second inning for ASU. Harris Williams doubled to left field and another walk left two runners stranded after a groundout to the pitcher.
Third Inning
Oregon hit a solo home run of their own, but left a runner stranded as Burns earned his sixth and seventh strikeouts. ASU batters went down in order.
Fourth Inning
A leadoff double reached third on a groundout to first. A deep fly to center field brought the runner home for Oregon, evening the score at 2-2. ASU didn’t let the tie last long, as Brandom Compton sent a leadoff home run over the center field wall. Harris Williamssingled to center field and made his way to third but was eventually stranded on a deep fly to right field.
Fifth Inning
Burns added his eighth strikeout and a pop up to third base closed the frame. The Sun Devils batted the minimum in the bottom of the inning.
Sixth Inning
After three walks, Burns ended his 5.1-inning night with three hits, two runs, nine walks, and eight strikeouts on 118 pitches. Sean Fitzpatrick entered a bases-loaded, one-out scenario. He delivered a strikeout, walk, strikeout and left the score 3-3. The Sun Devils went down in order.
Seventh Inning
Ryan Schiefer began the seventh on the mound. A single through the left side turned into a double on a fielding error in left. The Oregon runner stole third and reached home on a throwing error by the catcher. A pop-up to Campos and Schiefer’s first strikeout ended the frame with ASU trailing 4-3. The Sun Devils went down on a groundout and two strikeouts to end the inning.
Eighth Inning
Schiefer and the Sun Devils retired the first three Ducks. Needing a spark, Jacob Tobias led with a double. Then with two outs, pinch-hitter Josiah Cromwick was hit by pitch. Brandon Compton stepped up to the plate and singled through the left side to bring Tobias around for the tying run. A fly out to center ended the inning.
Ninth Inning
Schiefer was pulled after a groundout to third, leaving his statline at 2.1 innings pitched, one hit, one run, no walks, and three strikeouts on 30 pitches. Cole Carlon came in and threw two strikes before catching a pop-up. A fly out to center field put the ending on ASU’s bats. Oregon let two runners on by walk, and one by an unsuccessful fielder’s choice to shortstop. With the bases loaded and only one out, Ethan Mendoza grounded one to shortstop that brought Harris Williams home to end the game.
ON DECK
ASU will be back at Phoenix Municipal Stadium tomorrow for the second game of the series against Oregon, with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. AZT. The games this weekend will be available via the ASU Live Stream.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
Click on Logo
