In his fourth outing of the season, Markl delivered his best performance. Through his career best 6.0 innings pitched, the Sun Devil allowed just one hit, walking three batters and striking out eight over 89 pitches.
Star reliever Ryan Schiefer entered in the seventh and sealed the deal with 3.0 innings without a hit, allowing one walk and tossing four strikeouts on 53 pitches.
Harris Williams, Ryan Campos, Ethan Mendoza, and Jax Ryan all had multiple hits, with Nick McLain adding two RBI’s to the mix.
TURNING POINT
Scoreless through two innings, Jax Ryan led off with a single through the right side to begin the third. Harris Williams followed suit with a single up the middle. An attempt at picking off Ryan at second was mishandled by the shortstop and left both runners in scoring position. Nick McLain brought Ryan home with a groundout to first, giving the Sun Devils the first lead of the game – one it would hold to the finish after having entered the contest winning 24 of its previous 29 games dating back to last season in games where it trailed at some point.
BIG MOMENT
After adding one in the fifth, the Sun Devils looked for insurance runs late. In the seventh, a leadoff triple from Williams was quickly followed up by a fly out to bring him home for one. Now up 3-0, a leadoff double from Mendoza in the eighth put him in scoring position for Ondina’s single. A double play ended the eighth with runners on first and second, but the Sun Devils had built a strong 4-0 lead.
FINAL STRAW
In his third inning of relief in the ninth, Schiefer made things interesting with a walk to begin things. Things looked gloom as the next batter launched a ball towards the center field wall, but Jackson found his way under it. Another ball seemed to be destined to go yard in left field, but Williams took a couple turns on his way to the wall and corralled it. The runner on base advanced to second, but a second fly out to center field was caught by Jackson to seal the shutout.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Ryan Campos singled to left field to continue his on-base streak. After Nick McLain worked a full count walk, Arizona collected a grounder at second to close the frame on a double play. After a walk, Connor Markl delivered a strikeout and Campos threw the runner out attempting to steal second. A flyout to left field ended the inning scoreless.
Second Innin
Brandon Compton got on base via walk and stole second before a strikeout and groundout left him stranded. Markl earned his second and third strikeouts sandwiched around a walk. A groundout to second base ended the inning.
Third Inning
Jax Ryan led off the inning with a strong single through the right side before Harris Williamsfollowed with one up the middle. A pickoff attempt to second resulted in a fielding error by the shortstop and left runners on second and third for the Sun Devils. McLain batted Ryan home with a groundout to first. A strikeout brought Arizona up to bat. Markl earned two more strikeouts around a short pop out to second to rifle through the frame in ten pitches.
Fourth Inning
After two strikeouts, a sure-fire fly out to right field was dropped, allowing Jackson to reach first. He would be stranded on a pop up to second. A groundout and Markl’s fifth strikeout made it look like a quick inning, before a single was shot through the left side. Ryan then made a great catch at third to send it to the fifth.
Fifth Inning
Beginning the inning with two strikeouts again, Campos worked a full count and doubled to right field. McLain stepped up and shot his first pitch to left field, bringing Campos home for the Devils’ second run. McLain stole second, but a third strikeout left him there. Arizona got a runner on first with a one-out walk, but a fly out to Jackson at center field was followed up with a highly improbable, sprinting grab from McLain at right to end the inning.
Sixth Inning
Mendoza hit a deep line down the right field line that sat at the wall, but stayed at second. A groundout advanced him to third and Arizona called for a pitching change before the last out. Stephen Ondina was walked and stole second to put both runners in scoring position. The new pitcher earned his first strikeout to strand the runners. Markl retired the side in his sixth inning, bringing him to eight punchouts.
Seventh Inning
ASU quickly added to their lead as Williams tripled down the right field line and was brought in by a fly out from Campos. After a groundout, Tobias doubled to left field and caused a pitching change from Arizona, but a fly out would close the frame.
Eighth Inning
Mendoza led off with a double to left field, and scored on an Ondina single up the middle. Ryan got his second hit of the night to put runners on first and second, but a double play ended the eighth frame for the Sun Devil offense. Schiefer added two strikeouts before a fly out to second base left just three outs for Arizona to mount a comeback.
Ninth Inning
The Sun Devils were retired in order. Schiefer walked the first Wildcat before the next batter launched one towards the center field wall and Jackson found his way under it. Another ball seemed to be destined to go yard in left field, but Williams took a couple turns on his way to the wall and corralled it. The runner on base advanced to second, but another fly out to center field was caught by Jackson to seal the shutout.
ON DECK
ASU will look to sweep the series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m. AZT. The game will be available on Pac-12 Arizona
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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