(Phoenix, AZ) Sun Devil Baseball came short of the series sweep after dropping the final game against the USC Trojans (21-23, 11-9 Pac-12), 11-6, on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU (22-22, 12-12 Pac-12) put up 29 runs and held USC to just three over Friday and Saturday night, but couldn’t find the same success in the day game.
Taking the mound to begin the fourth inning, Cole Carlon held the Trojans to one run on two hits over 2.1 innings, striking out one and walking four. He had one of the the highlights of the day with a diving catch off of a bunt that he turned into ASU’s first triple play since 2007 as both runners had left their bases. Jonah Giblin and Bradyn Barnes both added two strikeouts in 1.0 innings each.
ASU posted 32 hits across its first two games this weekend, but the bats “cooled” to just nine in this afternoon’s game. Ryan Campos led the way, extending his hit streak to seven at bats in a row with a single in the first. He came back around with a solo jack in the fifth inning for the Sun Devils’ second score. Brandon Compton came in to pinch hit in the eighth and knocked a grand slam on his fourth pitch. Ethan Mendoza had two singles, and Kien Vu, Eamonn Lance, and Steven Ondina each had one.
TURNING POINT
The Sun Devils weren’t able to get off to the hot start that they secured in the last two games, and the Trojans took advantage with a two-spot in the first. Hoping to right the ship, Wyatt Halvorson struck out the last batter to strand a runner on third and stop the early bleeding. Two innings later, however, USC scored two runs after two singles and a walk were coupled with some sloppy fielding as a potential double-play throw sailed over the first baseman and into the dugout. Another double and a single brought two more home to leave the Sun Devils trailing 6-0 after three.
BIG MOMENT
After allowing four runs in the top of the third, ASU looked to cut its deficit in the bottom of the inning. After Ondina was hit by a pitch, Vu hit a two-out single up the middle to bring him home. Tobias hit a similar ball that resulted in Vu and the second baseman making contact as Vu tried to slide under him while the baseman was running to field the ball. The baseman fielded it, but then dropped the ball and Vu reached the base on the error. Now with two runners on, the two-out magic was stopped with a fly out that left both stranded as ASU couldn’t close the gap closer than five.
FINAL STRAW
Things looked bleak after Carlon opened the fifth inning with two walks, but the 6’4 pitcher showed his fielding ability with a diving catch off of a bunt. Both runners had sprinted towards second and third, and Carlon was able to make the throw to first and Jacob Tobias relayed it to second to catch both runners that didn’t have a shot at tagging up. ASU used the momentum in the bottom of the frame with Campos’ home run and Tobias and Lance reaching on a walk and a single. The runners on first and second were stranded again, however, and the Sun Devils were retired in order in the next two innings. Compton came in to pinch hit in the eighth inning, launching a grand slam to cut the deficit to five, but ASU wasn’t able to rally more runs in the ninth.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
The Trojans picked up two runs early after a single and a walk put runners in position to round the bases on a double deep down the left field line. Having to make a dive, Mendoza’s athletic play on a grounder between first and second base saved another sure-fire run and Halvorson struck out the last batter to strand the runner on third. Campos earned his seventh hit in a row, but a double play left two outs on the board. Tobias earned a walk before a deep fly out closed the inning.
Second Inning
A strong single to left brought a runner to first. The runner attempted to steal second, but Ondina leapt from the base to catch the throw from Campos and make the tag on the runner underneath him in one smooth motion. A fly out came before and after the tag. Mendoza was able to put a single in right field, but was picked off at first after two fly outs.
Third Inning
With one out, USC filled the bases with two singles and a walk. A ground ball to second seemed like a sure double-play until the throw to first sailed into the dugout, allowing two to score on the play. A double earned another run before Matt Cornelius took the mound. One single added a fourth run to the inning before Jackson corralled a fly out in center field. Ondina reached on a hit by pitch and advanced to second on a groundout. Vu hit a two-out single up the middle, bringing Ondina home for the Sun Devils first score. Tobias then hit a similar single up the middle and reached on a fielder’s choice as Vu tried to slide under the second baseman, making some contact and eventually getting to the base while the second baseman dropped the ball. A fly out left both runners stranded, and ASU down 6-1.
Fourth Inning
A walk and a single left two runners on base with two outs, and a wild pitch let one score. Carlon earned his first strikeout to strand the other. Mendoza reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, but was stranded after a fly out and a groundout.
Fifth Inning
After two walks, Carlon made an incredible catch off of a bunt and turned it into a coveted triple play at first and second as both runners had left the bases. Campos then hit a home run over the left center field wall to bring the score to 7-2. Tobias earned a walk and Lance singled to left field, but both were stranded on a groundout.
Sixth Inning
USC put two on via single and walk and Ryan Schiefer entered the game on the mound, stranding both runners with two consecutive fly outs. ASU was retired in order.
Seventh Inning
USC put its first batter on after a fielding error at third, and followed with a single, walk, hit by pitch, and another single to bring two more runs in. The Sun Devils were again retired in order to close the frame down 9-2.
Eighth Inning
Giblin struck out the first batter in the eighth, but two walks preceded a series of blunders on a single. A throwing error by first and third allowed two runners to score. Another single put a runner on third, but Giblin picked up his second strikeout to get out of the frame. After two innings without landing a runner on base, Tobias got on via a fielding error at shortstop. Lance then drew a walk, and Mendoza later singled up the middle to fill the bases. A strikeout left two outs on the board, and Compton came in to pinch-hit. He sent the fourth pitch he saw 420 yards over the center field wall for the grand slam. Ondina singled afterwards, but a fly out left him stranded. ASU trailed 11-6.
Ninth Inning
After a single, Barnes was called for a questionable balk and responded by striking out the next two batters to end USC’s day on offense. Unable to channel momentum after the grand slam, ASU batters were retired in order.
ON DECK
The Sun Devils welcome UC San Diego to Phoenix Municipal Stadium for two midweeks on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, both games starting at 6:30 p.m. AZT. They will be available to stream on Pac-12 Arizona
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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