The Sun Devil offense erupted for 15 hits in the contest with every starter recording at least one, but the early deficit and an uncharacteristic tough outing from Connor Markl proved to be the difference.
Markl, who had given ASU its most consecutive 5.0+ outings since 2019 (7) entering the contest, struggled to find his command and was unable to make it out of the third inning as the Huskies jumped out to a 12-0 lead before ASU was finally able to get on the board with a Nick McLain solo shot in the fourth.
After UW tacked on two more in the top of the fifth, it was all ASU as the Sun Devils kept things interesting by recording four homers and barreling balls around the ballpark all night in another impressive offensive showing.
Brandon Compton and Ryan Campos each recorded three-hit nights – the latter recording his team-best sixth such game of the season. McLain, Jacob Tobias, Steven Ondina and Ethan Mendoza all went yard in the contest.
Jonah Giblin had arguably his best game as a Sun Devil after being forced into relief in the fifth inning, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings and allowing just a single hit – a double on the second pitch he threw after entering the game. The junior would go on to strike out a career-best seven batters and gave ASU a chance to make it interesting late in the game.
TURNING POINT
Connor Markl had been Mr. Reliable all season for ASU, coming into the night with seven-straight starts of 5.0 innings or more and with the second-best ERA in Pac-12-only games this season. The 5.0+ streak was the longest at ASU since Kansas City Royals pitcher Alec Marsh started 2019 with 10 such outings. Unfortunately, Saturday wasn’t meant to be for Markl as UW jumped on him for a five-run second inning and added four more in the third to take a 10-0 lead.
BIG MOMENT
The Sun Devils picked away at the Husky lead over the second half of the game, recording three runs on and RBI from McLain and a two-run homer from Tobias in the fifth and three more on a three-run shot by Ondina in the sixth to cut the deficit to 14-7. With no outs after the Ondina homer, Campos notched an infield single and ASU had the heart of the order with a chance to further carve into the deficit but ASU’s 2-3-4 hitters went down in order to end the threat. ASU made it 14-8 in the next inning and had two on with two outs for Campos who laced the first pitch he saw to deel left field – directly at the UW defender – to end the threat
FINAL STRAW
Giblin’s massive outing took ASU into the ninth trying to find some late magic like it did on Friday. Mendoza notched a one-out solo homer to make it a five-run game and Demera and Ondina walked with two-out to turn things back around to Campos. For the second-straight at-bat Campos absolutely smoked a ball at 101 off the bat to right field this time, a line-drive right at the right fielder this time to end the contest and force a rubber match at Muni on Sunday.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
After back-to-back groundouts, the Huskies managed to launch one over center field for a solo home run. A fly out to left field ended the frame with the Huskies up 1-0. Kien Vusingled to left field for the Sun Devils first hit of the night. A pop fly and a groundout left Vu stranded on first to end the inning with the Huskies up 1-0 over the Sun Devils.
Second Inning
The Huskies reached on a throwing error from the third base men and things snowballed from there. After Connor Markl earned his first strikeout of the night, the Huskies singled one to center field while advancing their runner home. After the Huskies managed to steal second, the next batter was walked and both advanced to the next base off a wild pitch. With bases loaded due to another walk, the Huskies singled one to left field and brought two runners home while the other advanced to second. With bases loaded due to another walk, the Huskies singled to center field bringing in one runner and leaving the bases loaded. After a walk advanced a runner home unearned, a fly out and strikeout ended the frame for the Huskies up 6-0 over the Sun Devils. The Sun Devils retired in order.
Third Inning
After back-to-back groundouts, the Huskies singled to center field. The Huskies managed to double to center field bringing in their runner who was on first. With first and second occupied after a walk, the Huskies homered over left field for a three-run shot. Matt Cornelius relieved Markl and struck out the batter for the third out of the Huskies’ frame. The Huskies held a 10-0 lead with the Sun Devils up to bat. With Mario Demera being walked, the Huskies managed to perform a double play off a grounder hit to the shortstop. Ryan Campos singled to center field for the Sun Devils second hit of the night. A strikeout for the final out of the inning left Campos stranded on first.
Fourth Inning
After the Huskies first batter of the inning was walked, Cornelius struck out the next batter. With back-to-back walks, the bases were loaded for UW. Prior to a fly out ending the frame for the Huskies, the Huskies brought two runners home off a fielder’s choice to third base and a wild pitch. Nick McLain homered just over the right center wall on a 1-1 count to give the Sun Devils their first score of the game. Brandon Compton singled one to right center and advanced to third off a single down the left line hit by Isaiah Jackson. Both Compton and Jackson were left stranded after a fly out marked the third out for the Sun Devils. The Sun Devils trailed the Huskies 12-1 heading into the fifth inning.
Fifth Inning
The Huskies singled one to right field and the runner advanced to second after the next batter was walked. A double down right center brought both runners home to extend the Huskies lead to 14-1. Jonah Giblin managed to strike out the next three batters ending the Huskies frame. Campos doubled down the left line and came home off a single to left field hit by McLain. Following that, Jacob Tobias hammered one over the right field wall for a two-run homer to close the Sun Devils deficit to 14-4. After Compton doubled one to right field, he was left stranded due to a groundout to close the inning.
Sixth Inning
After the first batter was walked for the Huskies, the runner advanced to second off a groundout. A pop fly and strikeout ended the frame for UW. Jackson singled to center field and advanced to second after Demera was walked. Ondina went big fly over over the left field wall for a three-run homer to bring the Sun Devils deficit to 14-7 with zero outs. Campos singled to the second basemen and advanced to second after Vu grounded out but was left stranded as a fly out and groundout ended the Sun Devils frame.
Seventh Inning
A groundout, and back-to-back fly outs retired the Huskies in order. Compton singled to left field and then advanced to second off a groundout by Mendoza. Demera singled to right field which allowed Compton to run home. A fly out sent to center field ended the frame for the Sun Devils who trailed, 14-8.
Eighth Inning
Back-to-back strikeouts by Jonah Giblin and a fly out caught by Vu retired the Huskies in order. A fly out, pop fly, and strikeout retired the Sun Devils in order.
Ninth Inning
After the Huskies made it to first base off a throwing error, Campos made the throw to second to catch the runner stealing for the second out. Giblin struck out the batter for the third out to end the Huskies’ frame. Mendoza sent one over right field for a single homerun to close the deficit to 14-9 with one out. With first and second occupied for the Sun Devils off of back-to-back walks and two outs, a fly out ended the Sun Devils’ chances of completing a comeback. The Sun Devils lost 14-9 to the Huskies.
ON DECK
The Sun Devils will remain at Phoenix Municipal Stadium for the rubber match against Washington on Sunday afternoon at 1np.m. AZT, looking for its third-straight series win. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Arizona.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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