(Phoenix, AZ) Sun Devil Baseball (1-0) began a new chapter in its history book while officially starting the story of the 2025 season with an Opening Night win. The Sun Devils welcomed in the Ohio State Buckeyes (0-1) to Phoenix Municipal Stadium and night one did not disappoint as ASU came from behind for a 9-8 victory in front of 3,529 fans.
The brand new Phoenix Municipal Stadium LED light show had quite the workout in its debut. Fans had plenty of opportunities to experience the new in-game entertainment with the Sun Devils launching a pair of home runs, an intense 9th inning entrance and the eventual final score celebration.
The game itself featured five lead changes and three times that kept fans invested the whole night long with ASU taking the lead for good in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Seniors Josiah Cromwick and Jacob Tobias teamed up to combine for four hits, two home runs and seven RBIs to do the heavy lifting for the Sun Devils offense. Second Baseman Kyle Walker provided a spark on both sides of the ball, starting the seventh inning rally and closing out the game with his web gem defense.
The Sun Devil bullpen got 4.2 solid innings of one-run of relief from Jonah Giblin, Lucas Kelly, Bradyn Barnes and Will Koger to give the Sun Devils a chance to rally for the late victory.
TURNING POINT
After Ohio State reclaimed a 8-6 lead with a four-run seventh, Grambling State transfer Kyle Walker dug his heels in and would not go down without a fight in the bottom half of the frame. Walker fought off seven foul balls en route to an 11-pitch at-bat culminating in a leadoff double. Walker’s double sparked a Sun Devil rally which included four hits and three runs in the later stages of this contest to put ASU up for good.
BIG MOMENT
After ASU reclaimed a 9-8 lead, sophomore relief pitcher Bradyn Barnes answered the bell in one of the most crucial situations the Sun Devils faced all night. With Ohio State delivering a leadoff single in the top of the eighth, Barnes was able to pick off the OSU runner as he attempted to steal second base. The nifty pickoff move from the left hander was a major momentum swing in favor of the Sun Devils on their way to shutting the door on the Buckeyes rally hopes.
FINAL STRAW
Louisville transfer Will Koger made his debut in the Maroon and Gold, stepping into the (brand new) bright lights of Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The fireballer made some crucial pitches to slam the door on the Buckeyes and lock down the win for the Sun Devils in his first ASU save. Koger got a huge assist from second baseman Kyle Walker, who gloved a line drive shot before flipping the ball over to Matt King for the game sealing 4-6 double play.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Catcher Josiah Cromwick stole the show on the offensive side of things going 2-4 with a home run, a double and racking up four RBIs. Cromwick picked up his first hit of the 2025 season by way of the long ball, connecting on an opposite field three-run home run for his first longball as a Sun Devil. He later added an RBI double in the seventh inning to put ASU up for good. His six total bases are the most by a Sun Devil catcher on opening day since 1998.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Willie Bloomquist
On the Opening Night win
“It was a fun game when you look at it from an entertainment standpoint, but blood pressure wise, not so much. Lots of different lead changes. When we thought we had them on the ropes, they battled back and put up a four-spot and took the lead, but our guys were resilient and battled back. Lots of great performances tonight, a lot of things we got to work on too. But at the end of the day, it was a huge win for us, just to kind of get off and roll and then get a W under our belt. And in that fashion too, it was obviously an exciting game down to the last pitch. So good W.”
On veteran players leading the team
“When you have a look at the guys that showed up and had great games, they’re seniors. Jacob Tobias, two-run home run. Josiah Cromwick, fifth year senior with the home run and a big double there. Kyle Walker, an experienced player that has been around the block and played a lot of games. Those guys came up big and had big games. So that’s just from the offensive standpoint, but to have a veteran oriented team that understands that this is college baseball, there are no easy games. It’s a dog fight every night, and to battle, you’re going to get punched in the mouth a time or two. You’re going to have to respond to those, so that’s what we try to preach to these guys, that it’s not always going to be pretty, but you go out and battle and fight tooth and nail. The results will happen based upon that, and never give in when things don’t go your way, keep positive and keep going. So I was proud of those guys for the way they responded.”
On the resilience of the pitching staff
“Just getting that first one out of the way is big. And I think Ben (Jacobs) will learn from this and get better. He had a few first inning jitters there and got two quick outs, and then squeezed it a little bit and gave up a walk and a couple of hits in the first, but he’ll settle in. I’m not worried about Benny. He’s gonna be just fine. But having those other guys come in in tough situations and be successful, it was big. Just a confidence builder for a lot of those guys to get in the game. Bradyn Barnes, a kid that came in and picked the guy off and got an out, and that kid was going to steal for sure. So for him to come in and keep composure and pick a guy off right there, and then get the next guy out in a tough situation, we’re going to need those left handed arms to step up big for us.”
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Ben Jacobs took the saddle and came out firing in his first action of the 2025 campaign. Jacobs opened his season with a strikeout swinging parlayed with a flyout. Ohio State was later able to draw a two-out walk and SS Marc Stephens delivered a double to score the first run of the game for the Buckeyes. OSU continued to build momentum on the two-out rally as it pushed across another run on a single from DH Mason Eckelman to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. Jacobs was then able to bounce back with his second strikeout of the inning to close out the top of the first, with OSU ahead 2-0.
Junior infielder Nu’u Contrades led things off for the Sun Devils, drawing a four-pitch walk to give ASU its first base runner of the young season. Contrades came around to score as Brandon Compton was able to reach via error, giving ASU its first run of the year to make things 2-1. Shortly after, Jacob Tobias unloaded a two-run moon-shot deep into the Phoenix night sky to catapult the Sun Devils ahead 3-2. Tobias’ first home run of the season traveled 432 feet at 106 mph off the bat. This is the second straight opening day where Tobias has homered. The inning came to an end with ASU leading OSU 3-2.
Second Inning
1B Ryan Miller led off the top of the 2nd for OSU, getting on base with a single to center. LF Nick Giamarusti followed it up with a hard hit double to left center that scored Miller and tied the game at 3. Jacobs settled in with a three pitch strikeout for the first out of the inning, followed by a flyout to shallow left field. Another strikeout from Jacobs, his fourth of the game, ended the inning and sent the Buckeyes back to the dugout.
In the bottom half of the inning, Manny Garza struck out looking, then Matt King was hit by a pitch, taking first. Kyle Walker reached via a fielder’s choice, with King being thrown out at second Contrades then flew out to the warning track in deep right to end the inning.
Third Inning
Jacobs went back to work as the middle of OSU’s lineup got its second look at the Sun Devil southpaw. It was a one-two-three inning with three straight fly outs.
Kien Vu got things going to kick off ASU’s half of the inning, where he laced a leadoff single to left field. Vu then advanced to second as Brandon Compton rolled over for the first out of the inning. Vu’s wheels were on full display, where he was able to perfectly execute a sprint off and pick up a steal of third base with Jacob Tobias back at the dish. Tobias reached base for the second time in as many at-bats, but this time by way of a walk. ASU began its third inning threat, with runners at the corners while catcher Josiah Cromwickawaited. Cromwick cashed in and connected on a three-run shot to right center, sending the Sun Devils to a 6-3 lead. Cromwick’s oppo-taco traveled 397 feet for his first home run as a Sun Devil. The action continued with Isaiah Jackson squeezing in a double to shallow left field for the Sun Devils third hit of the inning. The inning quickly came to an end after a pair of quick outs, but the Sun Devils left their mark, closing out the first three innings ahead 6-3.
Fourth Inning
Jacobs went back out for this fourth inning of work, facing the bottom part of the Buckeyes order. The first out of the inning came on a flyout to left field, but 1B Ryan Miller followed it up with a home run to right center field, his first of the season, cutting the Devils’ lead to two. Compton made a sliding catch in left field to rob Giamarusti of extra bases and get the second out. Jacobs then retired Bussey with a fastball for his fifth strikeout of the game, ending his outing after four innings.
The Buckeyes made a pitching change, with Hunter Shaw replacing starter Blaine Wynk. Walker led off the inning for ASU, flying out to center field, and Contrades flew out to right to follow it up. With two outs, Vu came to the plate, flying out to left field to end the quick inning for the Sun Devils.
Fifth Inning
Right hander Jonah Giblin was the first man out of the pen for ASU, relieving starter Ben Jacobs to start the fifth. The Buckeyes sent the top of the order to face Gibin, where his outing began with a Trey Lipsey leadoff single to get things going for OSU. Next to the dish was Matthew Graveline, finding his way on base via walk. Giblin was able to recover nicely, with a textbook 4-6-3 double play to rack up a quick two outs for the Buckeyes. The inning concluded with Grambling State transfer Kyle Walker laying out for a web gem diving catch at second base to send OSU back to the dugout scoreless.
Brandon Compton was back to the plate for his third at-bat of the night, flying out to left field to lead things off. Jacob Tobias was then kept in check for the first time as he went down on strikes for the second out of the inning. The Sun Devils went down quietly as Josiah Cromwick struck out swinging to close out the fifth.
Sixth Inning
Jonah Giblin headed back to the mound for his second inning, facing the middle part of the Buckeyes order. He started things off with a strikeout of Mason Eckleman, then got Lee Ellis to fly out to left center on a ball that was caught easily by Jackson for the second out. Another strikeout, this one swinging, ended the top of the inning and sent the Devils back to the plate.
Isaiah Jackson started the frame with a pop out to left that was caught in foul territory by 3rd baseman Tyler Pettorini. DH Manny Garza was retired quickly with a three-pitch strikeout, bringing Matt King to the plate with two outs. King popped out to the catcher to end the inning.
Seventh Inning
Giblin returned for his third consecutive inning, but quickly exited after walking Nick Giamarusti. Giblin’s night came to a close after two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Sean Fitzpatrick took over for ASU, inheriting a runner who later stole second and ultimately scored on Reggie Bussey’s RBI single, making it 6-5 Buckeyes. OSU kept the momentum with an infield single, followed by a well-timed double steal, loading the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly later tied the game at 6-6, which led ASU to bring in right hander Lucas Kelly. After a quick out, Mason Eckleman’s two-run double put OSU ahead 8-6. A hit-by-pitch extended the inning before a strikeout ended it with the Buckeyes leading 8-6.
Kyle Walker led the bottom half off, grinding out an 11-pitch at-bat that included seven foul balls along the way before he connected on a double to deep left field. Nu’u Contrades followed Walker’s efforts by smoking a single to left field to put runners at the corners for ASU as the heart of the order awaited. Kien Vukept his foot on the gas, picking up his second hit of the contest to score Walker and pull back in it, 8-7. After a fielder’s choice, Jacob Tobias drove in Vu on a groundout, knotting it up at 8-8. The Sun Devil surge continued with Josiah Cromwick delivering an RBI double for his second extra base hit and fourth RBI of the night, pushing his squad ahead 9-8. The inning closed after a ground out, but saw ASU pickup three runs and the lead once more.
Eighth Inning
Lucas Kelly returned to the mound after closing out the seventh inning, facing the bottom part of the Buckeyes order. Giamarusti led things off for OSU, legging out an infield single and barely beating out the throw from Matt King. Kelly got Bussey to pop out to center field, ending his night. Bradyn Barnes was the next man out of the bullpen for the Devils, inheriting the runner on first. He got the runner out in a classic rundown, for a 1-3-6-1 putout. Barnes ended the inning with a flyout to left.
Drew Erdmann was called in from the bullpen to pitch for OSU, replacing Luke Carrell. Manny Garza led things off for the Devils in the bottom of the eighth, striking out swinging on an elevated fastball. Matt Kingfollowed, grounding out to second base. Kyle Walker came to the plate with 2 outs, lifting a ball to left field that was caught at the warning track to end the inning and send the game into the ninth.
Ninth Inning
Will Koger was tasked with holding things down for ASU in the top of the ninth with the one-run lead. Matthew Graveline started things off, drawing a walk. Koger struck out Pettorini on a slider, then gave up a single to left. With runners on first and second, Eckleman hit a line drive right at Kyle Walker, who made the quick toss back to Matt King to get the lead runner and complete the double play. OSU challenged the play, and after a lengthy review where the umpires had to go up to the press box, the runner was ruled out to end the game.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Danny Sullivan and Brooklyn Cohen
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