No. 19 Sun Devil Baseball moves back into second place in the Big 12 with the rubber match victory in game two of Sunday’s doubleheader.
(Phoenix, AZ) No. 16 Sun Devil Baseball had baserunners all night but didn’t have the at-bats to bring them home as it dropped its Big 12 series against Oklahoma State with a 13-6 loss on Saturday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Arizona State (33-17, 16-10 Big 12) dropped a series before a Sunday for the first time since getting swept in the final series of the regular season last year, ironically also against the Cowboys. It was just ASU’s second series loss of this season (10-2 in weekend series overall) as Oklahoma State extended its winning streak in the series to 11 consecutive games.
The Sun Devils went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 batters while Oklahoma State (33-17, 16-10 Big 12) homered seven times in the rout.
Dominic Smaldino recorded his first multi-home run game of his career while Sam Myers added three hits and an RBI. Nu’u Contrades also tacked on his 15th homer of the season.
Inning by inning
First inning
Jaden Alba started the game for the Sun Devils, where he gave up a leadoff walk. Beckett Zavorek turned a double play behind Alba in the next at bat before Alba struck out the next batter for a scoreless inning.
In the first two at-bats, Landon Hairston and Nu’u Contradres each singled before Dean Toigo wore one to load the bases with no outs. No runs were scored for ASU after an infield fly and a double play closed out the inning.
Second inning
Alba returned to the mound and went three up, three down to end the frame.
Dominic Smaldino got the Sun Devils on the board first with a solo shot to make the game 1-0. Sam Myers and Brody Briggseach followed that up with singles of their own before moving into scoring position on a sac bunt by Zavorek. An intentional walk was issued to Hairston to load the bases with one out, before Contrades grounded into a double play.
Third inning
Despite striking out the first batter he faced, Alba gave up a single and a double to put runners into scoring position. Alba struck out the next batter, but a double in the next at bat allowed both runners to score, giving the Cowboys a 2-1 lead. Two consecutive walks loaded the bases, but the Sun Devils escaped the jam on a fly out.
Michel singled with two outs before being driven in by Smaldino on a home run to put ASU up 3-2. Myers went down on a fly out for the third out of the inning.
Fourth inning
In his fourth inning of work, Alba let up a single, which scored on a two run home run. With two outs, back-to-back solo shots by the Cowboys extended their lead, 6-3. After issuing a walk, Alba was relieved by Taylor Penn, who gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, making the score 8-3. A single put a runner on for OSU, but a strike out ensured no more runs scored.
Briggs walked to open the frame and was moved up on a single from Zavorek. With one out, Contrades reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases, but Toigo grounded into a double play, leaving the runners stranded.
Fifth inning
Penn returned to the game and pitched to the minimum, striking out two and erasing a walk with an inning-ending pick-off.
Roellig singled to get the inning started for Arizona State, then moved up to third on a two-out single from Myers. A foul out from Briggs left both runners on base, keeping the Sun Devils trailing, 8-3.
Sixth inning
Back on the mound, Penn sent the OSU batters down in order via groundout and two strikeouts.
A new pitcher entered the game for the Cowboys, issuing a walk to the first batter he faced in Zavorek. Zavorek made his way to third on two groundouts, but was left on base after a foul out.
Seventh inning
The next man out of the bullpen for the Sun Devils was Eli Buxton. Buxton recorded a strikeout to open the inning, but walked the next batter who was able to advance to third on a wild pitch and a fly out. Another strikeout concluded the scoreless inning.
The Cowboys called the next guy out of the bullpen and immediately gave up a walk to Roellig. Michel made his way to first on a single, which moved Roellig over to third. A one out single by Myers scored Roellig to put the Sun Devils within four. Briggs reached first on a walk to load the bases once again for Arizona State. A fielder’s choice by Zavorek put out Michel, but left the bases full with two outs. Hairston grounded out to end the inning, leaving ASU trailing 8-4.
Eighth inning
Despite striking out the first batter, Buxton let up a solo shot to put the Cowboys up 9-4. Back-to-back walks forced a pitching change for the Sun Devils, with Brady Louck coming in. A fielder’s choice put runners on the corners for OSU. With two outs, two singles from the Cowboys allowed two runs to score, signaling a pitching change for the Sun Devils. Austin Musso was the next guy out of the bullpen, where he walked the next batter to load the bases, but was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout.
Contrades hit a leadoff home run to start the frame, followed up by a triple from Toigo. A sac fly from Coen Niclai allowed Toigo to score, making the score 11-6. Two fly outs ended the inning.
Ninth inning
Musso gave up two home runs within the first three batters he faced in the ninth to extend the Cowboys’ lead to 13-6. A second strikeout and a fly out snuffed the frame.
The Sun Devils went down in order to end the game with a final score of 13-6.
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