After retiring New Mexico’s first three batters and racing to a 3-0 lead by the end of the first inning, ASU’s offense sputtered and the bullpen couldn’t mimic the performance it had shown over the previous few games. ASU didn’t capitalize on a bases-loaded situation in the second inning, and New Mexico quickly tied the game in the fourth. A three-run homer gave the visiting team the edge in the sixth inning.
Placed back into the lineup tonight, Kevin Karstetter delivered 2 of the Sun Devils 5 hits. Jacob Tobias and Stephen Ondina each added one. Junior catcher Ryan Campos has gotten on base in each of the past 26 games, making sure the streak continued with a single and two walks tonight. Brandon Compton and Kien Vu each added RBIs.
In his first start, freshman Wyatt Halvorson allowed one hit and one walk while delivering six strikeouts through 3.0 innings. After three pitchers struggled with the New Mexico bats, Ben Jacobs entered with one out to go in the seventh and finished out the game without allowing a run. Over 2.1 innings, he allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out three batters on 35 pitches.
TURNING POINT
sturdy night ended after the third, and dawned struggles on the mound for a dangerous middle third of the game. After the first three pitches of the fourth inning were strikes, New Mexico earned a walk and the runner advanced to second on a wild pitch before being brought around the bases by a two-run homer. Another Lobo took four balls, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before an RBI groundout brought him home. Another strikeout ended the inning, but not before the game was quickly knotted at three.
BIG MOMENT
Sophomore southpaw Sean Fitzpatrick opened the sixth inning in relief and tallied the Sun Devil’s 10th strikeout of the game. However, a single and HBP quickly put two runners on and a hanging breaking ball stayed up in the zone a bit too long, resulting in a three-run home run to left center for the go-ahead runs for a 6-3 lead the Lobos wouldn’t relinquish.
FINAL STRAW
Fortune seemed to be turning back toward ASU in the eighth inning, as New Mexico’s right fielder dropped a fly ball from leadoff hitter Kevin Karstetter to put him on base. Shortly after, another dropped foul ball preceded a groundout that brought Karstetter to second. Sophomore center fielder Isaiah Jackson was walked and a single from senior shortstop Stephen Ondina filled the bases once more for ASU. Pinch-hitting, sophomore Kien Vustepped up to bat one in on a groundout to first. With the tying runners in scoring position, another groundout to first left just three outs for the Sun Devils to even the game. In the ninth, Campos reached on a fielding error. A controversial no-balk call left him at first, but the next three batters were retired by fly out and two strikeouts.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Halvorson retired the side to open the game, striking out the Lobos two and three-hole hitters, and the Sun Devils scored three runs off four walks. Graduate left fielder Harris Williams drew an HBP to lead off the inning and stole second base to put the Sun Devils in scoring position with no outs. Campos and redshirt sophomore right fielder Nick McLainboth walked to load the bases. With no outs and the bases loaded, Compton hit a ground ball to first base to bring Williams home and advance both runners, giving ASU a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Campos and McLain both scored on separate wild pitches during Tobias’ at-bat to go ahead 3-0. Tobias became the fourth Sun Devil to reach first safely on a walk, forcing an early Lobos pitching change.
Second Inning
For the second consecutive inning, Halvorson put down all three Lobos hitters and collected his third and fourth strikeout. With two outs and nobody on, Williams, Campos, and McLain all drew their second walks of the game to load the bases. During Campos’ at-bat, Williams advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third base, his second steal of the game. ASU was unable to capitalize on their two-out rally as Compton worked a full count, but grounded out to second.
Third Inning
New Mexico had their first base runner of the game after their leadoff man drew a walk. After Halvorson tallied his fifth strikeout, the Lobos hit a two-out single to right field to put runners on the corners. Halvorson recorded his sixth punch out to escape the frame unscathed, his third straight inning with two strikeouts. Karstetter and Tobias led off the inning with a pair of singles, ASU’s first two hits of the game, but the Sun Devils were unable to take advantage of having two base runners and no outs. A groundout, double play advanced Karstetter to third, but he was left stranded after a pop-up to first ended the inning.
Fourth Inning
On the mound, freshman lefthander Cole Carlon entered the game and picked up where Halvorson left off, striking out the Lobos’ leadoff hitter. But after a one-out walk, New Mexico hit a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 3-2. The next Lobos hitter walked and stole third base after advancing to second on a wild pitch. A groundout to third scored the runner and tied the game at 3-3. Carlon collected his second strikeout to end the opening frame. The first three Sun Devil batters were retired in order after two groundouts and a strikeout.
Fifth Inning
After Carlon struck out the first batter, New Mexico hit a one-out single through the left side. With two outs, Carlon nearly picked off the runner on first but the Lobos beat the tag at second base. With a runner in scoring position, New Mexico hit a deep fly ball to center field that appeared to give them the lead, but Jackson made a highlight-reel, leaping catch against the wall in center for the final out. With two outs and no runners on, Karstetter knocked through his second single of the game to extend the inning but a strikeout ended the rally.
Sixth Inning
Sophomore southpaw Sean Fitzpatrick opened the inning in relief and tallied the Sun Devil’s 10th strikeout of the game. After a single and HBP put two runners on, the Lobos hit a three-run home run to left center to go ahead 6-3, their first lead of the night. ASU was retired in order.
Seventh Inning
Senior righthander Matthew Tieding became the fourth ASU pitcher of the game, but was done no favors as the first Lobos hitter reached on an error. A double play advanced the runner to third. Bloomquist made another pitching change and sophomore lefty Ben Jacobsdelivered the final out. With one out in the bottom half-inning, Campos hit an infield single back to the pitcher and reached second base on a throwing error to first. McLain drew his third walk of the night to put two runners on and force a pitching change. The move worked, as the Sun Devils hit into a double play.
Eighth Inning
Jacobs continued his strong throwing from the previous inning, striking out two batters and getting a flyout to right field after conceding a leadoff walk. Karstetter reached base for the third time on a dropped fly ball to right. He advanced to second base on Tobias’ hard hit groundout to the right side. Jackson drew a one-out walk to put two runners on. Ondina hit a slow chopper to third for an infield single to load the bases. Vu stepped into the box as a pinch hitter and grounded out to first to score Karstetter, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Both runners advanced to second and third but another groundout ended the inning.
Ninth Inning
After Jacobs tallied his third punch out of the night, the Lobos hit an infield single to put one on with one out. The runner attempted to steal second, but Campos threw a dart from home plate to Ondina, who successfully applied the tag. Ondina was not done displaying his defensive prowess. The next New Mexico batter smacked a line drive that deflected off Jacobs’ glove, but the shortstop secured the difficult chopper on the run and rifled a throw to first to beat the runner for the final out. Campos reached first on a fielding error to open the bottom-half inning and ignite a comeback. The spark was quickly extinguished by a flyout and two strikeouts that ended the game.
ON DECK:
ASU travels to Tucson for a three game series against rival Arizona beginning on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. AZT. The games this weekend will be available on Pac-12.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
Click on Logo
