Ten different Sun Devils recorded a hit in the contest, with Brandon Compton pacing the way with three – two of them were doubles. Ryan Campos and Nick McLain also added a pair of knocks, the latter recording a double and a triple and added two walks and a hit-by-pitch with a two RBI day.
ASU recorded seven doubles in the contest after entering the night leading the Pac-12 in the category, in addition to a triple.
The Sun Devil pitchers struck out 12 batters, with Burns leading the way with seven in 4.2 innings.
TURNING POINT
The Sun Devils got out to a 4-0 lead and Thomas Burns cruised through four innings, holding WSU to 0-for-8 hitting with a runner on base in the process. The wheels came off in the bottom of the fifth however, with a leadoff walk and RBI double followed by a sac fly getting the Cougs on the board with two runs. A two-out four pitch walk preceded a two-run homer to tie the game and chase Burns. Another two-out two run shot gave WSU the lead with a six-spot in the frame.
BIG MOMENT
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ASU immediately battled back in the sixth to tie the game with a pair of runs to even things at 6-6. After a scoreless seventh, Ryan Shiefer allowed a pair of leadoff runners in the eighth and the bases loaded with one out. Schiefer looked like he might escape unscathed after ASU got a force at home for the second but but a miscommunication on the left side of the infield allowed a run to score and a error at third allowed another to give WSU an 8-6 lead.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils immediately came back with an infield single from Jackson and pinch-hit double from Vu to put the tying run in scoring position with no outs. But, ASU couldn’t put the ball into play, with a strikeout before settling for a RBI groundout before a game-ending strikeout left the tying run at third.
INNING BY INNING
First Innin
After WSU starter Grant Taylor tossed five straight strikes to lead the game, four of them swinging, Brandon Compton legged out a double with a slow rolling ball to the gap in right center. Campos followed with a first-pitch double of his own to immediately get ASU on the board, taking third on an error. Tobias followed with ASU’s third-straight knock to make it 2-0. After Tobias was caught stealing, McLain and Mendoza drew two-out walks but a flyout ended the frame. Burns stranded a one-out single with his first strikeout of the game to keep it a 2-0 contest.
Second Inning
After two quick outs, ASU mounted a little two-out rally with back-to-back doubles from Williams and Compton to make it 3-0. Campos drew a walk but a flyout ended the frame. The Cougs got a leadoff single but Burns retired the side with a pair of swinging K’s sandwiching a foul out to third to leave the runner at first.
Third Inning
ASU salvaged a run after a leadoff walk and single from McLain and Mendoza were immediately followed by a pair of strikeouts. Ondina lifted a two-out single to left to plate McLain and extend the lead to 4-0. Burns recorded two more strikeouts to reach five in the game after allowing a one-out single.
Fourth Innin
Brandon Compton made it a three-hit day with a leadoff single up the middle, moving to second and then third on a pair of groundouts. A McLain HBP put runners on the corners but another groundout ended the threat. The Cougars nothced another leadoff single but Burns again prevented a runner from getting into scoring position, striking out two and letting Campos do the rest on a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play to keep the game at 4-0.
Fifth Inning
Ryan notched a one-out double, ASU’s fifth of the game but a pair of strikeouts stranded him in scoring position. The Cougs finally broke through, drawing a leadoff walk, and RBI double and sac fly to halve ASU’s lead to 4-2. The wheels came off from there as the Cougs notched a pair of two-out, two-run homers to make it a six-spot in the frame and take a 6-4 lead.
Sixth Inning
Compton hit his fourth hard-struck ball of the day, unfortunately directly at the third baseman for the first out before Campos lined a single right back to the pitcher for ASU’s 10th hit of the game to chase Taylor from the game. Tobias drew a walk and a wild pitch moved both into scoring position with one out and brought another pitcher into the game. McLain welcomed him to the game with a two-RBI triple to even the game at 6-6, but a strikeout and groundout stranded that go-ahead run at third. Jacobs, on in relief, posted ASU’s first 1-2-3 inning of the game and struck out a pair in the process.
Seventh Inning
Ryan drew a leadoff walk but a pop-out on a sac bunt attempt and a fielder’s choice. Williams looked to have a two-out steal but what can only be described as an awful called strikeout on a pitchout on the play ended the inning. Jacob issued a one-out walk but a strikeout and foul out to catcher stranded him
Eighth Inning
McLain notched a two-out double – ASU’s sixth of the game – but a first pitch popout left him stranded. The Cougs got a pair of leadoff runners on a walk and base hit. A strikeout followed by a walk loaded the bases with one out. ASU got a force out at the plate to get one out away from escaping the frame but a pair of defensive miscues led to two WSU runs and an 8-6 Cougar lead.
Ninth Inning
ASU led off the inning with a infield single from Jackson followed by a double from Vu to put the tying run in scoring position with no outs. A strikeout and a groundout let one run score and moved the tying run to third with two outs. A strikeout would strand the runner there and hand WSU the win.
ON DECK
ASU will look to even the series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. AZT. The game will be available on WSU Live Stream
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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