Coming a triple short of the cycle, Ryan Campos contributed one home run alongside Brandon Compton and Jacob Tobias. Tobias’ two-run knock in the first inning was his third home run in as many at bats, as he closed last night’s game with two in a row. The junior also added four RBIs to give him 18 over the last three games. Five Sun Devil batters earned multiple hits, as Campos went 4-for-5, Compton went 3-for-4 and Kien Vu, Ethan Mendoza, and Stephen Ondina each added two singles.
The Sun Devil pitching staff added its 28th game with double digit strikeouts with 14 tonight. Connor Markl picked up three strikeouts in a quick start that saw 35 pitches and three unearned runs off of two hits and a walk, and Hunter Omlid tacked on seven more through 3.2 innings. The Sun Devils trailed 9-7 when Sean Fitzpatrick entered with one out to go in the fifth and delivered a strikeout. The sophomore held the Red Raiders to one hit and one run through 1.2 innings, walking one and adding two strikeouts on 27 pitches to earn the win. Jonah Giblin finished the game’s final 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and only allowed one hit, one run, and one walk through 40 pitches.
TURNING POINT
Texas Tech brought the bats on Friday and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first that ASU quickly wiped out with three runs of its own in the bottom of the frame. Tech wasn’t done there though, opening up a commanding 9-4 lead after the top of the fourth with back-to-back three-run efforts. ASU did its part to immediately chip into that lead and make it more manageable with solo homers from Ryan Campos and Brandon Compton and an Tobias RBU groundout getting ASU back within 9-7
BIG MOMENT
After both sides scored three apiece in the fourth inning, with Texas Tech holding a 9-7 lead, ASU got huge scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth innings thanks to Hunter Omlidand Sean Fitzpatrick to keep Texas Tech in striking distance. And strike the Sun Devils did. ASU worked four straight walks thanks to brilliant plate discipline to cut the lead to 9-8. A wild pitch by Texas Tech tied the game at nine. Brandon Compton worked an impressive AB after falling into a 0-2 count and fouling off several pitches before poking one through the left side for the go-ahead RBI to make it 10-9. Kevin Karstetter followed that as he smacked a double that bounced off the right-field wall, scoring Tobias and Compton to give the Sun Devils a 12-9 lead. Ondina grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Isaiah Jackson and giving ASU a four-run cushion. Campos then belted a double to score Karstetter and extend the Sun Devils’ lead, 14-9, ultimately putting up a seven-spot in the inning.
FINAL STRAW
The Sun Devils added two runs of insurance in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a double by Campos and a beautiful drag bunt single by Ondina, which set up Vu for a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to six, then Campos scored on a wild pitch to give ASU a commanding 17-11 lead. Jonah Giblin closed the game throwing a scoreless eighth and ninth frame, striking out two to secure the victory.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
After Markl struck out the Red Raiders leadoff man, Texas Tech hit a one-out single to right field and stole second base. The three-hole hitter drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Markl fanned the cleanup man for the second out. The Red Raiders scored the first runner on a fielding error and extended their lead to 3-0 after a two-run single to center field. Markl’s third strikeout ended the opening frame.
Campos reached first base to start the inning after the Red Raiders second baseman failed to corral his ground ball. Texas Tech’s fielding woes continued. With one on and one out, McClain hit a chopper to third, and another fielding error advanced Campos to third base while the Sun Devil right fielder reached first. Tobias hit a three-run bomb over the center field wall to tie the game.
Second Inning
Omlid replaced Markl on the mound and didn’t concede a base hit in the inning. Mendoza chased down a pop up in shallow right field for the first out and Omlid struck out the next batter looking. Texas Tech put a runner in scoring position after a two-out walk and a stolen base, but the Sun Devil right-hander notched his second strikeout of the frame for the final out.
The Sun Devils hit three straight singles with two outs to take a 4-3 lead. After a strikeout and flyout, Ondina knocked down a two-out single after his hard chopper went off the second baseman’s glove. Campos smacked a single through the left side and Vu’s single up the middle scored Ondina.
Third Inning
Texas Texas regained the lead, 6-4, after a pair of hits and a two-run homer. The leadoff man drilled a double off the center field wall. The runner advanced to third after a failed pickoff attempt sailed over the Sun Devil infielders’ heads into center field. Omlid made the next batter miss to collect his third strikeout of the night, but the Red Raiders hit a one-out single through the right side to tie the game. With a runner on first, the next batter hit a towering home run to center to give Texas Tech a two-run lead. A groundout and Omlid’s fourth punch out ended the top of the inning.
Compton drew a one-out walk and Mendoza ripped a line-drive single to left field to advance him to third. Mendoza reached second base on the play after the Red Raiders left fielder threw to third. Karstetter walked to load the bases with two outs, but a deep flyout to center ended the inning.
Fourth Inning
The Red Raiders put three more runs on the board after hitting their third long ball of the night. Omlid had picked up where he left off the previous inning, striking out the first two Texas Tech batters, but the Red Raiders extended the frame with a two-out walk and stolen base. A hit batter put runners on first and second. The next batter blasted a three-run home run to left field to extend Texas Tech’s lead to 9-4.
Arizona State hit two home runs and scored three runs to make it a 9-7 game. The first three Sun Devil batters set the tone, as each registered a base hit. Campos blasted a home run to right-center field to leadoff the inning, drawing the Sun Devils within four runs. Vu followed with his second single of the game. Nick McLain smoked a double down the right field line and advanced to third, but Vu was thrown out diving head first at home plate. Tobias grounded out to second, scoring McLain. With two outs, Compton hit a solo shot to straight away center field to get the Sun Devils within two runs.
Fifth Inning
The Sun Devils retired the side. Omlid put down the first two Red Raiders from a pair of flyouts to center and second base, before being replaced by Fitzpatrick on the mound. The sophomore left hander struck out the first batter faced for the final out.
Texas Tech sent down Arizona State in order after a strikeout and two groundouts.
Sixth Inning
The Red Raiders opened the inning with a leadoff walk. McLain raced down a fly ball in right field and made a leaping catch at the warning track for the first out. Fitzpatrick picked off the runner on first for the second out. Vu ended the top of the inning after making a running catch in foul territory in left field.
Thanks to four straight walks and a single, Arizona State scored three runs to tie the game and take a 10-9 lead. Campos, Vu and McLain drew three consecutive walks to leadoff the bottom-half inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Tobias worked a full count and walked to drive home Campos. Compton stepped up to the plate, and Texas Tech threw a wild pitch behind the batter and Vu scored. Compton hit a single through the left side to bring McLain home, the go-ahead run. The Sun Devils had runners at the corners with one out, and Jackson walked to load the bases. Karstetter hit a two-run double off the right field wall, as Compton and Tobias scored to give Arizona State a 12-9 advantage. Ondina grounded out to short to drive home Jackson and extend the lead to four runs. Campos smacked an RBI double to the left field gap to score Karstetter and make it 14-9.
Seventh Inning
After a leadoff single, Fitzpatrick fanned the next Texas Tech batter for his second strikeout of the night. It was his last as Bloomquist called on his bullpen for the third time of the game and right-hander Jonah Giblin came in relief. The Red Raiders hit a two-run homer to right-center field to cut their deficit to 14-11. Consecutive flyouts to left and right field ended the frame.
Tobias drew a one-out walk and Compton ripped a line-drive single up the middle to put runners at first and second. Mendoza hit a bloop single that safely fell in shallow-center field to load the bases. With a full count, Jackson hit a sacrifice fly to right. Tobias scored on the play and the Sun Devils pushed their lead to 15-11.
Eighth Inning
Giblin retired the side after a flyout, groundout and strikeout.
Arizona scored two runs off two hits and two walks to extend their advantage to 17-11. Ondina led off the bottom-half inning with a bunt single down the third base line. Campos drilled his second double and fourth hit of the night, this time to right-center field, to put two runners in scoring position. Vu hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Ondina and advancing Campos to third base. McLain drew a walk and stole second base. With Tobias at the plate, a wild pitch scored Campos and McLain advanced to third. Tobias walked but a double play ended the inning.
Ninth Inning
Giblin closed out the game after putting down three of the four Texas Tech batters. The leadoff man hit a high flyout to right field for the first out. Giblin struck out the next hitter for the second out. The Red Raiders drew a two-out walk but hit a slow roller back to the mound for the final out.
ON DECK
Arizona State concludes its regular season tomorrow against UNLV at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Sun Devils will honor their seniors before first pitch, which is set for 6:30 p.m. AZT. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Arizona.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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