Next Game:
UNLV
5/18/2024 | 6:30 PM
Pac-12 Arizona
KDUS AM 1060
May. 18 (Sat) / 6:30 PM
UNLV
History
PHOENIX – Sun Devil Baseball completed the two-game sweep of future Big 12 opponent Texas Tech (31-24) with a 17-11 victory after trailing 9-4 at one point at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Friday night.
The Sun Devils (31-24) recorded sixteen hits in the affair for their 11th game in a row with double-digit hits and took a 14-9 lead after erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
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 Omlid and 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.
QUOTABLES:
Arizona State Head Coach Willie Bloomquist:
On how good it feels knowing that the batters at the bottom of the lineup can deliver when they need to:
“It’s been big. You can’t just always rely on the same two or three guys every night. So, when we have that lineup that’s stretched out one through nine, guys that can do damage and put together good at bats, that rolls it over. It’s nice when Campy (Catcher Ryan Campos) comes up with guys on base versus the bases empty every time. So, very good offense when you have guys at the bottom that are able to be on base for the guys at the top and vice versa. So, Steven Ondina – big bunt there in the eighth to get a rally going to put up a couple of insurance runs when, in that game, you still don’t feel real comfortable on a night like tonight, even with a four or five run lead. So, just starting off the eighth inning there with a nice drag bunt and getting on base. Those little things are going to pay dividends hopefully down the stretch here.”
On tomorrow’s Senior Day game:
“First and foremost, we have to try to win tomorrow. But I imagine it’ll be an emotional day for a lot of those guys. It’ll be a little emotional for me too. For the efforts that those guys have put in, you know, some of them will probably get an opportunity to move on and continue playing and some won’t.And when things come to an end, that’s kind of an emotional time for those guys, and obviously for me as well. But to a man, every senior that we have has put in a tremendous effort and I put my stamp of approval on every single one of those guys tomorrow and my reputation on their work ethic and what type of teammate they are.”
Arizona State Infielder Jacob Tobias:
On his perspective of what’s contributing to the offense’s success:
“I just feel like we’re passing the torch every at-bat. That’s just off to the next guy and the next guy delivers and the next guy after that. We’re getting a lot of turnover in our lineup which I feel like is why we’re really successful.”
On the preparedness going into each game:
“I feel like the pitching staff has given us a lot of strikes to hit and we’re taking advantage of it. I feel like we’re doing a good job with our approach and getting really good swings on the baseball.”
Arizona State Pitcher Jonah Giblin:
On the staff’s pitching plan today:
“I think we did great. We have these guys giving us the run support. That definitely helps and makes a difference. To be able to come in and have that run support and know that even if you do give up one or two, we’re going to get it back and it just gives all of us confidence and lets us fill up the zone. I know sometimes the strike zone is hard to find but if we can get in there and challenge the hitter our defense is going to pick us up and our offense is going to score some runs.”
Arizona State Designated Hitter Brandon Compton:
On seeing four straight walks and then having a ball go over his head in his sixth inning at-bat:
“It wasn’t comfortable at all. I told him, ‘Come on dude.’ I feel like he didn’t know where it was going and he was throwing strikes and I had to compete and do my best. I was fortunate to get a nice hit the other way and get a run. Just pass it onto the next guy,”
NOTABLES
Ryan Campos’ second-inning single means he has now reached base safely in 134-of-144 career games (93.1 percent) with the Sun Devils and all but one game this season.
He notched his team-leading 24th multi-hit game of the season with his four knocks today.
His sixth inning double was his Pac-12-leading 24th of the season. He entered the weekend 12th in the country in the category. The 24 doubles are tied for the fifth-most at ASU since 1998.
With three tonight, the Sun Devils have 99 homers this year, surpassing the program’s previous BBCOR record of 94 from the 2019 season. ASU has a very real chance of becoming just the seventh Sun Devil team in the program’s illustrious history to reach 100 home runs and the first to do it since having 101 in 1990. Outside that 2019 team, the 2024 Sun Devils are the first to reach the 90-homer mark since having 97 in 1993. Should ASU reach 100 homers tomorrow, it will be the fastest an ASU team has reached 100 home runs in school history (56 games).
ASU has reached double digit hits in 38 of 55 games this season, posting 16 today. Today was the 15th time in the last 16 games the team reached the mark.
ASU reached double-digit runs for the 12th time in the last 15 games.
ASU has earned double digit strikeouts in 28 of 55 games this year, notable as it only accomplished the feat in 21 total games last season.
Nick McLain extended his hitting streak to 17 games with his fourth inning double today, the longest for a Sun Devil this season.
Ethan Mendoza extended his active hitting streak to 15-straight games with his third-inning single.
ASU has scored three or more runs in 66 innings this season, four or more in 40 innings and five or more in 20 following the team’s three-run first, three-run fourth, seven-run sixth
ASU’s ability to get off to hot starts has been at the forefront of its last month of success. In ASU’s first 39 games, it was outscored 39-28 in the first innings of games. In the last 16 games, ASU has outscored opponents, 42-18 in the first inning after adding three more today.
Jacob Tobias’ first inning homer was his 18th of the year, tied for eighth among ASU players since 1998. It was his 35th career homer, good for seventh at ASU since the 1998 campaign.
With four more RBIs today, Tobias now has 18 in the last three games alone.
ASU has trailed at some point in 37 of the team’s last 52 victories dating back to last year, coming from behind for the second-straight night against Texas Tech.
The win marked the eighth time this year ASU has won a game in which it has trailed by at least three runs.
Trailing 9-4 at one point, the contest marked the 10th time in the Willie Bloomquist era that ASU erased a deficit of at least five runs, improving to 8-2 in such games.
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.
