(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
The Arizona State baseball team (24-20) arrived in Stillwater, Okla. winners of three of its last four games. In those three wins, the Sun Devils had allowed only one run. However, in a complete reversal of all the Sun Devils’ recent success, ASU dropped all three games this weekend and allowed a total of 28 runs to No. 9 Oklahoma State (34-13).
In the series opener on Friday, Sun Devils starting pitcher Brett Lilek lasted only 2.2 innings, and ASU fell, 8-5. After falling in an early 2-0 deficit, the Sun Devils took the lead in the third inning with a two-run, two-out single from designated hitter RJ Ybarra—his 15th two-out RBI of the season. A four-run response from the Cowboys in their half of the third and a stifling bullpen, however, proved too tall a task for the Sun Devils offense to overcome. The loss drops Lilek to 4-3 on the season and snaps his 14.1 inning streak of not allowing an earned run.
The Sun Devils dropped game two on Saturday, as Ryan Burr was unable to protect a one-run lead in the ninth, allowing Oklahoma State to eventually pull out a 6-5 win in 11 innings. ASU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, thanks to an RBI triple from third baseman David Greer, and RBI groundouts from first baseman Nate Causey and right fielder Trever Allen. However, starting pitcher Ryan Kellogg promptly relinquished the lead in the fourth inning, allowing a two-run home run and an RBI double.
The Sun Devils benefited from a pair of unearned runs in the seventh inning, and would go into the ninth inning with a 5-4 lead. Closer Ryan Burr got the Cowboys down to their final out, but an RBI single from second baseman Tim Arakawa sent the game into extra innings. Burr nearly blew the game in the 10th, as he walked three straight Cowboy hitters to start the inning, but was able to miraculously escape the jam unscathed.
Eder Erives took the loss for the Sun Devils, as he hit the first batter he saw in the 11th and eventually allowed a walk-off single from shortstop Donnie Walton to give the Cowboys a 6-5 win and a series victory.
To say Sunday’s affair was a shootout would be an understatement. The two teams combined for 28 hits, and the Sun Devils set season highs with three homeruns and 12 RBIs. ASU exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning, thanks in part to a grand slam from freshman catcher Brian Serven. The outburst gave the Sun Devils an 11-8 lead, but a relentless Cowboys offense proved overwhelming. Oklahoma State plated six runs over the remaining four innings to complete the series sweep with a 14-12 Sunday win.
That was the gist; here are the details.
Player of the Series:
There was no shortage of hitting for Arizona State this weekend, and this week’s “Player of the Series” certainly reflects that. Right fielder Jake Peevyhouse matched his career high twice this weekend with three-hit performances on Saturday and Sunday, and now has four three-hit games this year. Peevyhouse finished the series 7-for-14 and added to his team-leading conference batting average of .350. Peevyhouse also holds the team-lead in doubles (6) and slugging percentage (.450) in Pac-12 play, further solidifying his coronation as this week’s “Player of the Series.”
Biggest Concern:
At this point in the season, “biggest concerns” take on new forms. What appeared to be a concern early on in the season now appears to be extremely trivial. With 24 wins and only 11 games left on the schedule, naturally, the biggest concern for the Sun Devils is whether or not they will reach the 30-win mark. Arizona State has won 30 games or more for 51 consecutive seasons—the longest of such streaks ever compiled in Division 1 collegiate baseball.
Prior to getting swept by Oklahoma State, the prospects of reaching 30 wins appeared well in reach. All ASU had to do was go 6-8 in its remaining 14 games to push the streak to 52 seasons. But after getting swept by Oklahoma State, the task becomes a bit more difficult, as the Sun Devils will have to go at least 6-5 over their final 11 games to reach the coveted 30-wins. Odds are still in ASU’s favor, though, as they still have three-game matchups with last-place Utah and sub-.500 Washington State.
Unsung Hero:
Ryan Kellogg takes home this week’s “Unsung hero” because, frankly, he turned in the only decent outing from a Sun Devil starting pitcher this weekend. On Friday, Brett Lilek was roughed up for six runs in only 2.2 innings and on Sunday Darin Gillies matched his performance, as he also gave up six runs in two innings.
Kellogg was the steadying force once again.
His rollercoaster start to the season, in which at times he appeared unhittable and would strike out 10 and then would turn around and give up 10 hits his next start, is clearly in the past. Kellogg was the only starting pitcher this weekend to keep the Sun Devils within striking distance, as he went 6.1 innings and gave up three earned runs. More importantly, Kellogg has now thrown four straight quality starts and has not allowed a walk in six of his 12 starts this year.
Stat of the Series:
8.
Arizona State committed eight errors over its three games this weekend.
On Friday, two throwing errors from shortstop Drew Stankiewicz led to 3 unearned runs. Though the two errors on Saturday did not directly lead to any runs for Oklahoma State, both contributed to prolonged innings and both allowed the Cowboys to eventually plate additional runs in the fourth and 11th innings.
On Sunday, the Sun Devils looked like deer in headlights, as the team committed four errors in the first three innings, propelling Oklahoma State to an early 8-4 lead. While an unacceptably high amount of walks from Sun Devil pitchers (16 over three games) may be the underlying cause, making routine plays is critical to a team’s success.
Coach Tim Esmay had stressed that there would be a focus this year to correct the team’s abysmal defense from a year ago, and for much of the 2014 season it appeared to be working. However, with players recently being benched for committing too many errors and with the Sun Devils having made at least one error in five straight games, it is imperative that the team does not revert to its struggles from last year.
What’s next?
The Sun Devils will return to Tempe this weekend to host a three game series with the third place Oregon Ducks (34-13, 13-8). Oregon swept Arizona in its most recent series; however, like Arizona State, was swept by Oregon State in the series prior to Arizona. Shaun Chase leads Oregon with eight of the team’s 20 home runs.
You can reach Jacob Garcia on Twitter @Jake_M_Garcia or via email at Jacob.M.Garcia@asu.edu
