After five strong defensive innings, Arizona State dropped the ball giving up 11 runs in the game’s final three innings. The Ohio State offense scored seven runs in the ninth inning to pull away with a 13-4 win at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Saturday.
Senior left-handed pitcher Connor Markl got the start for the Sun Devils. The GCU transfer recorded seven punch-outs and allowed two earned runs in five innings pitched. Markl was the only bright spot among ASU pitchers in the game.
ASU skipper Willie Bloomquist commented on Markl’s outing.
“When he was working ahead he was getting nice quick outs,” Bloomquist said. “When he fell behind is when he got hurt. But all in all, happy with his performance, he threw the ball well.”
The Sun Devils held the Buckeyes to only two runs through six innings of play. Senior right-hander Hunter Omlid was given the loss, falling to a 0-2 record. The floodgates opened for OSU against Omlid as he gave up three runs in the seventh inning.
However, freshman right-hander Brok Eddy got the worst end of the stick. In the ninth inning, Eddy gave up six earned runs while an error helped bring in another Buckeye run. Ohio State recorded 13 runs on 16 hits in the contest.
Bloomquist talked about his team’s bullpen.
“We’re going to have to figure out that back end at some point,” Bloomquist said. “If starters continue to give us decent starts, five innings or more, we’re going to have to figure out ways to finish games.”
The Sun Devil bullpen struggled with keeping the baseball in the park, allowing five home runs in the game including a grand slam from junior outfielder Nick Giamarusti.
Arizona State will look to clean up their pitching performance in the last game of the series against Ohio State Sunday, February 25th at noon in Phoenix, Arizona.
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