Following a resumed-play victory early Saturday afternoon, Arizona State failed to complete the series sweep against Texas Tech in the final game of the three-game set.
After handling a struggling Texas Tech (12-23, 8-10 Big 12) team the previous two days, the Sun Devils (25-15, 11-7 Big 12) fell flat all across the diamond at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, losing 12-8.
The Texas Tech offense awoke, collecting 18 hits, including six home runs, into the sun-covered desert backdrop. The Red Raiders produced three multi-run innings, highlighted by four-run frames in the third and eighth.
“We gave up quite a few barrels,” head coach Willie Bloomquist said.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jaden Alba made the start for the Sun Devils on the bump and struggled from the get-go. Alba’s outing began on a sour note, as the righty surrendered a two-run home run to sophomore catcher Davis Rivers. The homer came after ASU junior right fielder Kien Vu misplayed a ball that resulted in a Red Raider double.
Alba allowed another two home runs, including a second home run to Rivers, en route to only pitching three innings on 59 pitches. Alba departed Saturday’s action, allowing six runs on eight hits, six extra-base hits, and striking out just five.
However, Bloomquist thought Alba pitched fine and instead put most of the blame on his team’s poor defense.
“Jaden was throwing the ball good, [but] there was a play that we probably should have made,” Bloomquist said regarding a misplayed ball in the infield that preceded a three-run home run.
Alba’s season ERA sits at 6.82, as the Sun Devils drop to 6-2 in games he starts.
Yet, after Alba departed, things went from bad to worse for the home team.
ASU’s pitching staff surrendered a hit to eight of the Red Raiders’ starters. Additionally, seven batters in the Texas Tech lineup finished with multi-hit games. Senior third baseman Peyton Schulze collected a four-hit game, highlighted by a ninth-inning home run.
“It’s a work in progress,” Bloomquist said regarding the bullpen.
Conversely, the Texas Tech pitching helped salvage the series’ final game.
Junior right-hander Zane Petty started for the Red Raiders, and after allowing 11 runs in 2.2 innings to Baylor, he dominated the third-highest scoring offense in the conference despite poor defense behind him in the first inning.
In the first, Petty allowed a triple to both freshman designated hitter Landon Hairston and a single to junior third baseman Nu’u Contrades on plays that could have been made. The only scored error came on a King ground ball to the third baseman, Schulze.
“He hit his spots,” Hairston said.
Yet, the Sun Devils failed to capitalize on the sloppy Red Raider play.
“Baseball has those days where offense just doesn’t click, and I think that was one of those days,” Hairston said on Saturday’s series finale.
Petty pitched eight innings and only allowed two runs. From the final out of the first inning to the first out of the fifth inning when Vu doubled, he retired 10 consecutive Sun Devils. The right-hander conceded just three hits after the first frame.
“We got away from our approach,” Bloomquist said. “We chased below the zone too much.”
Bloomquist said the team’s early success against Petty prompted complacency, allowing the right-hander to settle in.
“It’s a sign of immaturity,” Bloomquist said.
ASU falls to 25-15 overall and 14-3 in day games. ASU also drops to 17-4 in games in which it scores in the first inning — a trend that usually leads to wins.
The Sun Devils face a quick turnaround as they head up the road to take on the Grand Canyon Antelopes on Tuesday evening.
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