Baseball Drops Series Opener to Utes - Arizona State University Athletics (2024)

PHOENIX - Sun Devil Baseball dropped the opener of its Pac-12 series against Utah on Friday evening, 10-0, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The Sun Devils (15-19, 6-10 Pac-12) struggled to solve Ute starter Bryson Van Sickle, picking up just three hits while striking out eight times and drawing no walks as the ace went the distance for the complete game.

Ryan Campos, Kevin Karstetter and Steven Ondina recorded the only hits of the day for ASU. Campos shined defensively as well, throwing out two baserunners on the evening.

ASU got a solid start out of southpaw Ben Jacobs, who threw 4.2 innings with just two runs allowed. Adam Behrens recorded 2.2 innings without an earned run on an otherwise forgettable evening for the Sun Devil pitching staff, though they were not aided by three fielding errors behind them on the night.

The program recognized the founding father of Sun Devil Baseball in a pregame ceremony in which it unveiled a statue dedicated to the late Bobby Winkles while also honoring the 1964 College World Series team.

TURNING POINT
After Utah (22-10, 8-5 Pac-12) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth, ASU notched its two hardest-hit balls in the game in the bottom half of the frame as it tried to get some offense going. The first came off a one-out single from Campos before Eamonn Lance smoked a ball 112 mile an hour off the bat - directly to the Utah shortstop on one bounce. The easy double play marked the end of any offensive mojo for the Sun Devils on the evening.

BIG MOMENT
Things came apart in the sixth inning just three pitches into the frame. A leadoff HBP preceded a 1-0 homer that caught the wind draft to center, doubling the Utah lead and spelling doom for the remainder of the inning.

FINAL STRAW
A double, walk and ASU unable to get an out on a sac bunt attempt continued the downward spiral as Utah would go on to plate six runs in the frame to take a commanding 8-0 lead in which ASU wouldn't come close to rallying from.

NOTABLES

• Ryan Campos' fourth inning single means he has now reached base safely in 113-of-123 career games (91.9 percent) with the Sun Devils.
• Campos has thrown out 12 of the last 20 baserunners attempting to steal on him with his two today. He had done so on just two of the first 19 of the season.

INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Jacobs retired the first two batters easily before Utah took advantage of a first pitch fastball right down the middle for a solo shot and an early 1-0. ASU got a good look from McLain to the warning track but otherwise went down in order in the bottom half.

Second Inning
Jacobs notched a 1-2-3 inning with a pair of strikeouts. Karstetter drew a two-out HBP for ASU's first baserunner of the day but was picked off at first to allow Utah to only face the minimum in the frame.

Third Inning
ASU looked to be in some trouble with a one-out error and single putting runners on the corners. The Utes attempted a delayed double steal on the play but ASU was up to task, with Campos throwing out the runner at second and Ondina returning the favor at home to end the top half of the frame. Ondina notched a two-out single for ASU's first hit of the game, but a check-swing groundout ended the threat.

Fourth Inning
A one-out single advanced to second on a low and away pitch that was overturned on review and scored on a bloop single just past Ondina's outstretched glove into shallow left field. A two-out walk put two runners on but Jacobs stranded the pair with a popout to second to keep the score at 2-0. Campos notched a one-out single but the inning came to an end after Lance's 112 MPH laser went directly to the shortstop on one hop for an inning-ending double play.

Fifth Inning
A two-out walk would mark to end of Jacob's day and Fitzpatrick picked his teammate up by getting a groundout to end the frame on a nice play by Ondina coming across the diamond and making a throw across his body from the other side of second to get the final out. Karstetter notched a one-out single but a strikeout and groundout ended the threat.

Sixth Inning
A leadoff HBP and wind-aided homer doubled the Utah lead and the wheels came off from there as Utah plated six runs to take a commanding 8-0 lead. The Sun Devils went down in order.

Seventh Inning
Utah brought the minimum to the plate after a one-out single was throw out by Campos for his second caught-stealing of the game. ASU had no answer, going down in order on just 11 pitches.

Eighth Inning
Utah tacked on an unearned run while ASU managed to see just seven pitches in the frame before going down in order.

Ninth Inning
Utah notched one final run while ASU continued to go the wrong way, going down on just five pitches to end the game.

ON DECK:
ASU will try to even the series against Utah on Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. AZT first pitch. The series will be available to watch on ASU Live Stream-2 and streamed over the airwaves on KDUS AM 1060.