TUCSON — The Sun Devils’ bats, typically a force to be reckoned with, met their match Tuesday night. Arizona’s pitchers, led by a stellar performance from Raul Garayzar, silenced ASU’s offense, resulting in a 3-2 loss. The late-inning rally, while spirited, proved insufficient.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Arizona State baseball traveled down to Tucson for a one-off game against Arizona. The Wildcats pitching stumped the usual hot-hitting Sun Devils lineup to great effect. ASU bats struggled to make solid contact against Arizona arms and found little offense. The battle was made worse by falling down early, making it a rocky climb up from the first inning.
ASU was able to claw its way back in the later inning with back-to-back scoring frames. Nevertheless, the comeback was futile as the Sun Devils offense was shut off again in the ninth to lose to the Wildcats 3-2.
ASU arms settle down after rough start
Arizona State manager Willie Bloomquist calls for a replay against Ohio State during the first inning at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Feb. 16, 2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Head coach Willie Bloomquist had freshman left-hander Easton Barrett start on the mound, who’s coming off a productive 2.2-inning stint against Minnesota. However, Tuesday’s start was anything but productive. Barrett allowed back-to-back doubles in the game’s first three pitches. The Sun Devil left-hander was able to calm himself by getting the next two outs but then walked the bases loaded and eventually a run in to make it 2-0 Arizona.
Barrett struck out the next batter to strand the bases loaded, but Bloomquist knew the freshman was on a ticking clock. Once Barrett had runners on the corners in the second inning, Bloomquist went to the bullpen early with an experienced arm redshirt senior right-hander Jonah Giblin.
Giblin got ASU out of the inning and went on a superb 3.1-inning outing, allowing two hits and striking out four Arizona batters.
Arizona pitchers stun ASU bats.
The Sun Devils bats pride themselves on their power, having 23 home runs and 41 extra-base hits on the year. However, Arizona pitchers were stellar at forcing weak contact from ASU batters. Senior right-hander Raul Garayzar painted the zone, using his stellar control on his off-speed pitches to force groundouts and double plays. The Sun Devils only got one hit off Garayzar in his 3.0 innings on the mound.
Arizona State catcher Josiah Cromwick (21)prepares to bat against Ohio State during the seventh inning at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Feb. 16, 2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Arizona head coach Chip Dale had a short leash for his bullpen arms. The next two pitchers after Garayzar went 0.2 innings, with the first sign of weakness Dale was pulling them. The constant pitching change never allowed ASU to get to a rhythm at the plate, recording only four hits in the first six innings.
Arizona State is alive!
After an RBI double by senior infielder Tommy Splaine in the previous inning, the Wildcats were up 3-0. The seventh inning didn’t start pretty for the Sun Devils, with two quick outs putting the frame in jeopardy. Luckily for ASU, the freshman infielder hit the club’s first extra-base hit with a two-out double. Graduate student catcher Josiah Cromwick followed that up by hitting an RBI single to score the Sun Devils’ first run of the game.
Arizona State’s Josiah Cromwick (21) scores ahead of the tag by Ohio State catcher Mason Eckelman (16) during the eighth inning at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Feb. 16, 2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
That was all ASU could muster before heading into the seventh inning stretch, but came into the eighth rejuvenated. Junior outfielder Kien Vu started the frame with a two-strike single just through the left side of the infield. The leadoff man, Vu, used his dicing speed to steal second, which immediately led to senior infielder Matt King’s RBI double to cut the deficit to 3-2 Arizona.
Sun Devils last gasp not enough
After a close call in the bottom of the eighth with runners on the corner, sophomore right-hander Derek Schaefer got out of the inning unscathed and gifted ASU one last chance to tie the game in the ninth. A junior outfielder Isaiah Jackson’s out took the winds out of the Sun Devils sails, but then a Hairston single picked it right back up.
One out in the final frame, Bloomquist decides to go with senior catcher Manny Garza to pinch hit, a decision that didn’t end well. Similar to how the game started for ASU, it would end the same with a double play to end the game, losing to Arizona 3-2 in Tucson.
Arizona State pitcher Matt Tieding (47) is removed from the game by head coach Willie Bloomquist against Arizona in the fourth inning during the Pac-12 Tournament at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale on May 23, 2023. Syndication: Arizona Republic
A ninth-inning double play sealed ASU’s fate. Now, the Sun Devils head to Fort Worth to face TCU in their first Big 12 series. The question is, did this loss show a weakness that TCU will take advantage of?
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
