ASU’s five-game win streak comes to an end against No. 5 Oregon State

CORVALLIS, Oreg. – Arizona State baseball arrived in Corvallis riding a five-game win streak, but an early five-run hole proved to be insurmountable Friday night in its 13-8 loss to No. 5 Oregon State.

ASU baseball’s win streak ends against Oregon State

The Beavers scored in each of the first four innings and failed to score in just one inning all game. OSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead through three innings and led 7-3 after four innings.

ASU cut the Beavers lead to a single run heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, 7-6. But OSU responded with three more runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning.

Two of the three runs scored were unearned. With runners on first and second and one out, sophomore outfielder Isaiah Jackson dropped a fly ball on the warning track which loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk brought in the two unearned runs. The error by the normally sure-handed centerfielder proved costly at a time when ASU was in striking distance of the Beavers.

ASU did score in five of the final six frames, but OSU had an answer every time. High-scoring affairs have become custom when the Sun Devils face the Beavers. In the previous four meetings, just once has either team failed to score 10 runs.

It took the Sun Devils a few innings to scratch the scoreboard, but ASU ended up scoring five runs on OSU’s junior starting pitcher Aiden May. May had given up a total of five runs all season coming into Friday night.

The Sun Devils had won three straight games against the Beavers and had a chance to even the all-time series at 23-23. But OSU displayed why it’s a top-five team in the country with its relentless offense not allowing ASU to ever catch up.

What went well during ASU’s win streak

The offense found its rhythm. ASU started the season on fire in the batter’s box but hadn’t found the same success in a while. But during the win streak, the Sun Devils averaged more than 10 runs per game.

In its previous five series, ASU averaged 4.4 runs per game which led to a 4-8 record. The Sun Devils still averaged more than eight hits per game during that stretch, but bringing those runners in was a struggle. ASU failed to produce the long ball with 11 home runs and just three in the final nine games of that stretch.

However, during the Sun Devils’ five-game win streak, they launched 11 home runs, matching their total from the previous 12 games.

Key offensive producers during ASU’s win streak

Junior catcher Ryan Campos had many of ASU’s important hits during its win streak. Campos hit .318 during the stretch with nine RBIs and five runs scored.

Campos may not have the best average on the team, but he knows how to make his hits count. The veteran catcher leads the team in home runs, doubles, RBI, and runs scored.

Redshirt sophomore Nick McLain seems to have found his stroke at the plate. McLain started the season slow after returning from an injury that left him out at the start of the season. However, the outfielder had a hit in eight straight games prior to Friday night, including five multi-hit games.

McLain hit better than .380 during ASU’s win streak with a pair of doubles and home runs and 10 RBIs. The redshirt sophomore is pivotal for the continued success of the Sun Devils’ offense.

Sophomore outfielder Kien Vu played in four of the five games during ASU’s hot streak. Vu went 6-12 and scored seven runs during that span.

What went wrong on Friday

ASU did a lot of things right on offense Friday night, but it left way too many runners on base. When you face a top-five team in the country, you can’t leave 11 base runners on and expect to win.

The Sun Devils racked up 11 hits and seven walks, which led to many base runners and traffic on the base path throughout the game. But ASU had just three extra-base hits, including only one home run.

The bullpen could not keep OSU from adding on. Every time ASU brought the game within a couple of runs, the Beavers had a response. The Sun Devils did a good job of limiting the damage by stranding 12 OSU base runners. But the Beavers’ 15 hits and nine walks gave them too many opportunities.

When facing a team as talented as the Beavers, you can’t give them free passes and you have to limit the traffic on the bases.

ASU will finish the weekend with two afternoon games to try to bounce back against OSU.

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