The offense goes silent, floodgates open late in ASU’s loss to Ohio State

TEMPE, Ariz. — ASU struck first with a run in the first inning, but the bats quickly became nonexistent after that. The late-game fireworks from Ohio State quickly thwarted any hope for the Sun Devils.

Eight runs over the final three frames combined with sophomore pitcher Landon Beidelschies’ masterful performance led OSU to its 11-4 win Thursday night.

“Today was extremely disappointing. I’ll take the responsibility, I didn’t have these guys ready to play today and it showed,” head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “They were embarrassing from the offensive standpoint; didn’t stick with the plan in any way, shape, or form that we had going in to that guy (Beidelschies).”

ASU loses to Ohio State behind offensive woes

ASU’s offense has been electric so far this season. The offense ranked in the top 10 in the country in batting average, home runs, and slugging percentage. The Sun Devils were averaging more than 10 runs and 14 hits per game coming into Thursday night.

However, Beidelschies put on a clinic. He finished the night after seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run, and racking up seven strikeouts. He threw 70 of his 96 pitches in the zone. ASU was able to get a run in the first inning but shut down afterward.

“We scored right there in the beginning, and it looked like things were going to be okay,” Bloomquist said. “Then we just pulled the ripcord and decided to parachute the rest of the game until it was too late.”

In the bottom of the eighth, junior catcher Ryan Campos hit a three-run home run to bring ASU within four runs. But OSU added another three runs in the top of the ninth quickly killing any momentum ASU had built.

On the mound for ASU, sophomore pitcher Ben Jacobs was phenomenal through four innings. Jacobs was nearly untouchable giving up just one hit and striking out seven batters in his first four innings.

“He was unbelievable. He set the pace that we wanted to be set,” junior infielder Jacob Tobias said. “We didn’t pick him up and that’s on us. He couldn’t have done anything more than what he did today, and it was awesome.”

Although, the Buckeyes were able to get to Jacobs in the fifth. OSU broke through for three runs and chased Jacobs from the game.

“I missed some pitches up in the zone and it was the third time through the lineup,” Jacobs said. “I was proud of myself that I was able to fill up the zone today, but I can execute some pitches a little bit better.”

Bats go silent for ASU

ASU’s bats went silent for six consecutive frames allowing OSU’s offense to eventually find success. Bloomquist pointed to the teams’ lack of focus as the main cause of the lack of offense Thursday.

“We immediately just kind of lost focus as to what we were trying to do off of him and let him get ahead. We didn’t dictate the at-bats, he did,” Bloomquist said. “When you have a pitcher of that quality that you’re allowing to work ahead of you and not be aggressive, he’s going to tie you in knots, and that’s on us.”

Tobias echoed the lack of focus. He said Beidelschies threw the ball well, but it was more on ASU’s inability to make adjustments and have smart at-bats. Tobias pointed to breaking ball in particular, saying guys weren’t seeing it well and swinging at pitches they shouldn’t be, so that is something they need to work on.

“Whether it’s the smallest school in the nation or the biggest school in the nation, I think you have to take them as they’re one of the best teams that we’re going to play all year,” Tobias said.

Luckily for ASU, that was the first of four games against Ohio State and the Sun Devils are back on the diamond tomorrow. They get a quick turnaround to try to get back in the win column. Friday’s game will be at 6:30 p.m. on ASU Live Stream-2.

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