(Photo: Sammy Nute/WCSN)
TEMPE – On Thursday, the Sun Devil offense had finally cooled off in their first meeting with Ohio State, scoring less than nine runs for the first time in the young 2024 season. The Buckeyes held Arizona State baseball’s dangerous lineup to just four runs and five hits, with three of the runs coming in the eighth inning after the game had been decided.
A mediocre offensive performance wasn’t going to stand for the Maroon and Gold’s bats, so of course, they had to answer back on Friday.
Riding a bounce-back performance from the offense and another stellar performance from freshman right-hander Thomas Burns, the Sun Devils (4-2) delivered a complete performance in a 13-4 win over Ohio State (3-3).
“It’s just a lot more trust in the way we play the game instead of just expecting it to happen, putting action out there instead of trying to let them come to us because it doesn’t usually work out well.” junior infielder Jacob Tobias said.
Arguably the most positive development coming out of ASU’s first weekend series against Santa Clara was Burns’ stellar first outing. Pitching in his first-ever collegiate game, Burns threw 5.0 innings, allowing just one earned run on a solo shot, also the lone hit Burns allowed all game. The Wisconsin native also displayed that he could dominate college hitters, striking out seven and walking just one.
Five pitches into his second appearance, and it looked like Burns was not going to repeat his opening night outing. After going down 3-0 in the count, he was forced to go inside the strike zone, and junior outfielder Trey Lipsey punished him with a leadoff home run to left-center field.
However, from that point on, the freshman appeared to settle into a familiar rhythm from last Friday. Burns allowed one more run on another solo shot, this time from junior outfielder Josh Stevenson, but besides that one blemish, he was dominant, striking out eight and walking just one across 4.1 innings.
“(Burns) is gonna give up a run or two here and there it’s gonna happen,” Bloomquist said. “He’s not invincible, but the great thing about him is when he does give up runs, he doesn’t seem to be rattled. He just goes right back to work and continues his game plan.”
“I didn’t have the best stuff today, but the bullpen picked me up, and we kept it in the game,” Burns said. “… The breaking balls and the changeup got me out to a lot of jams, and I think that’s what let me work from behind is adding the off-speed stuff to come along with a lot of swinging misses.”
Down 1-0 after one, and coming off the back of that first quiet performance, the ASU offense finally woke up, matching Thursday’s run total in the second inning alone, and who else was going to start it the team’s hottest hitter, junior center fielder Isaiah Jackson. The Vail, Ariz. native turned on a 0-1 pitch and deposited it over the left-center field for his fourth home run of the season, halfway to his freshman-year total of eight.
The leap in offensive production from Jackson has made him arguably ASU’s most dangerous hitter to begin this season. Every time ‘So Fresh, So Clean’ by Outkast blares over the Phoenix Municipal Stadium speakers, fans know to pay attention because something electric is likely happening.
“He’s starting to come into his own and do what he’s capable of doing,” Bloomquist said of his start center fielder. “I think we’ve all seen the physical stature of him the past year and what he’s capable of doing. He’s starting to put it all together now. It’s just a lot of fun. He continues to stay within himself, stay balanced through a swing, and it’s fun to watch him hit when he’s right.”
From that point on, the Sun Devils poured it on, a four-run second inning was followed by at least one ASU run being scored in five of the next six innings. Tobias joined Jackson in the home run column, putting the game out of reach with a two-run blast two right and putting ASU up 8-2 after seven. Tobias finished the game going 2-for-5 with four RBI.
Redshirt freshman Brandon Compton continues to be a valuable bat after working his way back from UCL surgery last season. The homegrown Arizona native recorded his third multi-hit game of the season on Friday, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. After sitting out the previous two games due to a lefty starting on the mound, Compton bounced back with another great performance.
“Just the process, get your work in and get your cage routine in,” Compton said on what keeps him fresh when he is not playing. “When you get in the game, just go up there and hit. That’s what you’re there to do, so go in there and swing.”
Burns and their high-powered offense have been the Sun Devils’ best weapons this year, but the rest of the pitching staff — and particularly the bullpen — have shown some red flags. However, after two outings, junior southpaw Matt Cornelius has shown Bloomquist that he can be not just reliable but also a weapon out of the ‘pen.
Following up a scoreless performance against No. 24 Kansas State that saw him strike out two across 1.1 innings, Cornelius delivered 2.1 shutdown innings against the Buckeyes, striking out five and allowing just one hit.
“That’s a kid that just has waited his turn, and once he’s gotten it, he’s made the most of every opportunity,” Bloomquist said. “His opportunities that he’s had are big situations that he’s come in and games still in limbo, and he just kind of goes out there and does his job. I’m so excited for him.”
On Friday, the Sun Devils executed arguably their most complete performance of the season. A good start from Burns was met by an explosive offense performance and a bullpen that allowed zero earned runs. Now, all that is left to do is prove they can put a whole weekend together.
