PHOENIX — With runners on first and second and no outs in the second inning, Arizona State sophomore second baseman Beckett Zavorek showed bunt attempting to advance a pair of baserunners before the lineup turned over to sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston.

Despite visibly giving Oklahoma State’s defense every intention he was bunting, sophomore right-hander Stormy Rhodes fell behind 3-1 to the shortstop. 

While ahead in the count, Zavorek successfully got the bunt down to advance the runners and set Hairston up with a second-and-third one-out situation. 

ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist said he called for the bunt, taking the chance with Hairston and the top of the lineup.

Yet the decision backfired.

Cowboys head coach Josh Holliday elected to walk Hairston, instead opting to load the bases for junior second baseman Nu’u Contrades to hit. 

Contrades proceeded to swing at the first pitch and hammered it into the ground at sophomore shortstop Brock Thompson for an inning-ending double play. 

While Bloomquist said he was 50/50 on whether OSU would walk Hairston, he liked the team’s odds regardless of who hit in the situation.

“You don't like to take the bat out of Landon's (Hairston) hands,” Bloomquist said. “That wasn't the intention, but the intention was to force the issue and force their hand to see what they were going to and if they were going to walk him. … (It) just didn’t work out.”

After a six-run ninth inning to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on Friday, No. 16 ASU (33-17, 16-10 Big 12) left many chances to respond on the table Saturday, May 9, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Sun Devils grounded into three double plays with the bases loaded and went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position en route to a 13-6 loss to No. 25 OSU (33-17, 16-10 Big 12). 

Although ASU matched the Cowboys’ 14 hits, Bloomquist said his team's poor at-bats in run-scoring situations made the difference.  

“We did a good job setting the table, but then we chased below the zone when it's time to cash in and hit into double plays and get jammed and chase pitches in off the plate,” Bloomquist said. “We didn't get to those situations by doing that. Why all of a sudden, when we get runners in scoring position, do we climb up and do something different, instead of focused on what we do best?” 

The Sun Devils’ struggles with runners on base began from the jump, as an infield flyout by sophomore third baseman Austen Roellig and a double play by junior designated hitter Garrett Michel quickly ended a bases-loaded, no-out threat in the first. 

Bloomquist said he thinks some of his hitters might be pressing in opportunistic situations.  

“I think everyone's trying, maybe they're trying too hard, instead of just letting the game come to them and stay focused and locked into the process more than the result,” Bloomquist said. “Everybody wants to get hits, of course, and be the guy, but you have to have a plan of attack with what you're doing.” 

After leaving the bases loaded twice in as many innings, the Sun Devils had yet another chance to break through in the fourth inning. Yet the approach stayed the same with runners on base, as graduate right fielder Dean Toigo bounced into the third and final double play. 

While frustrated as a team, Bloomquist said they cannot get lost in the numbers and must collectively work together to turn things around quickly. 

“It's a tough pill to swallow when you have opportunity time and time again to cash in, and you don't. … I think that we're all frustrated about it, because we know we can be better than this,” Bloomquist said. “Do sit and dwell on it, or we try to fix the problem by locking in more on the process versus the result.” 

Although the offense left much on the field, ASU’s pitching staff did no favors. 

Junior right-hander Jaden Alba started the game and allowed seven runs over 3 ⅔ innings. However, the right-hander also surrendered three home runs in the fourth inning alone. 

On the night, four Sun Devils’ pitchers allowed a home run, as OSU hit seven. The staff also walked nine. 

After dropping the first two games of the series, only ASU’s second Big 12 series loss of the year, Bloomquist said his team must treat the remaining four regular-season games and whatever lies beyond with the utmost respect. 

“Playoff baseball starts tomorrow,” Bloomquist said. “We're in that position to where every game is a playoff game, and we have to start playing as such. We have no more cushion, we have no more leeway. We have to lock in and focus better than we're doing right now, because it's not good enough.”