Junior catcher RJ Ybarra runs to first base after a base hit during the second inning of a game against Oklahoma State, Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. (J. Bauer-Leffler/The State Press)Despite its recent history of close losses against Oklahoma State, ASU baseball was able to turn the tables and win 4-3 in walk-off fashion in its opening game of the season.
Entering the game, ASU baseball had lost three out of its last four against Oklahoma State, which was a stretch of games that were high-scoring and were decided by an average of 2.75 runs per game.
ASU baseball's only win in that four-game stretch was a 6-1 thumping in Surprise, Arizona, but its losses were came in Stillwater, Oklahoma by scores of 8-5, 6-5 and 14-12, respectively.
Similar to this 10-inning game, the 6-5 loss in the second game of ASU baseball's three-game series against Oklahoma State last season was decided in 11 innings.
After Friday's win, the last five games between the two teams have been decided by an average of 2.4 runs.
Junior pitcher Ryan Burr recorded five strikeouts in two innings, including his clutch performance in the ninth where he struck out the side with runners on second and third.
Burr said his trust in the coaching staff and catcher Zach Cerbo helped calm him down during shaky parts of the innings.
"I went out there and I didn't really feel like I had my best command or my best stuff," he said. "Things well our way and it's nice to get the first win."
However, Friday's 4-3 ASU win game a pitcher's duel at Phoenix Muni and became the lowest-scoring game in five games between the two teams.
Video by Stefan Modrich | Sports Reporter
"It was a pitcher's duel, but it didn't feel like that throughout the game because there were guys on base and both teams were getting hits," Burr said. "It came down to executing when it mattered and we obviously did that —Woody did that at the end, and we walked away with a win."
Burr experienced some turbulence during his first outing at Phoenix Muni, but he noted that every pitching situation is different in some way.
"Every chance I get to pitch feels different," he said. "We've practiced and scrimmaged here, but when there are people watching and another team is a dugout, there's an adrenaline rush, which could by why I didn't feel as controlled out there."
A pitcher's duel certainly favors the ASU in this series as its other ace, junior Ryan Kellogg, will be on the mound in the second of three games against the Cowboys.
ASU head coach Tracy Smith said the team's first win at Phoenix Muni was a positive experience in a great atmosphere.
"I'm so happy that people came out and I hope more people come out and see what a fan-friendly park this is," he said. "From my vantage point, it was a pretty cool environment."
Video by Stefan Modrich | Sports Reporter
Reach the reporter at Justin.Toscano@asu.edu or on Twitter @justintoscano3.
Like State Press Sports on Facebook or follow @statepresssport on Twitter.
