Arizona State drops first game of the season in blown save to Oral Roberts

It was bound to happen at some point, but Arizona State probably didn't expect their first loss of the year to come on Friday night. Even more surprising was the way it happened.

Taking on an Oral Roberts team that presented their first real test of the new year, the Sun Devils turned to ace Ben Jacobs for his second start of the season. Jacobs gave up a solo homer in the first, but otherwise got off to a strong start.

Arizona State's bats remained their reliable selves, too. Josiah Cromwick hit a solo home run in the second to tie it up 1-1. In the third, both Kien Vu and Kyle Walker managed to score on a fielder's choice gone wrong. Later in the third, Jacob Tobias drove in Brandon Compton for another run, upping their lead to 4-1.

The Golden Eagles clawed their way back in at the start of the fifth, though. Still trailing 4-1, with Jacobs dealing ever since that solo shot, Oral Roberts ripped off two sepate solo home runs in the inninhg, trimming things to 4-3. Head coach Willie Bloomquist opted to pull Jacobs after he closed out the fifth, ending his night with four hits allowed - three of them being homers - and 11 strikeouts.

As has been the case so far this season, Arizona State responded to giving up some runs by adding more of their own. A single up the middle from Isaiah Jackson with the bases loaded helped send both Vu and Compton home for runs. The next at-bat featured the college debut for pinch hitter Landon Hairston, and boy was it a memorable one:

Jacobs' replacement, Jonah Giblin, hung around for the sixth and most of the seventh inning, giving up one two-run homer but otherwise keeping Oral Roberts at bay. Lucas Kelly came in for the eighth inning and retired the side with just 12 pitches, nine of them strikes.

That brought in closer Will Koger with a 7-5 lead and looking for his third save of the season. He started off by walking a batter, who later advanced on a wild pitch. A hit put runners at first and third, but with two outs Koger started dealing. He got to an early 0-2 count, just one strike away from the win, when a line drive to center field brought in both base runners, tying things up at 7-7.

Koger would walk one more batter before a single dribbled up the middle of the field, allowing one more runner to plate for the lead. Koger hung on for the rest of the inning, getting a fly out to end it but ultimately blowing the save.

It was now up to the offense to do what they do best, but the Sun Devils were not starting the bottom of the ninth in the heart of the lineup. Cromwick was up first, taking things to a full count before popping up a hit towards center field that was netted with a diving catch for the out.

Isaiah Jackson was up next, and he clearly felt the pressure. Jackson swung at the first pitch and missed. He swung at the second pitch and fouled it off. On the third, he struck out swinging.

Coming back to the plate with the last chance for Arizona State was Hairston, and the youngster delivered yet again. He hit a line drive down the first base line for a single on the 0-2 count. Up next was Jax Ryan, who dragged out his at bat before getting walked.

With runners on first and second, more than enough to win or even tie, Kyle Walker was up next. Walker, a transfer with sky high expectations, had struggled so far this season but was coming in with a chance for a huge play. He connected on the very first pitch, launching it deep to the corner in left field... dropping right into the outfielder's glove.

And just like that, the game was over. The Sun Devils lost in heartbreaking fashion, their closer just one strike away from a win and delivering the best start of the Bloomquist era. More agonizing is that the one time they needed their offense most, it came up short.

The game was a reminder that Oral Roberts is a great team capable of winning in a multitude of ways, and the Sun Devils simply let them back in the game after going up big early. They'll have two more chances to beat the Golden Eagles this weekend, and the way they respond will be very telling.