Baseball drops 5-3 decision to No. 20 Tennessee in Arlington

Turning point
Colin Linder labored through the second inning in an inning that honestly could have been much worse than it ended up being, regardless of it being all the offense Tennessee would need. The Vols racked up five hits, two walks and a HBP in the inning but managed just four runs out of it, handing ASU two outs on a sac bunt and an exceptional play by Linder to cover home on a wild pitch to get an out on the base path. Regardless, while ASU would have a puncher’s chance throughout, the four runs were the difference in the game. 

Big moment
There were no shortage of chances for the Sun Devils that could have easily turned the tides in the contest but the one that maybe hurt the most came in the sixth. Toigo welcomed a new UT pitcher into the contest with a single laced off the second baseman. Dominic Smaldino looked to have drawn a full count walk after that that would have put two runners on with no outs in a 4-2 ballgame. However, the pitch was called a strike (despite being quite clearly outside the zone according to the tracking devices) and to make matters worse, Toigo was thrown out trying to take second on the play to immediately quash any ASU threat as the Sun Devils only managed to send the minimum to the plate. 

Final straw
The Sun Devils had a golden opportunity to at least tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, trailing 4-3. Longo drew a one out walk and Toigo took exactly what the Vol defense gave him, pushing a bunt single down the third base line where no one was covering due to the super shift UT had set up against him. With two on and just one out, ASU was a hit into the outfield away from tying or taking the lead. But a strikeout and flyout ended the threat and Tennessee took advantage by tacking on a huge unearned insurance run in the top of the ninth inning while ASU was unable to muster any late magic in the bottom of the frame.

The big number
2-9 – The Sun Devils were not without chances to take control of this game, even with the early deficit. Arizona State managed to bat just 2-for-9 (.222) with runners in scoring position and stranded eight baserunners in the contest. ASU was just 1-for-9 (.111) with two outs as well. These were two areas ASU had been largely effective in entering the weekend, as the team’s .375 average with RISP was 18th in the country and the .333 average with two outs was 25th.

Inning by inning
First inning
Linder had a pair of first pitch outs and stranded a two-out walk in a scoreless start to the game. Hairston poked a two strike single down the left field line. Contrades laced a line drive down the left field line that went just left of the shallow left foul post but did notch a two-out single put a pair on with one out but a double play in to the perfectly placed shift ended the threat.

Second inning
UT led off with a single and back-to-back doubles to quickly plate two runs with no outs. A walk and a sac bunt had two more in scoring position with one out while also turning the order around. Linder made a great play to cover home after wild pitch to get the second out but another walk and back-to-back singles would make it 4-0. Linder would issue a flyout to strand the bases loaded and keep things from completely spiraling but the damage was done. The Sun Devils went down in order in the bottom half of the frame.

Third inning
Linder returned to the bump and settled in for a 1-2-3 inning after his shaky second. Briggs notched a one-out single up the middle and Hairston doubled off the wall in right to put a pair in scoring position but back-to-back strikeouts would strand them and leave ASU in a 4-0 hole.

Fourth inning
Linder worked around a two-out single to keep it a four-run game. The Devils bats finally broke through with a pair of one-out doubles from Longo and Toigo to plate the first run of the game. Smaldino lined out into another perfectly placed shift but Roellig poked one to shallow right field and the aggressive send home for Toigo proved huge after an incredible slide around the catchers glove and getting the fingertips on the plate ahead of the tag to make it a 4-2 game. Briggs grinded out a walk and a Hairston HBP loaded the bases but ASU couldn’t do more damage.

😱😱 Dean Toigo is ruled SAFE and the Sun Devils add to their tally!#NCAABaseball x 🎥 @FloCollegeBSB / @ASU_Baseball

pic.twitter.com/IcrXVVxOyk

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) February 28, 2026

Fifth inning
Alex Overbay entered and induced a first pitch flyout before back-to-back backwards Ks for a quick 1-2-3 frame. The Sun Devils also went down in order.

Sixth inning
A funky two-out infield single was the only blemish in Overbay’s second inning of work as he struck out the side. Toigo welcomed the new pitcher into the game with a leadoff single but a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play on a clear ball four paused the momentum and would only bring the minimum to the plate.

Seventh inning
Overbay had to work around a two-out double and walk for his first real trouble of the outing but got a line drive out to right to send ASU to the stretch within striking distance. Hairston reached on a one-out walk, stole second and took third on the throwing error and Moutzouridis brought him home with a sac fly to bring ASU within 4-3.

Eighth inning
Finn Edwards came into the game and issued a one out walk before getting a big strikeout to bring Fitzpatrick in. The veteran issued a rare walk to a left but then an incredible play from Moutzouridis at short on a sharp-hit grounder as he came from all fours to make the throw across the diamond for the out to keep Tennessee from loading the bases. The Devils had a golden opportunity with a Longo walk and a perfectly placed bunt single to beat the shift by Toigo to put two on with one out but a strikeout and flyout would keep UT on top.

Ninth inning
Fitzpatrick gave up his first hit of the season with a leadoff double to put a critical run in scoring position and lead to a call to Schaefer out of the pen. Schaefer got a swinging strike but a passed ball moved the runner to third and a sac fly brought him home to make it 5-3 and sap the remainder of the ASU momentum. The Sun Devils couldn’t mount any late inning magic with a quick strikeout and pair of one-pitch outs.