PHOENIX - No. 25 Sun Devil Baseball had a week full of ups and downs. The week got off to a tough start, with losses in their first two games. But they picked themselves back up to end the week with consecutive road wins against BYU. They will look to build from this as they will be home this week, starting with a matchup against New Mexico State, followed by a series with Baylor.
The week got started with a Monday night Territorial Cup faceoff with the Arizona Wildcats. The Sun Devil bullpen played very well in this game, with Easton Barrett, Alex Overbay, Eli Buxton, Sean Fitzpatrick, Derek Schaefer, and Finn Edwards combining for 6.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Down 3-1 going into the eighth, the Sun Devils needed something to stay alive. That's when Nu'u Contrades sent a two-run shot to tie the game at three apiece going into extra innings. However, Arizona scored in the top of the eleventh, and ASU was not able to respond, as they lost 5-3.
The Sun Devils traveled to Provo for a series with the BYU Cougars on Thursday. Despite scoring in six of the seven innings, BYU racked up 19 runs and ended the game in seven innings. Matt Polk was one of the few positives for the Sun Devils, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs and one home run.
On Friday, Arizona State turned things around thanks to Cole Carlon's best performance as a Sun Devil. He pitched six scoreless innings and struck out 11 batters, allowing zero walks. ASU's offense capitalized on Carlon's amazing outing, with Brody Briggs hitting a two-run homer, Landon Hairston recording two hits and two RBIs, and Becket Zavorek recording two singles that resulted in bringing home three runs. The 6-9 batters for the Maroon & Gold scored nine runs combined as ASU defeated BYU in seven innings, 13-0.
With the series up for grabs on Saturday, it seemed like BYU wanted it more at first. They scored seven runs in the first three innings, but entering the fourth, ASU still had plenty of fight left in them. They scored six runs in the inning to tie things up, with PJ Moutzouridis doubling down the left field line to bring home a run. Hairston also contributed to the scoring with a single that brought home two more. Contrades then topped it all off with a three-run double to right center to bring the deficit down to just one, 7-6. Heading into the seventh inning, ASU was still down, 8-7. But, a Matt Polk sacrifice fly to centerfield brought home the tying run, a Moutzouridis double scored another run, and a throwing error brought Austen Roellig to home plate as the Sun Devils took a 10-8 lead and held on to take the victory, 12-8.
Arizona State will look to carry its two-game winning streak into this week, starting with a home matchup with the New Mexico State Aggies on Wednesday night. The Sun Devils will then remain home for a series with the Baylor Bears starting on Friday.
The Aggies will be looking to get back in the win column after being swept by Sam Houston over the weekend. This will be ASU's second game this season against the Aggies, where they won the first meeting, 10-4.
The Bears are coming off a 1-2 weekend in their series against TCU. They took the first game of that series 11-4 before losing the next two. Baylor will make a stop at Sam Houston for a game against the Bearkats before travelling to Phoenix to take on the Sun Devils.
All games this week can be streamed on ESPN+. All games this week can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060.
No. 23 ASU (28-13, 11-7 Big 12) | New Mexico State (17-22, 7-11 CUSA) | Baylor (22-17, 9-9 Big 12)
This week
Wednesday, April 22, 6:35 p.m. | No. 25 Arizona State vs. New Mexico State (Phoenix) | Watch live: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Friday, April 24, 6:35 p.m. | No. 25 Arizona State vs. Baylor (Phoenix) | Watch live: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Saturday, April 25, 6:35 p.m. | No. 25 Arizona State vs. Baylor (Phoenix) | Watch live: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Sunday, April 26, 1:05 p.m. | No. 25 Arizona State vs. Baylor (Phoenix) | Watch live: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
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Next week
Friday, May 1, 3:00 p.m. | No. 25 Arizona State at. UCF (Orlando)
Saturday, May 2, 3:00 p.m. | No. 25 Arizona State at. UCF (Orlando)
Sunday, May 3, 10:00 a.m. | No. 25 Arizona State at. UCF (Orlando)
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Last week
Monday, April 13, 6:35 p.m. | No. 23 Arizona State vs. Arizona (Phoenix) | L, 5-3 (11 inn.)
Thursday, April 16, 6:35 p.m. | No. 23 Arizona State at. BYU (Provo) | L, 19-9 (7 inn.)
Friday, April 17, 12:00 p.m. | No. 23 Arizona State at. BYU (Provo) | W, 13-0 (7 inn.)
Saturday, April 18, 5:00 p.m. | No. 23 Arizona State at. BYU (Provo) | W, 12-8
All times MST
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