PHOENIX - No. 16 Sun Devil Baseball is coming off a major series win over the UCF Knights this past weekend. This series, which featured two of the top teams in the Big 12, included a doubleheader due to inclement weather that occurred during the second game of the series this past Saturday. Despite losing the first game of the doubleheader, 2-4, the Sun Devils quickly bounced back in the second game, taking the series by a score of 6-3. Arizona State was originally scheduled to play at Missouri on Tuesday, but the game was cancelled due to inclement weather. The Sun Devils will have a couple of days to prepare for the last home series of the regular season, where they will match up with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
In the first game of the series against the Knights on Friday, the Sun Devils were down 0-2 going into the second before they racked up three runs in the second and third innings to take the lead. Garrett Michel got the scoring started with his third home run of the season, as he hit a solo shot to center field. PJ Moutzouridis doubled to bring in another run that was then followed by another double, this time from Nu'u Contrades to tie the game at three apiece. Moutzouridis gave the Sun Devils the lead in the third by being walked, and Contrades added some insurance for ASU with an RBI single to left field to push their lead by a score of 6-3. Starting pitcher Cole Carlon notched his third straight winning decision, pitching five innings and limiting UCF to three runs while also striking out seven. Arizona State held on and took this one, 9-4, to get the series-opening win.
On Saturday, the Sun Devils struggled to get the offense going. They only recorded two hits throughout this game. Beckett Zavorek had one of the two hits with an RBI single in the second inning. Things got interesting when the game was suspended in the top of the third due to inclement weather. The game resumed the following day on Sunday, but it was still a silent day for ASU's offense as the Sun Devils were defeated, 2-4, with both teams having one win each in this series
On the second game of the doubleheader on Sunday, Nu'u Contrades got the scoring going early with a two-run homer in the first to give ASU an early 2-0 lead. Starting pitcher Colin Linder completed four innings of work, allowing only one run in a solid outing. The Sun Devils' offense struggled after the first inning as they were unable to score a run after the first inning. By the end of the seventh inning, ASU trailed UCF 2-3. The Sun Devils needed to get something going if they wanted to clinch this crucial series with two innings remaining. The offense got it going with Michel reaching first base on a fielder's choice hit that sent the tying run home. With an opportunity to take the lead in the ninth, the Sun Devils capitalized thanks to Dean Toigo's RBI double, followed by Austen Roellig's sacrifice fly that brought home another run, and Dominic Smaldino topping it all off with an RBI single. ASU then had a 6-3 lead over UCF and was able to keep them scoreless in the bottom of the ninth as they took the series to finish off a successful road trip for the Maroon & Gold.
Arizona State will look to tack on more wins as they will be back in Phoenix this upcoming weekend for their regular home series finale, as they will take on Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys are coming off a home series sweep over the TCU Horned Frogs this past weekend. Oklahoma State will also have a couple of days to prep before traveling to Phoenix to take on Arizona State.
Arizona State's series against Oklahoma State will be aired on ESPN2 for the first two games, with the last game being available to stream on ESPN+. All games this week can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060.
No. 16 ASU (33-15, 16-8 Big 12) | Missouri (21-26, 4-20 SEC) | Oklahoma State (31-17, 14-10 Big 12)
This week
Tuesday, May 5, CANCELLED | No. 16 Arizona State at. Missouri (Columbia)
Friday, May 8, 6:05 p.m. | No. 16 Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State (Phoenix) | Watch live: ESPN2 | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Saturday, May 9, 6:05 p.m. | No. 16 Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State (Phoenix) | Watch live: ESPN2 | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Sunday, May 10, 1:05 p.m. | No. 16 Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State (Phoenix) | Watch live: ESPN+ | Listen on KDUS AM 1060
Next week
Tuesday, May 12, 5:00 p.m. | No. 16 Arizona State at. Missouri (Columbia)
Thursday, May 14, 6:05 p.m. | No. 16 Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State (Phoenix)
Friday, May 15, 6:05 p.m. | No. 16 Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State (Phoenix)
Saturday, May 16, 1:05 p.m. | No. 16 Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State (Phoenix)
Last week
Friday, May 1, 6:35 p.m. | No. 19 Arizona State at. UCF (Orlando) | W, 9-4
Saturday, May 2, 6:35 p.m. | No. 19 Arizona State at. UCF (Orlando) | L, 2-4
Sunday, May 3, 6:35 p.m. | No. 19 Arizona State at. UCF (Orlando) | W, 6-3
All times MST
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