(Photo: Madison Sorenson/WCSN)
TEMPE — While Arizona State baseball’s three-game home weekend series against St. John’s was pivotal for the penultimate outcome, it also proved that the team can find a multitude of methods to win when on the diamond. The Sun Devils opened things up by riding the long ball to victory Friday evening, and when the bats lay silent the next day, an excellent outing from the bullpen helped squeak out a series-clinching win.
With a series sweep and one of just 18 unbeaten records remaining on the line, ASU (7-0) added another variation to its formula by racking up 16 base hits to defeat St. John’s (1-6) 16-6 on Sunday for the program’s best start since 2019.
“I think that just goes to show that style of team Willie and all the coaches brought in this year,” sophomore second baseman Beckett Zavorek said. “I think we all complement each other really well, and we could just find out a way to win any way we can, and that’s what makes us good.”
Despite what the final score may suggest, smooth sailing turned into rocky waters right away with sophomore left-handed pitcher Easton Barrett’s second start of the season, a continuation of his struggles against Omaha. 25 of the southpaw’s 52 total pitches fell inside the strike zone.
After allowing six runners to take base, Barrett was relieved by junior right-hander Jaden Alba just 2.1 innings into the game. He’d later be charged with one earned run when Alba allowed the Red Storm to draw first blood on an RBI sacrifice fly later in the frame.
“This raises a little bit more concern today with a couple of them that just hasn’t been real sharp, and the ball hasn’t been exploding out of his hand like it was this fall and this spring,” Bloomquist said. “So, we’re going to have to take a peek at that and see what ultimately is going to be best for us moving forward. If that means there’s a change on that horizon, we’re gonna discuss it.”
To make up for having to utilize the bullpen at such an early juncture, the third inning also saw the Sun Devils’ bats break out of their cold streak and shift into full gear.
ASU led off with a base hit from redshirt sophomore catcher Brody Briggs and a walk from sophomore center fielder Ky McGary before two wild pitches resulted in the tying run coming home.
An RBI groundout by junior shortstop PJ Moutzouridis two at-bats later paved the way for three consecutive runs via a single by redshirt junior second baseman Nu’u Contrades, a double from junior first baseman Dominic Smaldino, and a sacrifice fly by redshirt junior designated hitter Garrett Michel to cap off a five-run frame.
Three innings later, the Sun Devils did it all over again when a McGary leadoff single opened the flood gates completely. Moutzouridis and graduate right fielder Dean Toigo notched RBI base hits, Michel drew a bases-loaded walk, and Zavorek scored two on a double down the left field line.
Sophomore catcher Coen Niclai, who took over behind the plate after Bloomquist pulled Briggs due to not running out a dropped pop fly, closed out the second scoring hot streak by adding one more run to the scoreboard on a groundout.
“We had wind blowing in again today which is rare here at Muni, but in the last two days we’ve had wind kind of blowing in, so we had to stay above the baseball and not get too big,” Bloomquist said. “We did a good job of taking our hits today and not trying to get too big.”
ASU’s 11 runs in six innings coincided with the bullpen rounding into form. Alba surrendered two earned runs by the time he was pulled following the top of the fifth, but he still collected four punchouts and stretched out to 2.2 innings.
The trio of sophomore right-hander Taylor Penn, junior right-hander Wyatt Halvorson, and sophomore right-hander Finn Edwards in his Sun Devil debut put the home side into cruise control on the mound with three scoreless innings, five strikeouts, and only one walk.
Carrying an 11-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the eighth, ASU put together a third frame of five or more runs to leave no doubt. Moutzouridis, Niclai, and Hairston all collected their second RBIs of the day from inside-the-park contact, while a pinch-hit appearance from redshirt sophomore infielder Austen Roellig led to two runners reaching home plate due to a fielding error.
Roelling was one of four substitutions Bloomquist made during the inning, but was the only one who wasn’t a first-year player. Outfielders Ryan Darrah and Jaxsyn Durst made their way into the batter’s box while catcher Cooper Clouser recorded the first base hit of his collegiate career.
“It was great, I mean, they’re all great kids,” Zavorek said. “They show up every day and work their tails off, so it’s always good seeing them get in there and have some success.”
While McGary is a returner from the 2025 season, the Phoenix native made it into the starting lineup for the first time as a Sun Devil. His three hits and three walks led to him being named one of the players of the game by the team in the clubhouse.
“Adrenaline’s still pumping,” McGary said. “I’m very excited. That was hopefully the first start of many, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
The eventual double-digit victory ended on a sour note when sophomore right-hander Eli Buxton gave up three earned runs on three hits and a walk in the bottom of the ninth. Senior right-hander Nick Anello had to be brought in to pick up the final out in a reflection of areas needing improvement hiding behind the 7-0 start.
None of the seven pitchers ASU deployed on Sunday reached three innings pitched whilst allowing eight runners to take base due to walks alone. On the other side of the ball, the bats continued to struggle with capitalizing on scoring situations by leaving 10 men on base.
The greatest challenge awaiting on the 2026 schedule is officially at the unbeaten Sun Devils’ doorstep as the team travels to Norman to play No. 21 Oklahoma on Tuesday and Wednesday before facing No. 4 Mississippi State, No. 13 Tennessee and No. 24 Texas A&M in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington, Texas.
“I think we’re just ready to go out and show the nation what we’re made of, and show what we could do,” Zavorek said. “I think we’re a little bit slept on right now. Not a lot of people are talking about us, but that’s exactly how we want it. We just want to fly under the radar and perform when it matters.”
