Sun Devils aim to build off midweek win against Gonzaga this weekend

(Photo: Austin Hurst/WCSN)

Arizona State baseball desperately needed a performance like the one it put forward on Tuesday night.

After a weekend against Minnesota that saw them blow two late-game leads en route to their first series loss of the season, the Sun Devils seemingly unleashed those frustrations on UNLV, winning 7-0 for their second straight midweek shutout. It was ASU’s best-rounded performance of the season, as the offense looked like itself while the bullpen ensured a Rebels’ comeback never took place.

“It was nice to be able to breathe late in the game and not have to have it come down to the final pitch like it has I think in just about every game we’ve had,” Bloomquist said. “I thought today was our most complete game, I don’t think just because it was a shutout, but the intensity was much better throughout the entire game today.”

But there’s little time for Bloomquist’s group to celebrate such a complete victory with a new opponent already on the horizon. The Sun Devils’ (9-4) focus quickly shifts to Gonzaga (2-7), who they will welcome to Phoenix Municipal Stadium for a three-game series this weekend to wrap up non-conference play.

Since 2016, the Bulldogs have established themselves as a perennial competitor in the West Coast Conference (WCC), winning four regular season titles, two conference tournaments and reaching the NCAA tournament four times. However, in the past two years, things have changed as they have posted losing records in each of their last two campaigns.

What Gonzaga did do last year was finish fourth in the WCC with a 14-10 mark during conference play. Landing around the same spot this season appears to be the projection for the Bulldogs, as they were selected to tie for third place in the league’s Preseason Coaches Poll. Early on, though, they haven’t quite met that expectation.

The Bulldogs have limped to a 2-8 start to the 2024 campaign, entering this weekend suffering four straight defeats. Getting away from home might be exactly what the doctor ordered for Gonzaga, as all four of those losses — a three-game sweep at the hands of BYU before a midweek defeat to Seattle Wednesday — have come at Washington Trust Field in Spokane.

The main problem for the Bulldogs, especially of late, has been their pitching. The Zags’ 7.34 ERA is the highest in the WCC, and although they’ve thrown the conference’s lowest number of innings, they still have a WHIP north of 1.60. This is an inviting matchup for ASU’s offense, which has ranked among the top-half of the Big 12 in most categories.

That’s not to say that Gonzaga doesn’t possess some strong arms. Despite only posting two appearances and nine innings so far, sophomore right-hander Gabe Brabec has been the Bulldogs’ most effective starter, pitching to a 9.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 13 strikeouts to eight walks. Though his numbers are inflated due to a forgettable appearance against Seattle that saw him allow three earned runs in a third-inning of work, sophomore righty Miles Gosztola, a 2024 All-WCC Freshman, has tossed 13 strikeouts and six walks in 12.1 frames.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Finbar O’Brien has proven Gonzaga’s most trusted reliever this season, as he’s accrued 11.2 innings across four appearances out of the bullpen, racking up a 6.17 ERA while fanning 14. Another key reliever, sophomore righty Erik Hoffberg has retired ten via the strikeout while owning a 7.45 ERA.

On offense, Gonzaga hasn’t been much better. Although the Bulldogs played the fewest games in the WCC and most of their totals are lower than all other teams, the sample size hasn’t mattered. The Zags’ .239 average, .321 on-base percentage and .338 slugging percentage are all the third-worst in their conference.

The Zags’ most dangerous hitter is undoubtedly junior second baseman Hudson Shupe. The Richland, Wash. native has the second-highest average in the WCC (.425), starting the 2025 campaign going 17-for-40 with one homer and five RBI. A transfer from Cuesta College, redshirt sophomore designated hitter Mikey Bell has been a strong addition, hitting .351 with five extra-base hits, six runs driven in and a team-leading .514 slugging percentage.

Despite a .147 average, senior shortstop Ty Yukumoto has shown his ability to get on base and work at-bats, pacing the Bulldogs with eight walks to four strikeouts and a .310 on-base percentage. Fifth-year outfielder Vincent Temesvary has driven in the most runs for Gonzaga with seven, and he has eight hits including one long ball to his name.

The Sun Devils and Bulldogs will kick off the series this Friday, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. MST.