Derek Schaefer Archives - Cronkite Sports

How Willie Bloomquist has retooled ASU baseball following NCAA Tournament run

by Jacob Fredericks - October 23, 2026October 23, 2026

(Photo: Ethan Ignatovsky/WCSN) PHOENIX – The second Ole Miss outfielder Cannon Goldin crossed home plate, ending Arizona State’s season, head coach Willie Bloomquist was forced to turn his attention to building toward a new campaign. Even being two extra innings losses away from competing to go to the College World Series

Meet the 10 Sun Devils selected in the 2026 MLB Draft

by Jacob Fredericks - July 14, 2026July 14, 2026

(Photo: Connor Gleason/WCSN) PHOENIX – When Arizona State’s season came to an end, many of the Sun Devils players sank to the floor. They had crashed out in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. However, it came with a sense of how close the team

No. 16 Sun Devils collapse after standout Cole Carlon performance

by Jacob Fredericks - May 9, 2026May 9, 2026

(Photo: Connor Gleason/WCSN) PHOENIX – The word implosion can be defined as the abrupt, violent collapse of an object inward on itself, occurring when external pressure outweighs internal pressure. When junior right-handed pitcher Derek Schaefer walked out to the mound in the top of the ninth with a 6-3 lead, there

Sun Devils’ Bullpen Near-Perfect Performance Leads Way for Comeback in Opening Weekend Finale

by Caleb Harris - February 16, 2026February 16, 2026

PHOENIX – Sean Fitzpatrick stepped onto the mound for the second time in two days. Unlike the day before, he did not have a six-run cushion. Omaha was tied with Arizona State 4-4 in the eighth inning, with the top of its batting order due up. Surrendering a run would

Carlon shines in season-opening start against Omaha

by Rees Goodall - February 14, 2026February 14, 2026

(Photo: Maya Diaz/WCSN) PHOENIX – As the dark night sky donned overhead Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the crowd of 3,690 was treated to the sight of a kindling star. The second-best opening night crowd in stadium history wasn’t gazing at stars thousands of miles away, rather one stood just 60-feet-and-six-inches away from

Sun Devils even series with Houston, win 33rd game

by Andrew Hayslett - May 10, 2025May 10, 2025

(Photo: Joshua Eaton/WCSN) PHOENIX – Arizona State baseball looked like it was going to be in an offensive shootout with Houston, with the teams trading a pair of one-run innings to start the game. Then the floodgates opened for ASU, scoring five runs in the third and breaking away from the

Sun Devils clinch second-straight series with complete win over BYU

by Sean Brennan - April 25, 2025April 26, 2025

(Photo: Nickolas Montei/WCSN) PHOENIX — There was little panic within Arizona State’s dugout when BYU sophomore outfielder Crew McChesney sent the third pitch of Friday’s game over the right-field wall, instantly putting the Cougars ahead. Although a moment like that can set an ominous tone, the Sun Devils know that with

No. 24 ASU’s pitching allows two Crooked Numbers in loss to Arizona

by Andrew Hayslett - April 5, 2025April 5, 2025

(Photo: Austin Hurst/WCSN) PHOENIX – Junior lefty Ben Jacobs had two outs in the fifth with a four-run lead. It took Jacobs six batters to record the final out in a disastrous fifth, letting the Wildcats back into the ballgame. “We left a couple pitches over the plate tonight that they didn’t

Sun Devils survive ninth inning threat to avoid the sweep

by Ethan Ignatovsky - March 2, 2025March 2, 2025

(Photo: Marina Williams/WCSN) PHOENIX — In the top of the ninth inning, Arizona State baseball was fighting for survival against Minnesota. The Sun Devils had the lead, but the Golden Gophers were on the brink of flipping the script of the game. Two innings prior, Minnesota put up four runs to put

Sun Devils dominate Oral Roberts in 9-2 win, clinch series victory

by Keenan Vaughan - February 23, 2025February 23, 2025

(Photo: Nickolas Montei/WCSN) PHOENIX — The classic saying that it’s not about how you start but rather how you finish can't be truer in sports. Arizona State watching a two-run lead evaporate in the bottom of the ninth on Friday to allow Oral Roberts to hand the team its first loss