willie bloomquist Archives - Cronkite Sports

Sun Devils season ends at the hands of Ole Miss in extra-inning thriller

by Jacob Fredericks - June 1, 2026June 1, 2026

(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics/X) LINCOLN – As the late-night Nebraska humidity lay upon Haymarket Park on Sunday night, it felt like a repeat of two nights prior. Especially for Arizona State, which found itself in extra innings for the second time against Ole Miss in the Lincoln Regional. Junior pitcher Derek Schaefer

Hometown hero Klecker saves Sun Devils from elimination

by Jacob Fredericks - May 31, 2026May 31, 2026

(Photo: Connor Gleason/WCSN) LINCOLN – On Friday night, not only did Arizona State lose, but it lost in 14 innings. A long game like that forced head coach Willie Bloomquist to utilize more of his pitchers than he wanted to. Bloomquist was adamant after the game that he would need his starter

Sun Devils thrash SDSU to stay alive in Lincoln Regional

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by Jacob Fredericks - May 30, 2026May 30, 2026

LINCOLN – In the early hours of Saturday morning, Arizona State was still playing a game that had started on Friday. The Sun Devils were still trying to move into the winner's side of the bracket as they played Ole Miss. As that game ended, ASU was left in despair. Head coach

Nu’u Contrades shines in his NCAA Tournament debut

by Jacob Fredericks - May 30, 2026May 30, 2026

LINCOLN – In 2022, 18-year-old Nu’u Contrades decided to move from his home in Hawaii to play for Arizona State under then-new head coach Willie Bloomquist. Little did that youngster know, he would eventually be an essential piece of a team vying to make a postseason run and even make an

Sun Devils fall in heartbreaking NCAA Tournament thriller

by Jacob Fredericks - May 30, 2026May 30, 2026

(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics) LINCOLN — As the clock struck 1 a.m. in Nebraska, Arizona State and Ole Miss were still deadlocked. The game was entering the bottom of the 14th inning, and no end seemed in sight. When junior right-handed pitcher Jaden Alba walked onto the mound for his fifth inning

Preview: ASU selected as No. 3 seed in Lincoln Regional

by Jacob Fredericks - May 28, 2026May 28, 2026

After a stressful Selection Monday in 2025, Arizona State found its way back to the NCAA Tournament for the second time under head coach Willie Bloomquist–this time without as much tension. The Sun Devils’ name was called towards the end of the selection show, as they were drawn into the Lincoln

No. 21 Sun Devils use heavy offense to advance to conference semifinals

by Joaquin Rodriguez and Jacob Fredericks - May 22, 2026May 22, 2026

SURPRISE, Ariz. – With no outs in the fourth inning and a runner on third base, Arizona State sophomore centerfielder Landon Hairston approached the plate with a chance at history. The Arizona native was one home run away from breaking ASU’s single-season home run record. After taking the first pitch for

No. 16 Sun Devils falter on Senior Night

by Jacob Fredericks - May 10, 2026May 10, 2026

(Photo: Elijah Longoria/WCSN) PHOENIX – As Arizona State entered the fourth inning, an irksome feeling spread across the stands at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Sun Devils were trailing 8-3 and had missed on multiple opportunities to close the gap. Then, that irksome feeling blew away into the Arizona wind for just a

Nu’u Contrades’ ascension to the No. 2 spot helps ASU clinch series against Baylor

by Keenan Vaughan - April 26, 2026April 26, 2026

PHOENIX — On March 3, what could’ve been a routine RBI double for Arizona State redshirt junior designated hitter Nu’u Contrades turned into him clutching second base after tumbling to the ground. The co-team captain of the Sun Devils went down with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss five

Taylor Penn-Colin Linder piggyback gives ASU a chance for its first Big 12 Conference sweep

by Ethan Ignatovsky - April 26, 2026April 26, 2026

(Photo: Connor Gleason/WCSN) PHOENIX – Arizona State redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Colin Linder has faced a world of adversity. Originally committed to Texas A&M, Linder began his collegiate career at the junior college level before arriving in Tempe. His ascension was delayed by an elbow injury that cost him his first season