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ASU baseball loses consecutive games, eliminated from postseason

The Sun Devils ended their season with a 33-22 record after losing to Fairfield University and the University of Texas

Baseball 2/26/2021 Alex W

ASU redshirt freshman outfielder/left-handed pitcher Kai Murphy (31) prepares to throw the ball while warming up to play against University of Hawai'i at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. ASU lost 3-2.


After winning the first game of the 2021 NCAA Baseball Championship Austin Regional, ASU baseball's season ended over the weekend after losing consecutive games to Fairfield University and the University of Texas.

Friday

ASU began the opening round of the regional with a 7-6 walk-off win against Fairfield. 

After the Stags scored a run in the first inning, the Sun Devils scored four runs across the third and fourth innings to take a 4-1 lead. Redshirt junior infielder Drew Swift scored on a sacrifice fly, freshman infielder Ethan Long drove in a run on a single and freshman infielder Jack Moss hit a two-run home run to score the runs.

Fairfield responded by scoring five runs across three innings. ASU scored another run in the bottom of the eighth inning to enter the final half-inning down 6-5.

The Sun Devils loaded the bases with one out after consecutive singles and a walk. Freshman infielder Blake Pivaroff was then hit by a pitch, bringing in redshirt freshman outfielder Joe Lampe for the tying run. Redshirt freshman infielder Sean McLain subsequently singled to right to score the game-winning run.

ASU capitalized with multiple run-producing hits throughout the game, going 6-for-12 with runners on base and 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position.  

Saturday

No. 2 Texas routed ASU 10-3 to hand the latter team their first loss necessary for elimination. 

The Longhorns scored the first five runs of the game across the third and fourth innings. After ASU scored a run in the fifth, Texas followed with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. 

Redshirt freshman catcher Nate Baez hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to give ASU its final runs of the game. Texas then scored two more runs in the eighth to finish out the game.

Redshirt junior pitcher Justin Fall struggled to locate his pitches as the starter for ASU, surrendering five walks in 2.1 innings pitched. He also allowed three runs in his appearance.

The Sun Devils' pitching corps struggled as a whole, surrendering eight walks and 12 hits.

Sunday

In the teams' second matchup against another, ASU lost against Fairfield 9-7 to fall out of the postseason.

ASU scored six runs across a three-inning span, but Fairfield kept up by scoring four runs in that same time. Fairfield then tied the game with a two-run fifth inning. 

The Sun Devils took the lead in the top of the sixth inning by scoring off of a wild pitch that went into the umpire's pocket.

However, Fairfield quickly responded the next half-inning with a three-run home run from Stags junior infielder Justin Guerrera, the runs that eventually decided the game.

The Sun Devils finished the 2021 season with a 33-22 overall record, including a 22-11 record at home.


Reach the reporter at jspange1@asu.edu and follow @jspangenthal94 on Twitter.

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Justin SpangenthalSports Reporter

Justin Spangenthal is a reporter for The State Press, currently covering Men's Golf and Track and Field. Justin transferred to ASU last January and is planning to graduate Fall '23. He is passionate about journalism and hopes to one day launch his own media outlet.


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