PHOENIX – Throughout the 2026 season, No. 16 Arizona State (33-17, 16-10 Big 12) has featured an explosive set of hitters. It includes a potential Golden Spikes winner in sophomore outfielder Landon Hairston, as well as depth throughout the lineup, particularly from its seniors.
There’s been one constant issue that’s plagued them throughout the year and rears its ugly head in contests the Maroon and Gold are unable to prevail in: situational hitting.
Hitting with runners in scoring position has proved to be challenging for the Sun Devils. Even when it feels like they’re close to changing that narrative after a good game in that statistic, it reappears again and causes fans to wonder what’s going on with one of the best offenses in the country.
During Saturday’s 13-6 loss to Oklahoma State (33-17, 16-10 Big 12), ASU hit a measly 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, stranding a total of 12 runners throughout the game, with 10 of them being in scoring position.
“We did a great job of getting runners on base and did a poor job of getting them in,” ASU coach Willie Bloomquist said.
It leaves a bad taste in Sparky’s mouth, as it’s taken what looked like a series it could win into only the team’s second series loss in 2026.
ASU had the bases loaded a total of four times and scored on none of those opportunities. Three of them were inning-ending double plays, and the other was a groundout by Hairston to end the seventh inning.
“I think everyone’s trying too hard, instead of just letting the game come to them and stay focused and locked into the process more than the result,” Bloomquist stated. “Everybody wants to get hits, of course, and be the guy, but you have to have a plan of attack with what you’re doing.”
It wasn’t just hitting that staggered. Saturday meant it was a de facto bullpen game for the Sun Devils. The results were not pretty.
Junior right-handed pitcher Jaden Alba got the start, and his night started pretty well. Through two innings, he pitched well, striking out three batters.
But it turned disastrous quickly, allowing two runs in the third inning on a two-run double. ASU re-took the lead after junior infielder Dominic Smaldino’s second home run of the night, but then Alba allowed three home runs and a total of five runs in the fourth inning before he was pulled.
What looked to be an outing of solid work turned into 3.2 innings pitched and seven runs allowed. It’s the third time this season the California native has allowed six or more runs.
The Sun Devils used a total of five pitchers on the night, allowing 13 runs, nine walks and seven home runs.
“They got pitches to hit and they didn’t miss,” Bloomquist said of ASU’s pitching. “Those guys hit the ball. The ball was carrying tonight again, wind blowing out, ball jumping, and there was a couple of fly balls that carried out, but for the most part, they hit some balls very hard that went a long way. And we know that’s their game. When we fall behind hitters, and against good hitters, they don’t miss, and then they’re going to punish us.”
In the penultimate home game of 2026, Saturday was also senior night for redshirt juniors, seniors, graduates and fifth-year players. Nine players were honored before the game began, with junior infielder Nu’u Contrades and senior left-hander Sean Fitzpatrick as the co-captains.
Contrades eventually hit a home run in the eighth inning to cut the Cowboys’ lead down to five, his 15th of the season.
“In today’s world, it’s a lot about money, but at the end of the day, we can’t forget that these guys are here to get an education and get a degree, and to have that many people seniors out there that have graduated is pretty cool,” Bloomquist said of his seniors. “Again, there’s some that (have) been here longer than others. Nu’u Contrades, one of my favorite, favorite humans that I’ve had the privilege to coach. Guys like that, you wish you had a whole team of.”
But as much of a privilege as it is for them to play in the Maroon and Gold, it’s not changing the fact that the team is getting cold at the worst time.
The loss dropped the Sun Devils down to No. 49 in D1Baseball’s Rating Percentage Index, which could play a factor in whether they make the NCAA tournament entirely.
Four games remain in the regular season, with the series finale against Oklahoma State on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. local time. Then, ASU will play its final regular-season series on the road next weekend against Houston.
“Playoff baseball starts tomorrow,” Bloomquist said. “We’re in that position where every game is a playoff game, and we have to start playing as such. We have no more cushion, we have no more leeway. We have to lock in and focus better than we’re doing right now, because it’s not good enough.”
Following that is the Big 12 tournament, played in Surprise, Arizona, about a 40-minute drive northwest of Phoenix Municipal Stadium. So the home-field advantage will be there, but Sparky needs to patch up its situational hitting and pitching if it wants to see success.
As coach Bloomquist said, he hopes his team won’t be caught “in all the bulls**t.”
“It is what it is, and I know it’s out there, and that’s okay, but I will focus on our players and what we do together as a team, and let the results happen the way they should.”
Leave a Reply