ASU Baseball Season Ends in Regional Rematch Against UC Irvine
Tempe, AZ – Arizona State University’s (ASU) baseball team concluded their season on Sunday, falling to UC Irvine 11-6 in a thrilling NCAA Tournament rematch. The defeat marks a bittersweet end for the Sun Devils, who made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021 under head coach Willie Bloomquist, ending a historic program drought.
In a decisive game for the Los Angeles Regional final, ASU faced a 7-2 deficit entering the sixth inning. The Sun Devils threatened after fattening up Irvine pitcher Ryder Brooks’ pitch count, leading to crucial hits from Brandon Compton and rookie Beckett Zavorek, narrowing the score to 7-4. Despite Landon Hairston’s near game-tying drive, ASU could not capitalize, leaving them six runs behind as the game progressed.
ASU, the third seed in the Los Angeles regional, had previously earned a victory against the second-seeded Anteaters. With this win, Irvine advanced to face host UCLA in a pivotal matchup, needing two victories to proceed to the super regionals.
The Sun Devils struggled early, with pitcher Derek Schaefer facing a flurry of hits, allowing UC Irvine to seize an early lead. Jacob Tobias briefly closed the gap with a sacrifice fly but the Sun Devils could not overcome a costly inning allowing two home runs from Chase Call.
Isaiah Jackson provided a highlight for ASU with his 18th home run of the season, showcasing his impressive late-game performance. Bloomquist praised Jackson’s growth throughout the season, crediting his commitment to the team’s offensive strategy. The Sun Devils hope to build on this year’s progress as they look to return to the tournament next season.
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