Dominic Smaldino hit two home runs, including a grand slam, to help the Sun Devils take the victory and move on to Sunday evening’s game.
(Lincoln, NE) No. 22 Sun Devil Baseball kept the bats hot while staving off a frantic rally as it advanced to the final of the Lincoln Regional, knocking off host and No. 13 national seed Nebraska in an 11-8 elimination game victory on Sunday afternoon at Haymarket Park.
Colby Guy gave the Sun Devils (39-20) his longest outing since 2024, going 6.0 innings in the start and allowing just one run on four hits as he absolutely stymied the Nebraska (43-17) offense with seven strikeouts and no walks. Derek Schaefer earned his ninth save of the season
Dominic Smaldino homered twice, including a massive grand slam in the sixth inning that gave ASU an 11-1 lead – of which ASU would need every bit of after the Huskers would rally to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth.
Nu’u Contrades recorded his fourth home run of the regional and Dominic Longo also recorded a two-run shot as the Sun Devils were able to overcome the emotional ejection of standout Landon Hairston in the fourth inning with eight other players combining for the team’s 13 hits.
With the victory, the Sun Devils advanced to a NCAA Regional final for the first time since 2016. The Sun Devils will take on the regionals’ No. 2 seed Ole Miss after dropping a 14-inning heartbreaker to the Rebels on Friday night. The Sun Devils will need to defeat Ole Miss twice to advance to the Super Regional round.
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Inning by inning
First inning
Colby Guy started things off for the Sun Devils on the mound, retiring the side on a flyout and two strikeouts.
After a quick flyout opened the bottom of the frame, Nu’u Contrades launched a home run to deep left center, giving the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead. The next two hitters went down in order.
Second inning
Guy tossed another 1-2-3 inning, highlighted by a defensive gem from Contrades, who made a tough play on an infield grounder to throw out the runner.
A two-out single from Austen Roellig was the only baserunner the Sun Devils could muster, leading 1-0 after two.
Third inning
Nebraska tied the game on a solo home run to lead off the third, but Guy was able to send down the next three batters to keep it a 1-1 game.
Moutzouridis led off with a single, then moved over to second on a one-out walk from Contrades. Dean Toigo grounded into what would have been an inning-ending double play, but an errant throw from the second baseman allowed Moutzouridis to score and Contrades and Toigo to advance into scoring position. A sac fly from Dominic Smaldino extended Arizona State’s lead to 3-1. Dominic Longo followed it up with a two-run home run to left center. Matt Polk and Roellig each singled to follow before a flyout from Brody Briggs flew out to center, ending the inning, with ASU up 5-1.
Fourth inning
Returning to the mound, Guy tossed another scoreless frame, with the lone blemish a one-out hit by pitch. He added two strikeouts.
Arizona State couldn’t get anything going in the fourth, going down in order.
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Fifth inning
Despite allowing a one-out single, Guy delivered a scoreless inning, keeping the score at 5-1.
With one out, Smaldino cranked a home run to right center to extend the lead to 6-1. Polk reached on a two-out throwing error from the third baseman, but was left on second as Roellig grounded out to end the inning.
Sixth inning
Working around traffic in the form of two singles, Guy was able to keep the Huskers from getting a rally started, ending the frame with ASU still up 6-1.
After a quick first out, Moutzouridis reached on an infield single. Ky McGary, in for the ejected Hairston, doubled into the left field corner to put runners on second and third. An intentional walk to Contrades loaded the bases for Toigo, who drove in a run with a fielder’s choice as Moutzouridis dove into home before the throw could get there. Smaldino then followed it up with his second big fly of the game, a grand slam into the ASU bullpen to increase the lead to 11-1. Longo singled into left field, then stole second a few pitches later. After a groundout from Polk, Roellig laced a single through the left side to put runners on the corners. A groundout from Briggs ended the frame.
Seventh inning
Josh Butler was the first arm out of the bullpen, allowing a leadoff double and a walk to give Nebraska two baserunners. A flyout to left picked up the first out before the wheels started to fall off for Butler. A chopper in the infield turned into an error when Butler threw the ball into the stands, allowing a run to score. The next hitter lifted a bloop single into left field that scored two runners, cutting ASU’s lead to 11-4. Another double allowed another run to score, prompting a pitching change. Taylor Penn was called in, allowing a single, before picking up the second out on a sac fly that made the score 11-6. A flyout to left prevented the Huskers from continuing their rally.
The Sun Devils went down in order on three straight groundouts in the seventh.
Eighth inning
Penn returned to the mound, tossing a three-up, three-down frame.
Toigo led off with a single, and after a strikeout from Smaldino, Toigo was caught stealing to quickly put two outs on the board. Longo worked a walk, but Garrett Michel, pinch hitting for Polk, struck out to end the inning.
Ninth inning
After a strikeout opened the frame, a walk and two singles allowed Nebraska to score, making it 11-7. Derek Schaefer was brought in from the bullpen, hitting the first batter to load the bases. A foul out down the right field line drove in another Huskers run, making it 11-8, but Schaefer was able to get a flyout to right to close out the game.
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Up next
The Sun Devils have a quick turnaround before Sunday evening’s game against Ole Miss. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. AZT. The game can be streamed on ESPNU Network.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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