PHOENIX - With runners on second and third and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, tied at four, Arizona State sophomore infielder Landon Hairston stepped in for the biggest at-bat of the Sun Devils’ early season.

However, he never got a chance, as he was intentionally walked, leaving sophomore infielder Beckett Zavorek and the rest of the Sun Devils disappointed.

“There’s no one else I’d rather have in that spot than [Hairston],” Zavorek said. 

... other than myself.”

Behind Hairston, Zavorek came through in the clutch and delivered a go-ahead two-run single that served as the game-winner, as Arizona State (3-0) secured a series sweep of Omaha (0-3), winning 6-4 on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

ASU’s dagger came on borrowed at-bats in the eighth, as it appeared that the Mavericks escaped the inning with no damage done, until Sun Devils junior outfielder Sam Myers hit a weak chopper in the infield.

Despite a routine play, Omaha senior first baseman Jackson Trout’s flip to the bag sailed past senior pitcher Oliver Mabee, allowing Myers and sophomore catcher Brody Briggs to advance into scoring position and eventually score the two runs driven in by Zavorek.

Before Zavorek’s base hit, the Sun Devils hadn’t led all game, falling into an early 4-0 hole in the first two innings. 

The main catalyst for the Mavericks’ instant offense wasn’t even in their own jersey. 

ASU sophomore left-hander Easton Barrett was all over the map in his first start of the season, issuing six walks and allowing four runs, all earned, in just 1 ⅔ innings.

Even though Barrett’s posted a crooked stat line on Sunday, Briggs and the Sun Devils still liked what they saw out of the young southpaw.

“I think he showed that his stuff is really good,” Briggs said. “He just struggled with command.”

Briggs had a great day behind the dish, going 2-for-3 and mashing a two-run home run in the third inning to get the Sun Devils on the board.

While he undoubtedly provided a spark at the plate, head coach Willie Bloomquist said he also believed Briggs’ work in all facets helped lift the Sun Devils to a win.

“Briggs’ overall energy kickstarted us, and the homer was icing on the cake,” Bloomquist said.

The strong showing from Briggs makes it two straight games where the Sun Devils catcher has reached base in three-plus plate appearances, as sophomore backstop Coen Niclai provided a hit and three walks in ASU’s 11-5 win over Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Bloomquist said the production behind the plate will be key down the stretch for the Sun Devils.

“We put a lot of expectations on our guys behind the plate,” Bloomquist said, “and they’re rising up to it right now.”

Along with Briggs’ bomb, fifth-year outfielder Dean Toigo also left the yard on Sunday, leading off the sixth inning with a towering solo shot and running senior righty Sam Beck, the Omaha starter, out of the game. 

Although Toigo put together a solid 2-for-5 day at the dish, Bloomquist believes he — despite his two homers in the opening series — has yet to show Sun Devils fans his full ability.

“I’ve seen Dean (Toigo) when he’s really hot,” Bloomquist said, “and he’s not quite there yet.”

A big question mark coming into the campaign was how ASU’s bullpen would fare, especially in games like Sunday, where the Sun Devils couldn’t rely on a strong outing from their starter.

On Sunday, ASU’s relievers were lights-out, combining for 7 ⅓ innings without surrendering a run.

Junior right-hander Jaden Alba came in earlier than expected, giving the Sun Devils length out of the bullpen. The righty allowed up three hits and kept the Mavericks off the board in 4 ⅓ innings of work.

Then, sophomore right-hander Eli Buxton wiggled out of a jam in the seventh, stranding two Mavericks’ baserunners and keeping the game tied at four.

After Buxton, senior southpaw Sean Fitzpatrick didn’t let Omaha put a ball in play in the eighth, striking out three of the four batters he faced and receiving the win.

Finally, junior righty Derek Schaefer finished the job for ASU, mowing down three straight hitters in the heart of Omaha’s order and picking up his first save of the season.

When Bloomquist’s squad finds itself in a late-game situation like Sunday, there’s no one who savors the spotlight more than Schaefer.

“He enjoys it,” Bloomquist said. “He likes coming in and slamming the door.”

Now, the Sun Devils look to build on the momentum from three straight wins to kick off 2026, with their focus shifting to a standalone game with UConn on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Despite Sunday’s struggles, Fitzpatrick and ASU feel the foundations of a successful baseball team starting to take shape.

“We know we can do this and we know we can win,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m very proud of how we responded today.”