PHOENIX - Throughout a recent 5-5 stretch, No. 25 Arizona State's pitching woes have threatened the program's postseason status

From once being considered to host a regional to on the cusp of a nervous selection Monday, according to D1 Baseball, the Sun Devils' season has flowed with how the pitching staff performs. 

After seven strong innings on Saturday, it appeared the pitching might let down the Sun Devil faithful once again.

With the bases loaded in a two-run game, Baylor junior catcher JJ Kennett drove a ball into deep center field off junior right-hander Derek Schaefer. 

However, Saturday proved to be a different story, as the ball lost its carry just short of the center-field fence and fell harmlessly into sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston’s glove to end the eighth-inning threat. 

The near-grand slam served as a symbol for Saturday’s game, as the Sun Devils pitched around some hard contact for outs.

ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist credited the pitchers with controlling the game on a night where the offense turned in a below-average performance.

“That was an outstanding job by the pitching staff,” Bloomquist said. “We were able to put up enough runs and make the plays we had to in order to get a win.”

For a second consecutive night, No. 25 ASU (30-14, 13-7 Big 12) made a statement on the mound, limiting Baylor (22-20, 9-11 Big 12) to just three hits on its way to a 4-2 win on Saturday, April 25, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Sun Devils also clinched their fourth-straight Big 12 series victory of the season.

With the win, ASU joined Kansas as the only teams in the Big 12 to reach the 30-win mark in 2026.

Following junior left-hander Cole Carlon’s 11-strikeout performance and a combined 17 strikeouts by the pitching staff on Friday, the Sun Devils carried the momentum into Saturday. 

ASU pitchers struck out 14 Bears on Saturday, limiting them to just four runners in scoring position and a hitless 0-for-4 in that situation. 

From the jump, sophomore right-hander Taylor Penn, usually a bullpen option for the Sun Devils, threw three innings in his fourth start of the season and allowed just one hit and one run.

In relief of Penn, junior right-hander Colin Linder rebounded after surrendering a home run to the first batter he faced, twirling four scoreless innings.

Even though Linder’s role in the ASU rotation remains a question mark, Bloomquist praised the work ethic and attitude he brings every day.

“(Linder) is one of those kids that keeps working and understands he wants to get better and keep getting better,” Bloomquist said. “I’m happy for him that he’s having the success that he is.”

Yet ASU didn’t completely cruise on the pitching side. 

Following Linder, junior right-hander Alex Overbay entered and recorded just two outs, walking a pair and committing an error on a comebacker, before being pulled for the closer Schaefer.

Faced with a four-out save opportunity, Schaefer finished the game on 18 pitches and showed emotion following a strikeout of Bears junior shortstop Travis Sanders to cement the victory. 

However, the biggest moment came in the aforementioned eighth, when he induced Kennett’s flyout.

While some struggle to meet crucial moments, Schaefer said he enjoys the spotlight and thrives in tough spots.

“It’s honestly the most fun part about being a back-end reliever,” Schaefer said. “I love coming into situations with the bases loaded.”

Saturday’s save raised Schaefer’s 2026 total to seven, making him the first Sun Devils pitcher since Brock Peery in 2022 to record seven-plus saves in a single season.

Bloomquist said he finds comfort in being able to turn to a clutch bullpen arm like Schaefer in high-leverage situations.

“It’s nice… when you have a guy like (Schaefer) that literally relishes in those moments,” Bloomquist said. “It takes a different breed to be a back-end bullpen guy.”

Along with the pitching success, ASU’s defense came through with timely plays to keep it ahead.

Behind the plate, sophomore catcher Brody Briggs threw out two Bears’ baserunners in the first three innings.

The basepaths are normally a stomping ground for Baylor, which ranked third in the Big 12 in steals with 75 coming into Saturday.

As a result, Briggs and the Sun Devils came prepared and kept the Bears in check on the bases.

“That’s their game,” Briggs said. “We’ve prepared for that all week and the coaches have made it very clear to us.”

In the outfield, fifth-year right fielder Dean Toigo got in on the action by tumbling over the right field wall in foul territory to make an acrobatic catch to end the third inning.

Toigo tracked the ball before going head-over-heels to secure both an out and a spot in SportsCenter’s Top Ten plays of the day.

With the pitching staff and defense keeping Baylor off the bases, the ASU offense needed just four runs to seal the victory.

At the plate, junior infielder Nu’u Contrades stood out on a relatively off-night for the lineup, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run and driving in two runs in the win.

Since moving to the No. 2 spot in the lineup for the Baylor series, Contrades is 4-for-8 with two home runs and four RBI.

However, Contrades said he continues to adhere to the methods he relied on before the shift.

“I’ve been sticking by what’s worked,” Contrades said. “Not really any changes.”

After Saturday’s two-run victory, the Sun Devils get the chance to sweep a weekend series for the first time since March 6-8 against Loyola Marymount.

With the Bears in the midst of a five-game losing streak, Bloomquist knows completing the sweep will not be an easy task.

“Those guys are going to be ready to play tomorrow,” Bloomquist said. “So, our guys have to come and not be satisfied with getting the first two.”