PHOENIX – After erasing a 7-0 deficit against Grand Canyon on Tuesday, No. 20 Arizona State couldn’t perform an encore on Wednesday.  

Off a miraculous comeback the previous evening, the UNLV Rebels (19-14, 3-6 MW) marched into Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Wednesday, April 8, and handed the Sun Devils (24-10, 7-5 Big 12) only their second midweek loss of the season. Despite a late-inning rally that cut the deficit to a run, ASU came up just short, falling 7-5. 

Head coach Willie Bloomquist said the Rebels caught his team off guard and were unprepared to play.

“You can’t show up in the sixth and expect to win,” Bloomquist said. “You’ve got to show up from the first pitch.”

Throughout Wednesday, both teams called on six different pitchers. The Sun Devils’ starter, freshman right-hander Austin Musso, gave up two runs in just three innings of work.

However, Bloomquist was content with Musso’s outing and felt good about giving him an opportunity. 

“He’s a big part of our future and a big part of our season this year,” Bloomquist said.

During a stretch of 9 games in 12 days, Bloomquist said he’s trying to keep his arms fresh by piecing the pitching together.

Across the field, UNLV sophomore right-hander Felix Ong also went just three innings. He was able to work around four walks and allowed one run before handing the ball off to senior right-hander Colton Sundloff, who received the win.

Despite ASU’s pitching staff creating an early 6-1 deficit, the offense came alive and scored four runs in as many innings to cut the lead to a run entering the ninth.

However, the Rebels added a key insurance run in the ninth before slamming the door and escaping Phoenix with an upset victory. 

Largely due to their struggles with runners in scoring position, going 2-for-12 and leaving eight runners on base, the Sun Devils left a potential comeback on the field.  

“If we were a little bit better with runners in scoring position, we wouldn’t be in holes,” Bloomquist said. 

Likewise, Bloomquist pointed toward a combination of struggles at the plate and bad fortune for the loss, specifically two key double plays. 

The Sun Devils grounded into inning-ending double plays in both the second and third innings, with a runner in scoring position each time.

UNLV also had just a single hit with runners in scoring position. Yet four extra-base hits, one of which was a two-run home run from junior second baseman Marcos Rosales, made the difference.

Two uncharacteristic errors from the Sun Devils’ middle infielders also loomed large. 

Musso worked around an error from junior shortstop PJ Moutzouridis in the first, but the Rebels capitalized in the fourth on an error by sophomore second baseman Beckett Zavorek.

Bloomquist said the team has failed to limit big innings. 

“We seem to have that one inning that plagues us,” Bloomquist said.

The Sun Devils allowed a six-run inning to GCU on Tuesday, a seven-run inning at Arizona on April 3, and another six-run inning on March 28 against No. 17 West Virginia. 

Wednesday’s loss also comes in the midst of a 14-game stretch in 20 days.

“We’ve played a lot of baseball, and may be broken down a little bit,” Bloomquist said.

However, Bloomquist said an extensive stretch of games in a short period is no excuse, as opponents are subject to the same scheduling.  

“Everybody else is doing it too, so grow up a little bit,” Bloomquist said. “Take the diapers off.”