Across the United States, April temperatures vary drastically. 

Despite April’s national average in the mid-50s, the desert oasis of Phoenix has seen record-breaking spring temperatures surpassing 105 degrees. 

Yet about 600 miles north of the low desert rests the city of Provo, Utah, where the Rocky Mountain climate resembles more of a winter wonderland.

Faced with a near 60-degree temperature change, No. 23 Arizona State (28-13, 11-7 Big 12) experienced its fair share of daily highs in the 70s and nightly lows in the 30s en route to a crucial series victory over BYU (20-18, 9-9 Big 12) at Miller Park. Behind their ace and a resilient core, the Sun Devils limited an avalanche in their national rating. 

NEAR DISASTER

Entering play on Thursday, ASU had lost three of five and saw its RPI (rating percentage index) progressively slide toward the 50s. 

When the Sun Devils fell behind 15-4 on Thursday and lost 19-9 by conference run rule, their RPI dipped to a season-low 51–eighth in the Big 12. 

Without winning the Big 12 Tournament in May, ASU would need an at-large bid to qualify for the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. Posting a low RPI is crucial to securing one of those bids, and the Sun Devils have little room for error. 

Faced with adversity yet again, ASU needed to recover quickly to avoid further damaging its chances of a postseason berth. 

After going 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position and losing by run rule Thursday, the Sun Devils broke out of their slumber. 

The offense plated 13 runs over seven innings on Friday, winning 13-0 in a run-rule victory behind a shutout performance by junior left-hander Cole Carlon. Less than 24-hours later, ASU overcame a seven-run deficit to win its fifth Big 12 series and fourth rubber match of the season.

The Sun Devils’ RPI now sits at 44, according to DI Baseball, good for seventh in the conference.

An 11-7 Big 12 record puts ASU in fourth, with the top six teams receiving double byes in the tournament starting May 19. 

COLE’S SHOW IN PROVO

With the Sun Devils in need of a bounce-back following their 19-9 loss Thursday, Carlon stepped up in the biggest way possible. 

The left-hander used the 40-degree temperature to his advantage Friday, striking out 11 Cougars over six scoreless innings and leading his team to a 13-0 victory.

Friday’s shutout came after Carlon allowed seven earned runs in less than five innings against Utah on April 10. 

Yet his most impressive feat came in the bottom of the second. 

Upon striking out BYU sophomore center fielder Tu’alau Wolfgramm, the radar gun read 101 mph, marking the southpaw’s first time surpassing 100 mph in a game. Carlon also became one of three pitchers in the nation to throw a pitch 101 mph.  

Carlon’s 3.63 ERA over 52 innings leads ASU’s rotation, while his 14.88 strikeouts per nine innings rank fourth in Division I. 

THE TOUGHER TEAM PREVAILS 

Following the Sun Devils' series win over Utah on April 12, Senior right-handed pitcher Kole Klecker said the tougher team wins on Sunday. 

In this case, with the ASU-BYU three-game series beginning on a Thursday, the tougher team prevailed on Saturday. 

Just as the Sun Devils dropped the series opener to the Utes a weekend ago, the Sun Devils once again showed resilience by winning consecutive games to salvage a series victory, including a massive comeback Saturday.

Following Friday’s wire-to-wire lead, ASU faced a quick seven-run deficit on Saturday after Klecker allowed six runs over just two innings.

However, a six-run fourth set the Sun Devils up to complete yet another stunning comeback. 

With a run already across in the seventh, junior shortstop PJ Moutzouridis pulled a ball down the third base line that scored sophomore second baseman Beckett Zavorek from first and gave ASU its first lead of the game. 

After adding three insurance runs, the Sun Devils completed their second seven-run comeback of the season and sixth under head coach Willie Bloomquist. 

Apart from Moutzouridis’ go-ahead hit, ASU posted an all-around team effort on Saturday.  

Zavorek played a major role in the comeback and on the weekend, going 5-for-8 and scoring six runs after not starting the series opener Thursday. 

Likewise, sophomore third baseman Austen Roellig had a three-hit Saturday, and junior designated hitter Nu’u Contrades had a bases-clearing double in the fourth. 

However, for just the fourth weekend this season, sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston failed to hit a home run. Still, the Sun Devils’ star went 3-for-11 with four RBI in the series.