PHOENIX – From being one of the biggest sharks in the Big 12 to treading water and trying to survive a wave of ups and downs, No. 25 Arizona State’s baseball season has been anything but smooth.

After a weekend in Provo, Utah, where the Sun Devils stole the last two games from BYU to win the series, a midweek tilt with New Mexico State felt appeared opportunistic to put together a winning streak. 

Yet an early storm put ASU in another dire situation.

While at times it appeared the Sun Devils could navigate their way out on Wednesday, the same inconsistencies that have reflected in their 4-5 record since April 8 persisted. 

After a game-tying home run by graduate right fielder Dean Toigo in the ninth inning, ASU (28-14, 11-7 Big 12) failed to capitalize in extra innings, falling 10-9 in 11 innings to New Mexico State (17-22, 7-11 CUSA) on Wednesday, April 22, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. 

Head coach Willie Bloomquist said Wednesday’s loss stood out like no loss in his tenure in Tempe.

“This one stings probably as much as any loss that I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Bloomquist said. “I’ll take the responsibility wherever that falls upon me at the end of the day.”

A defeated Bloomquist postgame made one thing clear; the Sun Devils are feeling the effects of their recent slide.

The main culprit behind ASU's sub-500 record since April 8 has been pitching, as the pitching staff has allowed five or more runs in 8 of its last 10 games.

Wednesday’s starter, freshman right-handed pitcher Austin Musso, lasted 1 ⅓ innings and surrendered five hits and four runs. 

Following Musso’s departure, Bloomquist turned to some of his most trusted relievers, but even they fell victim to the steady flow of runs the Aggies brought to Phoenix.

“When you have your horses coming out to throw one inning like that, you don’t anticipate giving up 10 runs,” Bloomquist said.

After giving up only four to New Mexico State on March 25, Wednesday evening had a much different tune. 

One pitfall, Bloomquist said, stemmed from potential fatigue and a lack of fundamentals.

“We’ve scuffled,” Bloomquist said. “That’s been a sign of overall not paying attention to things that we were really good at early on.”

Although ASU’s pitching staff allowed 10 earned runs on Wednesday, the Aggies faced an opponent capable of equaling the damage: sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston.

Hairston sent two home runs over the right-center field wall, one to open the scoring for ASU in the first and the other to give his squad the lead in the fourth, bringing his season total to 25 and reclaiming the national lead.

Now, Hairston only sits two homers shy of the program record held by Mitch Jones’ 27 in 2000. Wednesday’s two blasts also tied him for second-most in single-season school history with Spencer Torkelson (2018) and Bob Horner (1978), who later won the Golden Spikes award and MLB National League Rookie of the Year the same year. 

Along with his two home runs, Hairston also walked four times, reaching base in all six plate appearances and setting the table for members of his crew to bring him home.

While the Sun Devils hit four home runs, the big hits came while trailing or tied and not when they had the opportunity for the knockout punch. Add a 2-for-7 mark with runners in scoring position as well. 

“We just didn’t play overly well,” Bloomquist said. “We had opportunities to win late, and given all that, we just couldn’t come through when it counted to finish it off.”

Looking ahead, Big 12 games matter significantly more at this point in the season for ASU, and Bloomquist said he knows losses like Wednesday’s cannot happen. 

“The emphasis has got to be on conference games now,” Bloomquist said. “Bottom line, we can’t do these things. We have to get better. We can’t afford to lose games like this.”

As ASU continues to navigate itself through troubled waters, the best thing for the Sun Devils is coming up over the horizon.

Junior left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon takes the ball on Friday, looking to pick up a much-needed win over a conference rival in Baylor.

With only 14 regular-season games remaining, Carlon’s start and the tone he sets are important, as the Sun Devils look to drift out of choppy waters before they capsize entirely. 

“This one stings,” Bloomquist said. “We’ve got to turn the page, move on and get ready for Baylor.”