Heading into the final series of the regular season, Arizona State faced a scenario where it needed to win or sweep the series to avoid potentially missing the NCAA Tournament. 

Yet ASU faced Houston, which came into the weekend series with a 6-21 Big 12 record, placing it outside of the conference tournament.

However, after junior left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon left his start due to injury 1 ⅔  innings into Friday's game, the Sun Devils suffered a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Cougars.

Needing a series win to solidify its postseason push, ASU delivered an 8-3 series-finale victory on Saturday. 

No. 21 ASU (36-18, 19-11 Big 12) took care of business in the final weekend series of the regular season against a Houston (24-31, 7-23 Big 12) squad with nothing to play for but pride. The Sun Devils won two of three games inside Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park in Houston. 

Here are three takeaways 

PITCHING DEPTH 

With Carlon suffering an injury during his Friday start and his status undetermined, the pitching staff will see its depth tested.

Normally an option out of the bullpen, graduate right-handed pitcher Colby Guy could fulfill an important role going forward.

Guy, a former starter at Jackson State, shone in his Thursday night start against the Cougars, throwing 78 pitches across five innings of work, only allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out three. 

In a similar light, junior right-handed pitcher Jaden Alba also had an impressive outing in the series finale. 

Alba only allowed one earned run in 5 ⅔ innings while striking out seven.

If ASU is to make a run in the Big 12 tournament and beyond, expect Guy and Alba, along with Carlon's health, to all play major factors. 

HAIRSTON’S GOLDEN SPIKES RUN-IN

Few things are truly inevitable.

Life, death, taxes and sophomore infielder Landon Hairston hitting home runs. 

Hairston's greatness has been so prevalent throughout the Sun Devils' season that it almost gets tiring to talk about. 

This series was no exception.

Over the weekend, Hairston racked up five hits, including a double and two home runs, three RBI and two walks.

While these stats look pedestrian for the infielder, Hairston's crowning moment wearing the Maroon and Gold came on Saturday.

In a two-out sixth inning scenario, Hairston hit his 27th home run of the season to tie Mitch Jones' school record for most home runs in a single season. 

Hairston's performance throughout the weekend was key not only to the team's success in a must-win scenario but also to his chances of winning USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award.

After being announced as one of the nation's 25 semifinalists for the award, the Sun Devil faithful hope that fans and media alike recognize this record season for the sophomore. 

With fan voting beginning on Thursday, May 14, ASU fans will have the opportunity to vote for Hairston to win one of the nation's top honors.

CONSISTENCY CLOSING THE DOOR

Closing out games is one of the most important tasks a player can be assigned in any sport.

However, in the world of college baseball, which includes wild late-inning theatrics, closers doing their job is of the utmost importance. 

While ASU's closer, junior right-handed pitcher Derek Schaefer, didn’t falter against Houston, his outing Saturday afternoon left much to be desired.

Schaefer conceded two hits and two earned runs to the Cougars batters on Saturday, which, when combined with his resume on the season, leads to concerns about the Sun Devils' ninth innings down the stretch. 

Despite accumulating a team-high eight saves this season, his 6.23 ERA and 1.4 WHIP across 30 ⅓ innings pitched raise concerns about ASU's bullpen. 

Whether it's tasking Alba or junior right-handed pitcher Alex Overbay with closing duties or just changing Schaefer’s approach, the Sun Devils could look to make changes if the ninth-inning struggles continue.