News Summary
Arizona State University baseball eyes a comeback after a three-year absence from the NCAA tournament. With a strong regular season record, the Sun Devils prepare to face UC Irvine in the opening round. Head coach Willie Bloomquist’s leadership has propelled the team to significant milestones, showcasing their potential despite a late-season slump. Fans are hopeful for a deep tournament run as Arizona State aims to reaffirm its historic strength in college baseball.
Tempe, Arizona – Arizona State University baseball is poised to make its return to the NCAA tournament after a three-year hiatus, marking a significant achievement for the team and its supporters. After finishing the regular season with a record of 35 wins and 22 losses, including an 18-12 record in the Big 12 conference, the Sun Devils will play against UC Irvine, which has a record of 41 wins and 15 losses, in the first round of the Los Angeles regional. The game is scheduled for May 30 at 6 p.m. MST (9 p.m. Eastern) and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
The selection of Arizona State as a participant in the NCAA regional comes after a challenging finish to their season, which included a setback in the Big 12 Baseball Tournament. ASU, ranked as the No. 5 seed, suffered a 2-0 loss to No. 12 seed BYU in the tournament’s first round. Despite this disappointment, ASU’s overall performance throughout the season ultimately secured their place in the tournament.
This year’s appearance in the tournament is a significant milestone for head coach Willie Bloomquist, who is in his fourth season with the Sun Devils. Under his leadership, the team has seen a steady improvement, with this season’s 18 conference wins surpassing their previous season totals of 16 in 2023 and 17 in 2022. ASU stands out among 16 Power Four schools for having over 50 combined conference wins in the last three seasons, achieving a total of 51 wins. Furthermore, they are one of only seven Power Four programs to attain 16 or more conference wins in each of the last three seasons.
The tournament format for this year’s NCAA postseason is double-elimination, allowing teams a chance to recover from a loss. Alongside Arizona State, the University of Arizona has also qualified for the NCAA tournament after winning the Big 12 Championship. They will face Cal Poly (41-17) on May 30 at 1 p.m. MST, seeking improved results after their disappointing 0-2 record in last year’s regional.
ASU’s roster is impressive, featuring multiple All-Big 12 first-team selections, including standout shortstop Matt King, and skilled outfielders Isaiah Jackson and Landon Hairston. The pitching rotation is led by Ben Jacobs and Jack Martinez, both of whom are ranked among the nation’s leaders in strikeouts. This potent combination of hitters and pitchers presents a strong case for ASU as they enter the tournament.
Despite their strong record over the season, the Sun Devils experienced a late-season slump, being swept in a series against Oklahoma State, which placed their tournament eligibility in jeopardy. However, their performance in the regular season ultimately proved sufficient to secure a spot in the NCAAs.
The upcoming matchup against UC Irvine is regarded as a pivotal test for Arizona State, symbolizing not only a chance to break their tournament drought but also an opportunity to reaffirm the program’s historical strength in college baseball. With fans hopeful for a deep run in the tournament, all eyes will be on head coach Willie Bloomquist and his players as they seek to make a lasting impression in this prestigious competition.
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Additional Resources
- AZCentral
- Sun Devils Official
- AZFamily
- Sports Illustrated
- Devils in Detail
- Wikipedia: NCAA Baseball Tournament
- Google Search: NCAA Baseball Tournament
- Google Scholar: NCAA Baseball Tournament
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NCAA Baseball Tournament
- Google News: NCAA Baseball Tournament
