Pitching struggles, gives up six long balls in series loss

Arizona State second baseman Nu'u Contrades rounds the bases during an Austen Roellig home run in Phoenix, Sunday, Apr. 26, 2026. (Echo From The Buttes/Andrew Hayslett)

PHOENIX – The Sun Devils have been on a quest to find a Saturday starter this season, and that quest has not yielded a name with sustained success this season. 

Reshirt junior right-hander Colin Linder started the year in the Saturday slot. He threw three games in the role with a 3.55 ERA, but allowing four runs in four innings against Tennessee led to his removal from the position.

Junior righty Alex Overbay had a 1.00 ERA in the bullpen, and he replaced Linder in the position. He struggled with a 12.34 ERA in four starts.

The Easter series saw the Sun Devils have a Thursday through Saturday series to avoid playing on Easter against Arizona, and sophomore right-hander Taylor Penn slotted into the Thursday role to give Friday night starter lefty Cole Carlon rest.

Penn was pitching well with a 2.21 ERA in nine bullpen appearances and one midweek start. He started three of the next four weeks with a 6.52 ERA in those starts.

Sophomore lefty Easton Barrett got a Thursday start against BYU, which does not play on Sundays. Barrett, the one-time Sunday starter, had a 7.32 ERA at the time. In the game, he struggled, allowing three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

The latest arm used in the quest to find a Saturday starter is junior right-hander Jaden Alba, who took over the role last weekend at UCF. He had a 6.82 ERA at the time and allowed one run in two innings before some weather postponed the rest of his start.  

Alba again got the nod on Saturday night and got shelled, allowing three homers in an inning. His poor performance, coupled with the Sun Devils' inability to do anything with the bases loaded, resulted in a 13-6 loss for No. 16 Arizona State (33-17, 16-10 Big 12) to Oklahoma State (33-17, 16-10 Big 12).

Alba cruised through his first two innings of work, walking one but facing the minimum batters. After that, he struggled in his final one and two-thirds, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks. His ERA rose to 7.65.

After tonight’s performance, the Sun Devil traditional Saturday starters have an 11.41 ERA, and the Sun Devils are 8-4 in those games.

Penn came in after Alba and pitched decently. He gave up a homer to the first batter he faced, allowing the inherited runner from Alba to score. After that, he was great, going two and a third innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out five. Since moving back to the bullpen, his ERA is 3.60, close to his season total of 3.62. 

Sophomore righty Eli Buxton threw a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out two. In the eighth, things unraveled after striking out the first batter he faced before giving up a solo shot and two walks. His ERA is 12.15.

Junior southpaw Brady Louck gave up two hits, allowing both of the inherited runners from Buxton to score. He was pulled after pitching a third of an inning.

Freshman right-hander Austin Musso finished the game, going the final four outs. He did not allow either of the inherited runners from Louck to score, but struggled in the ninth, allowing two runs off a pair of homers. 

The Arizona State pitching staff allowed six homers. 

The Sun Devils had the bases loaded four times and scored zero runs, grounding into double plays three times to end the inning. They left 12 men on base.

On the night, they had 14 hits, with seven of them coming from the leadoff man in the inning, and with runners in scoring position, they went .077 (1-13) and 0-6 with the bases loaded.

Junior outfielder Sam Myers went 3-5 with an RBI. Since the end of non-conference play, Myers is 18-38, a .474 average.

Junior first baseman Dominic Smaldino had a pair of home runs. He had a 374-foot two-run shot and a 411-foot solo blast. That ties his single-season record for home runs with 11.

Redshirt junior designated hitter Garrett Michel had a pair of hits and a run. He grounded into an inning-ending double play in the first with the bases loaded.

Redshirt junior second baseman Nu’u Contrades went 2-5 with a homer. He grounded into an inning-ending double play in the second with the bases loaded.

Both of those set the tone for the rest of the night. 

5th-year outfielder Dean Toigo grounded into an inning-ending double play in the fourth with the bases loaded and fouled out in the seventh with one on. He is slumping, going 5-27 (.185) in his last seven games.

Redshirt sophomore catcher Brody Briggs stranded a pair on a foul out to end the fifth. Since the beginning of April, he has slumped, going 10-53 (.189). 

Sophomore outfielder Landon Hairston grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning with the bases loaded in the seventh. His bat is a little cold as of late, going 8-30 (.267) in his last eight games with zero home runs, the longest he has gone without one this season.

Redshirt sophomore third baseman Austen Roellig left the game with a leg injury. He hit a few foul balls off himself and was trying to tough it out for a few innings before being pulled.