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Sun Devils Salvage The Series Finale As Arizona State Beats Minnesota, 8-7

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Sun Devil Baseball salvaged the series finale against Minnesota on Sunday, staving off another valiant Golden Gopher late-inning rally en route to an 8-7 victory at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

After dropping two heartbreakers on Friday (leading after 8 innings) and Saturday (leading after 7 innings), ASU (8-4) again saw Minnesota rally back to within a run in the ninth inning after the Sun Devils had taken an 8-2 lead through six innings.
 
But the combination of Josh Butler and Derek Schaefer shut down the final 2.2 innings after Minnesota homered four times in five at-bats in the seventh, holding the Gophers to just one run while striking out five between them.
 
Schaefer earned his first career save in the biggest moment of his career, coming in in the ninth inning with the tying and go-ahead runs both in scoring position in a one-run game and only one out. Schaefer, unfazed, calmly struck out the two batters he faced to earn his first career save. 
 
Easton Barrett earned his first career win after being called into action ahead of schedule following Jaden Alba's early exit with a minor leg injury. Barrett tossed 2.2 innings of one-run ball after Alba started the game with 3.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. 
 
Beckett Zavorek scored or drove in four of ASU's 8 runs - and the Sun Devils needed all four - as he went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases. Josiah Cromwick homered for his team-leading fifth time this season as part of his two-hit day. Brandon Compton had two RBIs on two-hits and Kyle Walker had his first multi-hit game on the year. 
 
TURNING POINT 
The Sun Devils cashed in on a five spot in the sixth inning, marking the second time this season plating five runs in a frame. ASU was finally able to flip the script of the weekend and deliver with runners in scoring position. Kyle Walker, Beckett Zavorek and Brandon Compton combined to drive in the five runs, increasing the total to eight and give the team a lead it wouldn't relinquish. 
 
BIG MOMENT 
Josh Butler was called upon after the Sun Devil bullpen allowed four seventh inning home runs on just five batters to allow Minnesota back with 8-6 after ASU's big sixth. The lanky right-hander pushed the right buttons and was able to get the Gophers to roll into a 3-5-3 double play to fan the flames and escape a tumultuous top half of the inning. He would go on to toss 2.0 innings with three strikeouts and no walks and just one run allowed as the Sun Devils were desperately looking to stop the bleeding. 
 
FINAL STRAW
Pitcher Derek Schaefer stepped into arguably the biggest moment of the 2025 season to date. The transfer sophomore inherited the tying run on 3rd and the winning run on 2nd with just one out in the top of the ninth with the score standing at 8-7. Schaefer went into overdrive, delivering an adrenaline fueled pair of strikeouts to nail down a crucial win for his team. 
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Derek Schaefer came up as big as possible for the Sun Devils. The Arizona native recorded as big of a two outs you can imagine en route to securing his first career NCAA save. The effort came after he posted a 4.0 inning start at UCLA on Wednesday with five strikeouts and no runs allowed in ASU's 2-0 victory. Schaefer has yet to allow a run this season and has posted 8 strikeouts to just one walk in 6.2 innings. 
 
NOTABLES 

  • After giving up 7 first inning runs over the first five games of the season, the Sun Devils have flipped that trend and now have posted seven consecutive games without allowing a first inning run.
  • The Sun Devil pitching staff recorded 37 strikeouts over the weekend, the highest total strikeouts in a series of 2025 so far. It was the most they recorded since notching 40 in the first three games against Ohio State in 2024. 
  • ASU has struck out double-digit batters in eight of 12 games this year. 
  • Nu'u Contrades and Isaiah Jackson have reached base safely in all 12 games this season.
  • Jackson holds the longest hit streak of the season, recording a hit in the first six games of the season. He also currently holds the longest active hit streak, coming in at four games straight with at least one hit. 
  • Big innings have been the theme of ASU's season as the team has now scored in 42 halves of an inning on the year and have plated two or more runs in 26 of those.
  • The Sun Devils have 16 innings this season scoring at least three runs, four with 4+ and two with 5+ after today.
  • The Sun Devils had three doubles in the contest, the ninth game of 12 with multiple doubles in a game. 
  • Jaden Alba has stranded 15 batters in 11.0 innings pitched this season (4 today). He has held opponents to just 4-for-25 (.160) hitting with runners in scoring position (0-for-3 today).
  • Easton Barrett recorded the first win of his NCAA career. The freshman worked 2.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit to go along with two strikeouts. 
  • Kyle Walker recorded his first multi-hit game as a Sun Devil, his first since May of 2024 during his time with Grambling State.