PHOENIX — Arizona wanted to sweep rival ASU.
The Wildcats had to settle for a series win over the Sun Devils.
Arizona dropped the finale of a three-game set Sunday evening, falling 8-4 in front of an announced crowd of 4,221 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Wildcats took a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning but couldn’t hold it. Still, they could take some measure of satisfaction from winning a road series against the Sun Devils for the first time since 2021.
“It was a successful weekend, taking two out of three,” UA senior first baseman Tommy Splaine said. “We were taking it game by game. Obviously we wanted to take the win today. It could be important for us down the road. A lot to learn from.”
If there was one lesson to take away from Sunday it’s that half a good game isn’t good enough against a quality opponent. ASU was ranked 24th in the nation entering this past week.
“My only concern is tonight,” UA coach Chip Hale said. “We put things behind us. I don’t think about it as a series; I think about it as a game.
Arizona's Andrew Cain is greeted by his teammates in the dugout after slugging a three-run homer in the fourth inning against ASU on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
“We did some good things and got some good pitching (in the first two games). Tonight we didn’t play good baseball. After the fifth inning, we fell apart on defense. And we just struck out way too many times. It’s disappointing for me.”
Arizona fell to 22-9, 8-4 in the Big 12. ASU improved to 21-11, 8-4. They’re two of five teams that are one game behind first-place Kansas (27-6, 9-3) in the conference. The Wildcats and Jayhawks do not play a Big 12 series this season.
Sunday’s game turned in the bottom of the sixth.
Arizona had a 4-2 lead at that point thanks to Andrew Cain’s three-run homer in the fourth and a solid outing from freshman right-hander Smith Bailey, who held ASU to two runs in five innings.
The normally reliable UA bullpen couldn’t hold the lead.
Julian Tonghini retired only one of the four batters he faced, allowing two walks and a single to load the bases. Garrett Hicks, who closed the series opener Friday, hit the first batter he faced. He then yielded a two-RBI single to Cienega High School product Isaiah Jackson that gave ASU a 5-4 lead.
Hicks should have been out of the inning without any further damage. But Cain misplayed Brody Briggs’ high fly to left, allowing another run to score. Cain was making his second career start in the outfield after playing exclusively first and third base through one-plus seasons as a Wildcat.
“That's the chance you take,” Hale said. “I'm not a big gambler on defense, but we're trying to get as much offense as we can. We’re struggling with that.”
Hale started Cain in left field with Easton Breyfogle still not fully recovered from a quadriceps injury. Freshman Gunner Geile started in right with Brendan Summerhill (hand) still out.
Cain and Geile combined for three of Arizona’s seven hits. No one could solve ASU sophomore reliever Cole Carlon.
The left-hander from Tempe Corona del Sol entered in the fourth inning, and the Wildcats couldn’t touch him. Carlon pitched 4⅓ perfect innings, striking out 10 of the 13 batters he faced.
“He did a good job,” Hale said. “And we didn’t make good adjustments. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. He beat us up pretty good.”
Arizona's Mason White, left, puts the tag on ASU's Kyle Walker for a caught stealing to end the third inning of their game Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Sun Devils added two runs in the bottom of the eighth, only one of which was earned. The Wildcats made two errors in the inning.
Arizona had the tying run on deck with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Garen Caulfield struck out to end the game. The Wildcats fanned 17 times Sunday and 45 times in the series.
“It’s too much,” Hale said. “They did a good job pitching; I give them credit. We just have to get better.”
Inside pitch
– DH Maddox Mihalakis went 2 for 4 Sunday and 5 for 13 in the series with a home run, three runs scored and five RBIs.
– Breyfogle pinch-hit in the ninth inning, his first appearance since March 28. Hale said Breyfogle needs to be able to run at 100% before he can return to full-time duty. He’s currently about 90%.
– Summerhill got hurt on March 23. The original prognosis had him coming back in 3-4 weeks. “It's a pain-tolerance thing,” Hale said. “We'll see how it feels when we get back.”
– Sunday’s game marked the 500th meeting between Arizona and ASU. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 265-234-1.
– New ASU women’s basketball coach Molly Miller threw out the ceremonial first pitch. She then sprinted to where the Sun Devils were lined up in foul territory and high-fived every member of the team.
