Arizona State Baseball Prepares for Historic 42nd Postseason: Your Guide to the Journey Ahead!

Sun Devil Baseball Is Back in the Postseason

This weekend marks an exciting time for Sun Devil Baseball as they enter their 42nd NCAA postseason. Arizona State has been named the No. 3 seed in the Los Angeles Regional, which kicks off at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles. They will face off against UC Irvine on Friday at 6 p.m. AZT.

A Competitive Regional

The Los Angeles Regional is packed with talent. Host UCLA, ranked No. 15 nationally, is no stranger to the Sun Devils, who have a long-standing rivalry with them. ASU holds the edge in their all-time series, winning 126 games compared to UCLA’s 86. Earlier this season, ASU and UCLA split a two-game series, but the Sun Devils previously swept the Bruins last year in an impressive showing.

ASU’s history with UC Irvine is also notable. In 2007, they faced the Anteaters in a thrilling College World Series matchup, where ASU was narrowly eliminated. Currently, UC Irvine leads their overall series with ASU 11-9, and the Sun Devils are looking to break a six-game losing streak against them.

Fresno State is another familiar foe for ASU, notorious for their Cinderella run in 2008 when they shocked ASU in the Super Regionals. That year, Fresno State went on to win the College World Series, marking a high point in their program’s history.

Sun Devils This Season

This year, the Sun Devils finished strong in the Big 12, tying for fourth place with an 18-12 conference record. Only 16 Power Five teams secured that many conference wins. In their face-offs against the top RPI teams, ASU managed to go 5-3.

What sets this team apart is their consistency. Remarkably, they have not lost a game by more than five runs this season. In fact, only two ASU teams have achieved this before. Out of ASU’s 22 losses, they brought the tying run to the plate in 13 instances.

Standout Players

The Sun Devils have several players to watch. Notably, Isaiah Jackson leads the team with 65 RBIs, despite rarely hitting higher than fifth in the lineup. Matt King was named Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Year, showcasing the promising talent on the roster.

ASU’s efficiency on the base paths is also impressive, ranking 37th in the nation with 113 stolen bases, marking a significant improvement since their last ranking in the top 120 in 2011. Both Kyle Walker and Kien Vu reached 20 steals, a feat not achieved by ASU players in years.

Excitement Ahead

The postseason is not just about wins and losses; it’s a celebration of baseball culture and devotion. ASU drew a record attendance this season, showing how invested fans are in the team.

The Los Angeles Regional games will be broadcast on ESPNU and available through ESPN’s platforms, ensuring fans can follow every pitch.

As ASU takes the field, they carry with them a legacy of 19 regional titles and 22 College World Series appearances, making them a powerhouse in college baseball. With determination and skill, the Sun Devils look to add more chapters to their storied history.

For those interested in the full regional schedule, check it out here.

Let’s see how far the Sun Devils can go!

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