Baseball

ASU drops Big 12 opener on a controversial send home

Published

2 months ago

March 14, 2026

Sam Myers takes a lead off of third in a Friday night game against TCU on March 13, 2026 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona

Photo by Benjamin Goldstien // Sun Devil Daily

PHOENIX– Arizona State (12-5 overall, 0-1 conference) dropped its conference opener against No. 17 TCU (12-6, 1-0), 5-4, in what was its first home loss of the season.

Sam Myers was thrown out at home to end the game

Sophomore infielder Beckett Zavorek hit a shallow fly ball to left field with the game-tying run on third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Junior outfielder Sam Myers tested the arm of junior utilityman Colton Griffin from left field and paid the price, getting thrown out at home to end the game.

“Kid made a heck of a throw there to end the game,” ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist said.

The Horned Frogs were picked to finish first in the 2026 Big 12 Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, receiving 13 of 14 first-place votes. Last season, they were the runner-up in the Big 12 tournament after losing a late ninth-inning lead to Arizona in the title game.

Cole Carlon deals again

Junior left-hander Cole Carlon continued to be one of the best left-handers in the nation, lowering his season ERA to 2.77 after five innings of one-run ball. Despite the success, the pitch count skyrocketed following a rough fourth inning.

“We have to try and be a little more economical with him,” Bloomquist said. “End of the day, he battled, he pitched really well. That, with them having his pitches, at least they seemed to, he still did pretty well.”

He allowed just two hits and three walks, striking out a season-high 11 batters.

ASU’s only run before the seventh inning was a solo home run in the first from sophomore infielder PJ Moutzouridis, his first as a Sun Devil.

The two runs in the seventh were gifted when TCU’s junior outfielder Chase Brunson tripped while tracking a fly ball in center field. He exited the game on a cart after grabbing at his right ankle.

ASU will look to get back on track against the Horned Frogs Saturday, with Alex Overbay as the projected starter. It will be his second start after getting moved to the weekend rotation last Saturday.