Carlon’s injury leads to MSST offensive explosion, 8-4 defeat

ARLINGTON, Texas– Arizona State (8-2) dropped its opening game of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field 8-4 against No. 4 Mississippi State (10-0), as the Bulldogs exploded on offense following an injury to junior left-hander Cole Carlon. 

Carlon’s domination cut short

Carlon was dominating the Bulldogs’ lineup throughout the first half of the game. A run-scoring single forced Carlon to back up his catcher, where a cramp knocked Carlon from the game. Junior right-hander Josh Butler was forced to rush and relieve Carlon. On the first pitch he threw, Gehrig Frei hit a 383 ft, pinch-hit three-run home run.

That swing blew the game open to a 4-0 lead that ASU would never recover from.

“That cost us,” ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist said after the game. “Shifted the momentum of the game pretty good, bummer that he didn’t get to finish the rest of his start.”

Carlon finished with three earned runs, largely in part due to the Frei home run. He did not allow a base hit until the fifth inning and struck out five of his first seven batters to start the game. 

He was locked into a pitching duel with the Bulldog’s sophomore starter Ryan McPherson, who ended his day with seven innings of one-run ball. McPherson struck out five and did not allow a baserunner until the fourth inning. 

Globe Life struggles

ASU continued to struggle to produce offensively in Arlington until the ninth inning. The Sun Devils have historically struggled at Globe Life Field, scoring just one run over a 17-inning span. 

Last season, ASU was shut out in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament by BYU in Arlington. The Sun Devils have yet to win a game at Globe Life Field, dating back to their previous preseason tournament in 2024. ASU is 0-5 all-time at Globe Life Field. 

Bloomquist was not concerned about the history and did not want to get caught up in the numbers.

“We’re facing a Friday night starter with arguably one of the best teams in the country,” Bloomquist said. “Guys battled, they hit the ball hard.”

ASU will continue its stretch against tough SEC opponents, starting again at 11:00 CST / 10:00 MST Saturday against No. 20 Tennessee.