ASU pitching powers Sun Devils to 3-1 win over St. John's

With an uncharacteristic quiet outing at the plate, the Sun Devils' dominance on the mound secured its second straight series win

Feb. 22, 2026 at 4:24am

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The Arizona State Sun Devils relied on their pitching staff to secure a 3-1 win over the St. John's Red Storm, despite an uncharacteristically quiet day at the plate. Junior right-handed pitcher Colin Linder set the tone with 4.2 innings of one-run ball, and the bullpen took over to shut down the Red Storm offense. The Sun Devils' offense did just enough, with an RBI triple from graduate outfielder Matt Polk and an RBI single from junior infielder Nu'u Contrades providing the winning margin.

Why it matters

This game highlights the growth and development of the Sun Devils' pitching staff, which has been a key focus for the program over the past two seasons. The ability to win a tight, low-scoring game by relying on strong pitching and timely hitting is a sign of the team's maturity and resilience, and could be a harbinger of success to come in the 2026 season.

The details

Junior right-handed pitcher Colin Linder started for the Sun Devils, working through some early inconsistencies to keep the Red Storm offense in check. The bullpen trio of senior left-hander Sean Fitzpatrick and junior right-handers Josh Butler and Derek Schaefer combined for 4.1 shutout innings to preserve the lead. On offense, the Sun Devils got an RBI triple from graduate outfielder Matt Polk and an RBI single from junior infielder Nu'u Contrades to provide the winning margin.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.

The players

Colin Linder

A junior right-handed pitcher for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Sean Fitzpatrick

A senior left-handed pitcher and co-captain for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Josh Butler

A junior right-handed pitcher for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Derek Schaefer

A junior right-handed pitcher who currently handles the closer role for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Matt Polk

A graduate outfielder for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

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What they’re saying

“Whenever I get the rock, I'm just gonna go throw it and compete. Doesn't matter if it's a hitter like today, or an inning like last Sunday, I'm just gonna go compete and try to do everything I can to help us win... I enjoy it when there are runners on. I think that's pretty fun to execute pitches then.”

— Sean Fitzpatrick, Senior left-handed pitcher and co-captain

“It takes a different breed to come out of the pen and close games. It's just the toughest three outs of the ninth inning, and it's like he's calmer when he comes in in the ninth. To have that demeanor and have that late-inning guy who can do that is extremely valuable.”

— Willie Bloomquist, Head coach

What’s next

The Sun Devils will look to complete the series sweep against St. John's on Sunday, February 23, 2026.

The takeaway

This game showcases the growth and development of the Arizona State Sun Devils' pitching staff, which has been a key focus for the program. The ability to win a tight, low-scoring game by relying on strong pitching and timely hitting is a sign of the team's maturity and resilience, and could be a harbinger of success to come in the 2026 season.