Sun Devils outlast Kansas State in chaotic road series win

ASU proved its recent run is more than a good stretch, showing resilience and late-game edge to take the series against the Big 12's second-ranked offense.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:27am

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Arizona State University's baseball team earned a hard-fought road series win over then-No. 17 Kansas State, overcoming the Wildcats' high-powered offense in a chaotic three-game set. The Sun Devils showed resilience, the ability to adjust, and a late-game edge to take the series, despite losing the finale. ASU's pitching staff, led by junior left-hander Cole Carlon and senior right-hander Kole Klecker, faced a tough test against Kansas State's league-leading offense, but the Sun Devils found ways to win the first two games in dramatic fashion.

Why it matters

This series win over a ranked opponent on the road is a significant statement for an ASU team that has been knocking on the door of the Top 25. The Sun Devils proved they can win in a tough environment against one of the Big 12's best offenses, showcasing the depth and resilience of their roster as they look to establish themselves as a contender this season.

The details

In the series opener, ASU erased a 4-3 deficit and pulled out a 5-4 win when sophomore outfielder Landon Hairston hit the go-ahead home run. Game two turned into a shootout, with the teams combining for 30 runs, but ASU rallied from deficits in the seventh and ninth innings to take an 18-12 victory, led by big games from Hairston and graduate outfielder Dean Toigo. The finale was forgettable for the Sun Devils, as Klecker had his worst start of the season and Kansas State rolled to a 12-1 run-rule win, but ASU still left Manhattan with the series victory.

  • On Friday, March 21, 2026, ASU opened the series with a 5-4 win over Kansas State.
  • On Saturday, March 22, 2026, ASU won the second game of the series 18-12 in a high-scoring affair.
  • On Sunday, March 23, 2026, Kansas State avoided the sweep with a 12-1 run-rule victory over ASU in the series finale.

The players

Cole Carlon

A junior left-hander who set the tone for ASU to open the weekend, continuing to grow into the front-line starter head coach Willie Bloomquist envisioned.

Kole Klecker

A senior right-hander who endured the worst start of his career in the series finale, as Kansas State's offense rolled to a 12-1 win.

Landon Hairston

A sophomore outfielder who hit the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of the series opener and had a career-high four hits and nine total bases in the wild 18-12 win in game two.

Dean Toigo

A graduate outfielder who had a huge game two, launching two home runs, including a grand slam in the ninth inning that put the game out of reach for Kansas State.

Willie Bloomquist

The head coach of Arizona State, who envisioned Carlon as a front-line starter and saw his team show resilience and the ability to adjust in the chaotic series win.

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What’s next

When the new rankings come out Monday, ASU is expected to see a spot in the Top 25, earned the hard way after a weekend that demanded it.

The takeaway

This series win over a ranked opponent on the road is a significant statement for an ASU team that has been knocking on the door of the Top 25. The Sun Devils proved they can win in a tough environment against one of the Big 12's best offenses, showcasing the depth and resilience of their roster as they look to establish themselves as a contender this season.