Arizona State Baseball Outlasts Nebraska 11-8 in Elimination Game
The Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 11-8 on Sunday evening at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska, staving off elimination in the NCAA Lincoln Regional. The victory keeps ASU’s postseason hopes alive and sets up a regional final rematch with Ole Miss.
Key statistics from the win
Arizona State (39-20) put up 13 hits and scored early and often. First baseman Dominic Smaldino drove in six runs, including a grand slam in the sixth inning that broke the game open. Outfielder Dominic Longo added two hits and two RBIs. Left-hander Colby Guy got the win, allowing just one earned run over six innings while striking out seven.
Nebraska (43-17) committed two costly errors and fell behind 11-1 before mounting a late rally. The Cornhuskers scored five runs in the seventh and two more in the ninth, but the comeback fell short. Center fielder Mac Moyer and shortstop Dylan Carey each drove in runs in the ninth, but catcher Trey Fikes lined out to right field for the final out.
What the win means for ASU baseball
The Sun Devils now advance to the regional final against Ole Miss later Sunday evening. The Rebels defeated Nebraska earlier in the day — a game that was delayed overnight — and beat ASU 7-6 in 14 innings on Friday. ASU must beat Ole Miss twice on Sunday to win the regional and advance to the super regional round.
ASU’s road to this moment
Arizona State entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed after a 38-20 regular season. The Sun Devils have shown resilience in Lincoln, bouncing back from Friday’s extra-inning loss with strong pitching and power hitting. Sophomore Dominic Smaldino has been the offensive catalyst, and the team will lean on him again against an Ole Miss squad that already has one win in the regional.
Game highlights and turning points
The game featured several dramatic moments that shifted momentum.
ASU strikes first
Arizona State jumped ahead in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run off the bat of second baseman Nu’u Contrades. Nebraska answered in the third with a solo homer from right fielder Case Sanderson, tying the game at 1-1.
Defensive miscue leads to big inning
In the third inning, Nebraska committed a critical error that unraveled the game. With runners on first and second and one out, second baseman Rhett Stokes fielded a ground ball and tried to turn a double play, but shortstop Dylan Carey could not handle the throw. The error allowed a run to score, and two batters later, a two-run homer gave ASU a 5-1 lead.
Ejection adds drama
In the fourth inning, Big 12 Player of the Year Landon Hairston was ejected after striking out and tossing his bat into the air. The ejection energized the home crowd but did not slow ASU. The Sun Devils answered with a solo home run in the fifth to make it 6-1.
Grand slam seals it
The decisive blow came in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Smaldino crushed a grand slam to center field, extending the ASU lead to 11-1. Nebraska fought back with a five-run seventh, but the hole was too deep.
Implications for Nebraska and the tournament
For Nebraska, the loss ends a breakthrough season. The Cornhuskers hosted their first NCAA Regional since 2008 and finished with a 43-17 record. The team won the Big 12 regular-season title and earned a top seed in the regional, but defensive errors and inconsistent hitting proved costly.
What this means for ASU’s postseason
Arizona State now has a chance to reach the super regional for the first time since 2019. The Sun Devils must win two consecutive games against Ole Miss to advance. The Rebels have already proven they can beat ASU, but the Sun Devils have shown they can score runs in bunches. If they can get quality starts from their bullpen, they have a real shot at extending their season.
The winner of the Lincoln Regional will advance to the super regional against the winner of the Stillwater Regional. For ASU, the path to the College World Series in Omaha remains alive, but it requires two more wins in hostile territory.
Broader trends in college baseball
This regional mirrors the trends seen across the NCAA tournament this year. No. 3 seeds have been competitive in several regionals, and home-field advantage has not always been decisive. Nebraska’s elimination is the latest reminder that seeding alone does not guarantee success.
Among other regional action, Auburn baseball opens NCAA regional hosting as No. 4 seed after SEC Tournament exit, showing that even teams with lower seeds can capitalize on home momentum. Meanwhile, the UCLA softball team crushed Arkansas 11-0 to stay alive at the Women's College World Series, demonstrating that a powerful lineup can overcome early deficits.
For Arizona State, the challenge is clear: beat a talented Ole Miss team twice and keep the dream alive. For Nebraska, the offseason begins with reflection on a season that came up just short of Omaha.
Comments