A test of endurance and poise
The No. 22 Arizona Sun Devils entered a 14‑inning duel with No. 18 Ole Miss at the NCAA Lincoln Regional, only to watch a late rally slip away as the Rebels edged them 7‑6.
Arizona’s pitching staff turned in a masterclass, stringing together nine straight innings without allowing a run, highlighted by Cole Carlon’s six‑plus frames in which he fanned nine batters while walking just two.
Right‑hander Jaden Alba then stepped into extra innings, delivering four flawless frames that kept the Sun Devils alive and set the stage for a dramatic finish.
At the plate, Nu’u Contrades was the spark plug, launching two homers and adding three hits, while Dean Toigo contributed a solo blast that briefly gave Arizona a lead.
Despite the 18 strikeouts — the 12th time this season the staff has reached that mark — the offense stalled after the seventh inning, leaving the team to settle for a 7‑6 defeat.
The loss drops Arizona into the elimination bracket, where they will now meet South Dakota State in a must‑win showdown that could keep their national title hopes alive.
Coach Rich Rodriguez praised the resilience of his squad, noting that the team’s ability to strike out 15 or more batters on twelve occasions this season underscores the depth of the pitching rotation.
Fans will be watching closely as the Sun Devils look to rebound, hoping that the same grit that produced nine consecutive scoreless innings can translate into runs when it matters most.