All season, the No. 11 ASU baseball team has been harping on the fact that it is saving its best baseball for the NCAA Tournament.
If the Sun Devils keep playing like this, they won't be around for postseason play.
No. 1 Tulane lived up to its top-ranked billing, disposing of ASU 9-3 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep in front of 3,085 at Turchin Stadium.
The Green Wave had their way with ASU the entire series, outscoring the Sun Devils 24-7. It was ASU's first time being swept since 2002. ASU drops to 6-8 on the year, and its current five-game non-conference losing streak is the longest since 1985.
Tulane (7-0) quickly jumped out to the lead on a third inning grand slam by senior right fielder Matt Barket. After a walk, single and hit batman loaded the bases, Barket blasted a shot to center to put the Green Wave up 4-0.
Tulane added two more runs in the fourth, and would have had more if not for a home-run saving catch by freshman Rocky Laguna in right field.
ASU attempted to make a game of it, scoring three runs in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 6-3. Sophomore second baseman Joe Persichina led off the frame with a single and was knocked in by a Laguna double.
Freshman designated hitter Willy Fox then made the most of his first-career start by hitting a two-run home run.
But the Green Wave didn't let up, adding three more runs in the eighth inning to thwart ASU's chances.
Sophomore right-hander Pat Bresnehan made his second career start for ASU, allowing five runs in three innings for the loss. His ERA jumped from 1.50 to 4.20.
Senior first baseman Jeff Larish was the only Sun Devil to register more than one hit, going 2 for 4 with two doubles.
The news was more of the same on Friday and Saturday.
In the series opener, Tulane scored three first-inning runs and never looked back, downing the Sun Devils, 8-2.
Senior right-hander Jason Urquidez was roughed up for seven runs in five innings and walked six batters, a career high. Larish and freshman center fielder J.J. Sferra had ASU's lone RBIs in the game.
On Saturday, ASU seemed to have its best chance to win when it sent junior left-hander Erik Averill to the hill. Averill was fantastic in his prior two starts, allowing just two runs in 18 innings.
But even Averill was knocked around, giving up eight hits and five runs in five innings as ASU went on to lose, 7-2.
Senior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch went 3 for 4 with two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Laguna hit a double in the eighth inning, marking ASU's first extra base hit of the series to that point.
The Sun Devils will look to reverse their fortunes on Wednesday when they head to Tucson to face No. 10 UA in a non-conference tilt.
Reach the reporter at kyle.odegard@asu.edu.
