Kansas Suffers Walk-Off 7-6 Loss in Series Finale at Arizona State

Sunday, March 23

Phoenix, Ariz.

3 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

18-6, 3-3

Arizona State

16-8, 4-2

Kansas

Arizona State

Kansas Suffers Walk-Off 7-6 Loss in Series Finale at Arizona State

3/23/2025 7:15:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats Conference Stats

TEMPE, Ariz. – Kansas baseball dropped the series finale against Arizona State by a score of 7-6 on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. A walk-off two-run home run by Nu'u Contrades handed Kansas its first series loss of the season.

In the top of the ninth, Kansas was trailing by a run and down to its final out when Tommy Barth hit a go-ahead two-run homer to take a 6-5 lead. That was the third lead of the day for Kansas after a 2-0 lead and a 4-3 advantage, but Arizona State came back all three times to ultimately win the game.

Redshirt sophomore Manning West got the start for Kansas and went 3.1 innings. He allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits, four walks and three strikeouts. Dariel Osoria had a career-high four hits, while Brady Ballinger and Barth each had two hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kansas took an early lead on Sunday afternoon with a pair of runs in the first inning. The Jayhawks had three consecutive hits with one out. Osoria was the third of those three hits and drove in the first run on an RBI single to center field. Brady Counsell provided the second run with a sacrifice fly.
• Arizona State (15-8, 3-2 Big 12) got a run back in the second inning on a passed ball to make it a 2-1 Kansas lead.
• The Sun Devils were able to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by Isaiah Jackson.
• The Jayhawks were able to get the lead back in the sixth inning. Osoria scored on a wild pitch to tie the game and Ty Wisdom had a pinch-hit RBI fielder's choice to score Barth. That gave Kansas a 4-3 advantage.
• Arizona State answered back in the bottom of the seventh with two runs to take the lead. Jacob Tobias hit a two-run double to the gap in left-center field to give the Sun Devils a 5-4 edge.
• Kansas had an opportunity to score in the eighth inning but left two runners stranded on base.
• The Jayhawks did capitalize in the top of the ninth with a runner on base. Osoria singled with one out and Counsell hit a fielder's choice to be on first base with two outs. Barth took a 1-1 pitch the opposite way to right field for a go-ahead, two-run homer and a 6-5 lead.
• The Sun Devils responded by getting a leadoff single and then on the seventh pitch of the at-bat Contrades drove one out to right field to win it.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Lucas Kelly (3-0)
Final line: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
Loss: Eric Lin (1-2)
Final line: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 SO

SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME

TOMMY BARTH = CLUTCHHHHH ?? pic.twitter.com/FMWt2KsXwh
— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) March 23, 2025

QUOTABLES & NOTABLES
"Great baseball game and two teams that for the most part played really well. We had some opportunities where you wish we could have punched it through and widened the gap when we took the lead, but they could say the same thing when they had the lead. Usually games like this it just comes down to whoever hits last. Tommy hammered the ball to right and then their guy did the same thing. The ball really just started carrying right at the end there to right field. It was kind of dead to right-center and right field all day and then in the ninth it kind of opened up. This is a really good team we played and we certainly have done a lot of things well, but like I say every game and believe, we still have a long way to go. We'll be ready to get after it Tuesday." – Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald

• Kansas suffered its first series loss of the season.
• Barth hit his fifth home run of the season to put Kansas ahead going into the bottom of the ninth.
• Osoria had a career-high four hits. He finished the game 4-for-5 with a RBI and run scored.
• Brooks has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games. He drew three walks in the game.
• Counsell extended his on-base streak to 13 games.
• Jackson Hauge has a 10-game on-base streak.

UP NEXT
Kansas returns home to play a two-game midweek series against St. Thomas on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and Wednesday is set for 3 p.m. CT. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and fans can purchase tickets by clicking here.