2010 NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament: Tempe Regional

The No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA baseball tournament is proceeding smoothly toward the College World Series.

An Arizona State team that's been outstanding all season long successfully navigated the tricky realm of the regionals, and will now get to host a super regional against only one opponent.

ASU moved into the second weekend of the college baseball playoffs by turning back Hawaii on Sunday night at Packard Stadium. The Sun Devils did the deed by relentlessly grinding against Hawaii starter Connor Little, who never found a breather or a safe spot in the ASU lineup.

Arizona State's calling card is its balance. Like any great baseball team, the Devils pose few (if any) easy outs in their batting order. They always make opposing pitchers work, and this game was no exception. Little came up small for Hawai'i against the persistence of the nation's No. 1 team.

ASU scored runs in four straight innings to take a 7-4 lead after five innings. In the fourth, with the visiting Rainbows leading 4-3, ASU received the first of its two biggest hits. Drew Maggi laced a two-run double to put the home team in front by a 5-4 margin. Little stayed in the game in the fifth, but he was tiring after having to work so hard through the first four innings, and it showed.

With one man on in the bottom of the fifth, Little left a pitch in a bad spot, and ASU's Deven Marrero cranked it out of the yard for a two-run shot that provided the Devils with a three-run cushion.

ASU starter Jake Borup (11-1) was shaky in this contest, but he found the focus needed to pitch a scoreless sixth inning and turn the game over to his bullpen. Relievers Mitchell Lambson and Jordan Swagerty did not disappoint, as they held Hawai'i scoreless in the final three innings to wrap up the win... and the Tempe Regional.

Little (2-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Arizona State vs Hawaii - NCAA Regional Championship Baseball Recap