When No. 21 Arizona State hosts No. 25 Oregon State on Friday, it has a chance to match its win total from last season. Yes, on April 21 and with 18 games remaining on the schedule, the Sun Devils can reach 26 wins. What's been the trick in head coach Willie Bloomquist's second year leading his alma mater? 

There have been a few reasons for the turnaround. Bloomquist and the Sun Devil staff heavily used the transfer portal this offseason for depth and star power. In the offseason, the transfer class was rated inside the top three in the nation by D1Baseball. Most of the time those preseason rankings only mean so much, but the new Sun Devils have backed it up with their play. 

A large emphasis was put on fortifying the weekend rotation. Last year, Bloomquist wondered how he would be able to put together 27 outs for each game in a series. Arizona State has stabilized the Friday and Saturday night starter roles with the additions of Ross Dunn (Florida State) and Khristian Curtis (Texas A&M). Both have reliable stuff to give the Sun Devils innings and a chance to win with each start. A luxury they didn’t have last season.

Thus far, the Sun Devils are 13-5 when Dunn and Curtis start. They were 15-15 when their primary starters got the nod last year.

The Sun Devils also brought in Owen Stevenson from San Francisco to be a potential starter. Stevenson has made three starts this season, but lately has found more success in the closer role as he's picked four saves since March 31.

“We have a lot of options, a lot more options this year,” Bloomquist said before the season started. “We are confident in the guys that we brought in…We are excited about Ross and Khristian. Last year if we had a guy go down, we weren’t equipped to weather that storm very well.” 

The newfound depth created allowed Bloomquist to make such choices, and it paid off. The Sun Devils sit atop the Pac-12 standings heading into a pivotal stretch down the season that starts with a ranked series with Oregon State. The bullpen has been much more reliable this season and another reason for the success. Arizona State is 22-1 this season when leading after seven innings, compared to a 20-4 mark last season. 

It hasn’t been all new faces either. Junior Blake Pivaroff has established himself as the setup man. Pivaroff has been a pitcher only this season after taking a handful of at-bats the past two seasons. Whether it’s focusing solely on being on the rubber or simply finding the best role for him, he’s been used at his best right now. 

That exact statement follows suit with the lineup as well. The depth has reshaped the way Bloomquist can do things, and bats he can trust. Transfers Luke Keaschall (San Francisco) and Nick McLain (UCLA) were big names of the portal, but another name has shined too. 

Wyatt Crenshaw has been a prime example of the depth the Sun Devils needed. The Colorado Christian transfer not only has an .884 OPS thus far but has helped fill in for injuries. McLain didn't make his season debut until April and Crenshaw started in the outfield in his absence. Even after McLain’s return, Crenshaw has played too well to take him out of the starting lineup. Fortunately, there’s a spot. All-American Ethan Long only played 12 games before suffering a season-ending injury. Crenshaw has been the team’s designated hitter in the four games that McLain has been back. And his return lets others flourish as well. 

“To get him back, it really lengthens our lineup,” said Bloomquist following McLain’s debut in a win over Grand Canyon. “It puts guys back where they’re supposed to be instead of trying to figure it out.” 

The freshman class, which Bloomquist mentioned would push for starting spots, has impressed too. Nu’u Contrades, Luke Hill, Isaiah Jackson and Kien Vu have all started at least 10 games in Pac-12 play. Contrades earned the Conference's Player of the Week award back on March 27 after hitting .474 with 10 RBI, three doubles and a pair of home runs. Hill and Jackson have helped stabilize the defense at shortstop and center field. 

Three of those freshmen, Keaschall, and Crenshaw have hit at least three homers. In total, there have been nine Sun Devils to hit at least three homers this year and McLain has already hit two in three games. Last season, Arizona State only had eight players reach that mark. 

The Sun Devil faithful have plenty to be happy about with the former All-American at the helm. They have the résumé to make the postseason again. And if they can continue to play well to end the season with Oregon State, Cal State Fullerton, Oregon, USC and UCLA ahead, they might even be able to host the first Regional at Phoenix Municipal Stadium since moving from Packett Stadium, where Bloomquist has plenty of memories from.