Phoenix Rising’s Rooney out for season; Riggi out 3-5 weeks
Phoenix Rising FC announced that Luke Rooney, who leads the team in goals, is out for the season after suffering a right knee injury during Saturday's 2-1 victory over OKC Energy FC. The team also declared Alessandro Riggi will miss 3-5 weeks with a right knee injury, which also occurred in Saturday's game.
Rising FC (3-3) plays its next four games on the road. Up next is a second round U.S. Open Cup match against the Fresno Fuego at 7 p.m.
ASU baseball needs big finish to avoid losing record on season
ASU's baseball team (22-26) must win six of its final seven games to avert its first losing season since 1985 and second in school varsity history not including 2007 when 44 wins were vacated due to NCAA sanctions. ASU was shut out twice last weekend at Washington, losing the series and seeing its nation high 54-year run of consecutive 30-win seasons end. The Sun Devils have been blanked five times, all in Pac-12 play where they are 8-16. ASU finishes with a home series against No. 19 Arizona starting Thursday and away series vs. Utah.
Arizona hosts, ASU travels to begin softball tournament
Pac-12 champion Arizona will begin its NCAA Softball Tournament run at home while Arizona State will open at Mississippi. The 64-team field was announced Sunday night Wildcats will play New Mexico State in the first round at Hillenbrand Stadium. Others in the double-elimination regional field are South Carolina and St. Francis (Pa.). The Sun Devils will face North Carolina in the first round with host Ole Miss opening against Southern Illinois.
ASU men’s golf tied for fourth
The ASU mens golf team is tied for fourth after the Day 1 in the NCAA regional in Austin, Texas. The host Longhorns (-7) hold the lead heading into Tuesday followed by Ole Miss (-2) and Oklahoma State (+3). ASU, Iowa State and North Carolina State are all +6. The top six teams advance to the NCAA Championships are May 26-31, hosted by Northern Illinois.
ASU adds volleyball assistant
Macey Gardner, Arizona State volleyball career kills leader, is returning to her alma mater as assistant coach. Gardner is replacing Amanda Burbridge as a full-time assistant under first-year head coach Sanja Tomasevic. Burbridge is shifting into a volunteer position for alumni and donor relations in part because she's getting married.
Gardner, of Gilbert, broke the school 20year kills record midway through her senior season in 2015 before suffering a careerending knee injury.