LINCOLN, Neb. (Interstat) — The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship playoff opener Saturday evening at Haymarket Park will feature a contrast in season trajectories: the Arizona State Sun Devils, a 37-win powerhouse, against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who limped into the postseason at 20-32.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT in this single-elimination regional contest.

Arizona State (37-20) enters as the higher seed, relying on an offense sparked by second baseman Nu’u Contrades. The sophomore has been on a tear, homering in three of his last five games, including a two-homer, three-RBI performance in a 7-6 extra-inning loss at Mississippi on Friday. Contrades went 3-for-7 in that game and has consistently produced this month, hitting .429 (6-for-14) in the three-game series at Houston from May 14-16.

The Sun Devils’ pitching staff, however, showed vulnerability in that 14-inning loss at Ole Miss. Starter Cole Carlon lasted 6 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on nine strikeouts, while Jaden Alba tossed four shutout innings in relief.

South Dakota State (20-32) counters with right-handed pitcher Ty Madison, who has been a reliable arm in the bullpen and as a spot starter. Madison threw five scoreless innings Friday in a 4-1 loss at Nebraska, allowing no hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts. Over his past six appearances — five of them wins — Madison has compiled a 2.01 ERA, striking out 12 in 18 2/3 innings. He last allowed an earned run on May 23 against Oral Roberts, a game the Jackrabbits won 9-6.

The Jackrabbits’ offense remains a question mark. In Friday’s loss, first baseman Dayton Franke had two hits, but the team managed only one run. South Dakota State has dropped three of its last four games, including a 13-8 loss at Omaha on May 16 and a 10-7 defeat at Omaha the day before.

Arizona State, meanwhile, split its final regular-season series at Mississippi and took two of three at Houston earlier in May. The Sun Devils have won six of their last 10.

The winner advances in the double-elimination regional. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.