ASU falls to Northwestern, makes strong comeback against St. Thomas

(Photo via Julia Coyne/WCSN)

TEMPE — ASU softball’s journey to Oklahoma City began Friday, as the Sun Devils opened their season with a sizzling doubleheader. The Devils’ quest for victory started with a game against No. 24 Northwestern, a team they battled in the Super Regionals almost two years ago. The last time the two teams clashed, ASU accepted defeat by a mere two runs, so there was no doubt that the Devils entered Friday’s contest seeking vengeance and chance at redemption.

Graduate outfielder Kelsey Hall made her first ASU appearance in the bottom of the second. Hall, just two hits away from 100 career hits, didn’t get to showcase her skill because she earned a walk. Also seeking triple digits was graduate infielder Makenzie Macfarlane. Sitting at 99 career hits, she didn’t have the opportunity to deliver, being walked as well.

In the third inning, sophomore outfielder Tanya Windle started things off strong for the Devils with a hit to center field to get on base. Graduate infielder Alesia Denby kept the momentum going as she drove the ball to left field to earn a double.

The real stars of the show in the third inning could be found deep in the outfield, as Hall and sophomore outfielder Yannixa Acuña each made successful catches. Unfortunately for ASU, what looked to be a smooth inning for the Sun Devil defense ended with Northwestern earning a run after a home run by senior utility player Angela Zedak.

In the fifth inning, graduate right-handed pitcher Marissa Schuld appeared as a pinch-hitter in place of sophomore outfielder Ayden Allen. Senior infielder Kayla Lissy showed up to play and hit a rocket to left-center field for a double. But despite the Devils’ efforts to get on the board, they remained scoreless at the end of the inning.

Although the Sun Devils seemed to warm up to the game in the later innings, it was a rocky start for the team, as sophomore right-handed pitcher Kylee Magee walked the first two Northwestern hitters. The Wildcats took advantage of Magee’s struggles and earned their first run just fifteen minutes into the game.

The top of the fourth was a nail-bitter, as the Sun Devils made various errors, and the Wildcats had multiple base hits. Magee’s pitching faltered, and the infield failed to communicate on making plays, but they got lucky when Magee regained her confidence and earned a strikeout to close the inning.

In the top of the sixth, ASU made some fielding errors, including a poor throw to first after a near-missed grounder by Magee. But every time it appeared the Devils lost their rhythm, Magee reeled them back in with strikeouts. The pitcher has a knack for making a comeback, and the righty’s efforts left the Wildcats scoreless once more in the frame.

“I feel like I’m always behind the count, unfortunately,” Magee said. “I feel like I’m kind of used to it, so I just have to take a deep breath and just come back out.”

Magee stepped onto the mound for the seventh time in the final inning after 117 pitches and 27 batters faced. The pitcher did not expect to pitch all seven innings of the game.

“The last time I went seven innings was probably travel ball,” Magee said. “So I think I got to six innings last year, but it was pretty cool to go seven again.”

Magee struggled with walks in this inning and walked both the third and fourth hitters. In typical resilient Magee fashion, the pitcher struck out the fifth and sixth hitters, and ASU escaped Northwestern’s loaded bases, keeping the final score at 2-0. Head coach Megan Bartlett shared her thoughts on Magee’s pitching.

“I thought Kylee threw a beautiful first game,” Bartlett said. “So that was certainly nice to see.”

St. Thomas made its Kajikawa Classic debut this season, so the question of how the Devils would fare against this team was quite a mystery. Last season, St. Thomas had a record of 18-35. Considering ASU’s 22-26 record from the year prior, the Devils were the favorites to win.

Senior right-handed pitcher Mac Osborne started the game but handed the baton to highly anticipated freshman righty Meika Lauppe in the fifth inning. With the rookie on the mound, the Tommies zipped one right down the middle, and the Devils gave up a run. Lauppe struck out a hitter, but the Tommies returned with another run. Bartlett decided it was time for another change, so she brought in Schuld.

In the first inning, another senior and freshman duo emerged on the diamond, with Osborne and freshman catcher Samantha Swan commanding the defense. After an error on the field by freshman infielder Libby Walsh, a single turned into a double, and a runner advanced to third. St. Thomas was on a roll as the next hitter hammered the ball to left center and brought two runs home.

On offense, ASU looked to make up for its costly defensive mistakes. Lissy walked to first and gracefully slid into second for the steal. Later, Denby hammered the ball out of the park and earned two runs for ASU. Her hit boosted the score and the Devils’ morale, as the dugout was especially loud during this batting rotation. What was a two-run deficit turned into a one-run lead for ASU.

Hall was a powerhouse during the third inning. With much patience in the box, the outfielder ripped a near-homer to right field. Hall almost ran the entire diamond but halted at third. Senior catcher Sara Kinch walked to first, and Swan fouled a pop-up that was caught. Hall took this as an opportunity to showcase her blazing speed and stole home plate. Allen pinch-ran for Kinch, and Acuña recorded another hit, which resulted in Allen touching home. The Devils pushed the score to 5-2.

Denby came to seal Friday night’s win against the Tommies. With ASU up by three, The transfer shortstop sent another ball flying over the fence for her second home run of the game. Following the deep shot, Hall walked to first base, and Allen sent a grounder deep into the left side. She advanced to third on a throwing error, allowing Hall to find her way home again.

Acuña continued her hot streak with a drive to right-center field in the fifth inning and hit a well-deserved triple after putting up a fight in the batter’s box. Bartlett commented on Acuña’s continued success.

“(Acuña) worked really, really hard in the off-season and in the fall,” Bartlett said. “She’s put on 10 or 12 pounds of muscle at this point. She has great hand-eye coordination, so oddly enough, the offensive pieces, I think, come way easier to her.”

The final score was 9-4, and Alesia Denby earned the Player of the Game award, as the Sun Devils immediately bounced back from their season-opening loss.

“I think [the award] means everything,” Denby said. “Especially just going into the preparation that we put in throughout this whole fall and coming in. I think it was just awesome to come out and honestly just play for my teammates.”

ASU continues play in the Kajikawa Classic and will look to come out of this weekend with a positive record to kick off Bartlett’s second season at the helm.