Categories: Softball

ASU Softball: Bruins use long ball to blow out Sun Devils

(Photo: Michael Baron/WCSN)

The No. 22 ASU softball team dropped the second game of a three-game series to No. 10 UCLA 13-3. It was ASU’s third straightt loss as its record fell to 30-19 on the season, including a 9-14 Pac-12 record.

UCLA held a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when sophomore Brianna Tautalafua to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead.

ASU responded in the bottom half of the same inning when sophomore Fa Leilua hit her 12th home run of the year. It was a solo shot and it also gave her the team lead in home runs on the season.

ASU trailed by two runs entering the fourth inning, but the Bruins started to pull away when senior Delaney Spaulding hit a three-run homer to right field and it became 6-1 Bruins.

Following a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning by Bubba Nickles, UCLA would add two more in the top half of the next frame to take a 9-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sun Devils were able to find some offense again when redshirt junior Margaret Stahm hit her sixth home run to left field. It was another solo shot and after an RBI single by Leilua, the Devils trailed 9-3.

However, Tautalafua hit a three-run home run as part of a four-run top of the seventh inning, and the Bruins would go on to win the game 13-3. UCLA now has a two-game winning streak and improves their overall record to 41-13.

Junior pitcher Dale Ryndak took the loss for the Devils, as she struggled through the game going four innings while conceding six runs on 10 hits. Ryndak’s record now stands at 8-4 in 2017. Meanwhile, UCLA’s Selina Ta’amilo only went 2.2 innings, but picked up the win and remains undefeated at 14-0 on the season.

What’s Next for ASU

The Sun Devils conclude the regular season on Saturday when the three-game series with the Bruins. It will be senior day for ASU as first pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Farrington Stadium in Tempe.