ASU Softball continues flying fall taking down Embry-Riddle

(Photo: Zina Garcia/ WCSN)

TEMPE – ARZ. A late October evening has never resembled the 4th of July quite like last night, as Arizona State’s softball team sent ball after ball into the night sky. While not exactly fireworks, it was what fans in Tempe were hoping to see during their Wednesday night trip to the ballpark.

 

“Anytime you put up 13 hits,” ASU coach Megan Bartlett said postgame, “you’re going to find some nice success.”

 

Success was an understatement for the Sun Devils during their fourth fall game of the year, this one against Embry-Riddle University, as they dominated the majority of the contest, leaving with a 13-5 victory over the Eagles.

 

As the sun set over Farrington Stadium, the Sun Devils were in complete control of the game from start to finish. The scoring started early, as junior infielder Samantha Swan roped a line drive over the second baseman’s head for a single, before being brought home to open the scoring by sophomore outfielder Ashleigh Mejia, who swung at the first pitch and found the left center field gap for a double to open the scoring. 

 

That was as close as the game would get for the Eagles, as junior catcher Emily Schepp worked a 3-2 count before almost putting a ball off the scoreboard for a home run, giving ASU a 3-0 lead early.

 

That wasn’t all for the Sun Devils in the first frame, as senior outfielder Yaya Acuńa reached on an infield single to first base before a triple turned inside the park home run on a throwing error by fellow senior outfielder Tanya Windle would break the game wide open before the Eagles would record three outs. 

 

The second inning would prove to be a valuable learning opportunity for both teams, as a potential sacrifice fly for ERU’s Katie Jamieson was called back as her teammate Ryan Decosta left third base early, trying to advance on a diving play by Sun Devils right fielder Ashleigh Mejia. 

 

“We pulled them off and talked through that situation,” coach Bartlett said, “it’s kind of a nuance in softball.”

 

After holding the Eagles scoreless yet again, ASU would tack on two more runs in the second inning with doubles from freshman utility player JazMarie Roberts and redshirt sophomore Kaylee Pond, and a solo shot from Swan, who left her mark early and often in this one to extend the Sun Devils lead to 7-0.

 

While the offense was putting up run after run, freshman pitcher Mary Payton Hodge continued to shut down the Eagles’ offense, as she went four innings, giving up no runs and striking out three.

 

ASU’s offensive barrage kept on keeping on in the bottom of the third, as they took advantage of two errors by ERU’s third baseman with a two RBI double by freshman catcher Brooke Piwowar and an ensuing single from senior utility infielder Millie Roberts.

 

Before the Eagles could record nine outs, the Sun Devils scored 10 runs. A feat that, while being an exhibition game, sure gave the dugout plenty of momentum.

 

Two more home runs in the bottom of the fourth by junior infielder Nehanda Lewis and freshman utility infielder Avery Montini would extend ASU’s lead to 13-0, effectively ending conventional gameplay for the evening.

 

ERU would score five in the following few innings in situationals off junior pitcher Meika Lauppe, as the Eagles were granted runners on base for each of the next few frames.

 

The game concluded in seven innings, as ASU handily took down the Eagles with an impressive mix of plate discipline and power. 

 

Limiting their strikeouts and putting the ball in play will be key for the Sun Devils as they get prepared for their spring season, as offensive inconsistencies have plagued their fall.

 

Their next test comes Nov. 5 back in Tempe against Phoenix College, as ASU hopes to keep their fireworks rolling into a new month.

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