ASU Softball: Devils pick up victory 4-0 over Oregon in series closer

(Photo: Liesl Babicka/WCSN)

In what is described as a very simple game that is hard to do by Arizona State head softball coach Trisha Ford, sometimes it’s the smallest adjustments that make the biggest difference.

“I came in earlier today,” shortstop Jade Gortarez said. “Watched film, went over all the pitchers, my at-bats, and just talked over my adjustments with the coaches for maybe 20 minutes this morning. I felt prepared for today.”

The preparation paid off for the sophomore as she finished a single short of the cycle and was a key contributor for No. 7 Arizona State in their 4-0 win over the No. 3 Oregon Ducks to close out the series.

Gortarez got things going early on with a double in the first inning and was later knocked in by first basemen Danielle Gibson to put ASU up 1-0. The shortstop would follow up the extra-base hit with solo home run two innings later.

While Gortarez did the work on the offensive side of the ball for the Sun Devils, it was another sophomore in form of G Juarez who dominated from the circle. The southpaw threw her 17th complete game of the year including her 10th shutout of the year.

This came after Juarez struggled on Friday night against Oregon allowing several home runs in the loss.

“Pretty good to know I totally let go of the first game,” Juarez said. “Day two is usually the hardest so it makes a difference today especially when we put up some runs and make some great defensive plays.”

ASU would later add to their lead in the fourth inning as a pitching change would take place after a double by DeNae Chatman and a walk by Marisa Stankiewicz. Following the change in the circle for the Ducks, it was a four-pitch walk to pinch-hitter Brynley Steele, and a hit by pitch to pinch-hitter Kwyn Cooper to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Sun Devils would tack on the fourth and final run after a leadoff triple by Gortarez who was knocked in one batter later by Morgan Howe.

ASU would hold on to the lead behind stellar defensive play from third basemen Taylor Becerra who finished the game with three putouts and four assists.

“We prepare at practice to expect it to be harder than it is in games,” Becerra said. “We hit shots like that all the time and I miss them all the time so to have it happen in the game and come through is really cool.”

The win comes after the first back-to-back losses for the Sun Devils the entire season. Oregon came into the game second in the Pac-12 standings and a well-respected team in the nation.

“Oregon is a great team and they’re ranked No. 3 in the nation for a reason,” Gortarez said. “We came out today and said let’s play like we know how and have fun and that was the difference today.”

ASU will now move into the team’s rivalry week where they will face off in a weekend series against the University of Arizona leading the series off Friday at 5 p.m.