(Photo by Alex Roddier/WCSN)
The No. 12 Arizona State Softball team dominated on the second day of the Kajikawa Classic, defeating Kansas 14-6 and Weber State 21-1 at Farrington Stadium. Both games ended after the fifth inning due to run rules.
Arizona State played Kansas in the first matchup of the day, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning and six more in the third inning. Junior catcher Maddi Hackbarth dominated with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs in the game. Kansas came into this game following losses to No. 25 Oregon and Stanford, and gave up 12 or more runs in each of their two previous contests.
The Sun Devils came into Saturday’s game against Kansas after losing 8-0 to Missouri Friday night. ASU struggled heavily against the Tigers to hit the ball, with a total hitting percentage of .188. But the Sun Devils rebounded strongly on Saturday at Farrington Stadium.
“I think that our team needs to get used to be ranked…and the way we play it is a big deal,” Maddi Hackbarth said. “Taking in last night, and just knowing that we didn’t play our game and coming out today, just knowing we need to be in it, one pitch at a time we need to be in it.”
Arizona State faced off against Weber State in the second match up of the day. The Sun Devils opened up the game scoreless during the first inning, as junior pitcher Samantha Mejia threw for two strikeouts on the night, while the Arizona State defense was stifling for the Wildcats.
During the second inning, Arizona State got hot from behind the plate, scoring 11 runs, as freshman Yannira Acuña led the Sun Devils off with a 3-run home run to center field. Acuña dominated on the night, going 3-for-3 behind the plate, with 3 runs and 6 RBI on the night.
“There was a big difference from yesterday’s game… but I just came out here and just wanted to drive the ball and hit the ball hard, because I was struggling so that was just my focus for this game,” Acuña said.
Arizona State continued their hot streaks from behind the plate, scoring 10 more runs in the third inning. In another dominant performance by Arizona State, Maddi Hackbarth continued her hot streak on the field, driving in four RBIs to lead the Sun Devils with 10 on the entire day.
“She works her tail off,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “She is doing a hell of a job behind the plate. She is a good hitter, she just was not healthy last year.”
Arizona State is now four games into their young season with a 3-1 record after scoring 35 runs on Saturday. Arizona State will look to continue their dominance on Sunday as they take on Cal State Northridge at 2 p.m. at Farrington Stadium.
