ASU Softball: Devils split series with Iowa, ends 11-game winning streak

(Photo: Liesl Babicka/WCSN)

The Arizona State Sun Devils split a two-game doubleheader with the Iowa Hawkeyes at Farrington Stadium on Wednesday.

The No. 13 ranked Sun Devils mustered up one run and only six hits as a whole in a 3-1 defeat in Game 1. ASU’s 11-game winning streak came to an end because of a poor offensive showing, uncharacteristic of the Sun Devils this season. Arizona State responded to adversity in the second matchup between the two teams. The Sun Devils trampled the Hawkeyes in the second game, winning 9-0 in five innings. Sophomore pitcher G Juarez continued her dominance, going all five innings and allowing a single hit.

ASU v. Iowa – Game 1

The first three innings of the game were stagnant, with little offense from either side. Dale Ryndak for ASU and Allison Doocy were lights out on the rubber, neither allowing more than two hits in the timeframe.

The Hawkeyes were able to break through first an RBI single from Elizabeth DeShields in the 4th inning to put Iowa on the board. This would be Ryndak’s final inning of work, going 4 complete innings with 4 strikeouts and a single walk.

Head coach Trisha Ford said of Ryndak’s performance, “I thought Dale threw well.” Ford elaborating going on to say she wanted Breana Macha to receive some work on the mound in this series, which contributed to her going in the 5^th inning.

Macha came in relief, but experienced problems once entering the game. Aralee Bogar singled up the middle to extend Iowa’s lead. The Hawkeyes added with the next batter as a sacrifice fly from Sarah Kurtz to score Bogar to widen the lead to 3-0.

The Devils attempted to make a comeback attempt with a Kindra Hackbarth infield single bunt and a stolen base. Jade Gortarez doubled into deep right field scoring Hackbarth from second. Nichole Chilson singled to center field, but miscommunication between Gortarez and Ford had an easy out at the plate for Iowa.

Macha kept the Hawkeyes at bay with two scoreless innings after the two-run 5^th innings by Iowa, but it wasn’t enough for ASU. Allison Doocy for Iowa went all 7 innings with had one earned run and 8 total strikeouts.

“In the first game, we had a little hiccup at the plate and we couldn’t just figure out,” ASU senior infielder Marissa Stankiewicz said.

ASU v. Iowa – Game 2

The Sun Devils came out of the game furiously, having felt embarrassed in the early game between the teams. ASU was out to prove their superiority and redeem themselves from the poor performance.

Arizona State got on the board with a Chilson single in the first inning, scoring Morgan Howe and Kindra Hackbarth to take a 2-0 early lead.

“She is just very consistent,” Ford said of Chilson”She doesn’t have ugly at-bats, and I think that’s just very impressive and I think she does a great job of battling, staying relaxed, seeing a lot of pitches.”

Gortarez continued the hit parade in the second inning with a single up the middle, but an error from Iowa resulted in K. Hackbarth and Stankiewicz scoring, extending the score to 4-0.

Skylar McCarty hit into a fielder’s choice in the bottom of third, but another error from Iowa scored Chilson from third, broadening the deficit to 5-0.

ASU put the game out of reach with a Denae Chatman single to centerfield extending it 6-0. Then, Danielle Gibson got ahold of a pitch from Iowa’s Lauren Shaw and deposited a three-run home rum into deep right field putting the Sun Devils over the top at 9-0.

Hitting was a major contributor to the outcome, but G. Juarez for Arizona State was untouchable in the matchup. She gave up her first hit and only hit of the game in the fourth inning, in a five-inning shutout win. She finished with 13 strikeouts on 16 total batters faced the entire night.

“Taking it pitch by pitch and just focusing on me and my team and our goals are what make the difference,” Juarez said. “We came off a little rocky, but like we showed them what ASU softball really is and that’s what were about right their.”

Arizona State record is now at 22-3 record with the win and loss against Iowa. The Sun Devils will have their toughest test of the season this upcoming weekend against the No. 1 ranked Washington Huskies at Farrington Stadium. ASU games will be slated Saturday, March 17 at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 18 at 2:00 p.m. and Monday, March 19 at 2:00 p.m.