(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)
No. 18 Arizona State softball played two games Saturday in the Littlewood Classic. ASU won both and expanded its win streak to eight after losing the first game of the season against Tennessee.
The day started off with the Sun Devils beating Illinois State 9-1 after scoring seven runs in the last two innings of the game. An hour later, the Sun Devils faced Texas State in a tough match up.
Even with the tough match up, ASU pulled out the 4-3 win in the eighth inning against Texas State thanks to Danielle Gibson with a single to center field to bring in Morgan Howe.
ASU vs. Illinois State (5 innings):
For the first three innings, it seemed as if the game would go to its usual length. However, freshman pinch-hitter DaNae Chatman made a difference with two RBI’s and a two-run home run.
The Redbirds allowed nine runs in a span of five innings. The team only had one error, but due to the lack of defensive discipline and lucrative offense by the Sun Devils, the last two innings destroyed Illinois State.
“Coach Wynn does a great job with our base running and I think we’re always looking to take that extra base, so whenever we can put pressure on the defense I think we are going to be successful,” said head coach Trisha Ford. “We had great base running, reads and made them have to play catch and we were lucky to come out on the other end.”
The Sun Devils left 11 runners on base throughout the game.
Howe ended the game in five innings with a two-run home run to finalize the 9-1 score. Besides her home run, Howe also had two RBI’s, like Chatman.
“I think a win is a win, it doesn’t matter the score, who we are playing, a win is a win,” Howe said. “Again, like I’ve said before, each team, it doesn’t matter who it is, we have to play our game and it has to be about us.”
ASU vs. Texas State (8 innings):
In the second game of the day, Ford placed her four transfers in the first four slots of the batting order. Even though Chatman had a successful game against Illinois State, she hit seventh.
The Bobcats started off the scoring for the night. Ariel Ortiz hit a pop fly to right field while Phoenix natitve Kourtney Pock ran home. ASU then threw to second base to end the first inning only in a one run deficit.
Howe then singled to bring home Kindra Hackbarth and Jade Gortarez and make the score 2-1.
It wasn’t until the fourth inning when Hailey MacKay smashed the ball over center field into the palm trees to tie the game 2-2.
Texas State pitcher Randi Rupp threw 136 pitches and struck out 10 ASU batters, causing the Sun Devils to struggle to get their offense going.
“That kid can pitch, Randi, she’s who she is for a reason, she came out and tried out for USA,” said Ford. “That kid can compete, she got better as the game went, I was actually really pleased with our energy, I thought we had good energy.”
Three innings in a row, Rupp retired ASU in order. This success on the mound gave the Sun Devils consistent frustration.
Adding onto the frustration, the team didn’t score a single run after the first inning until the eighth.
Breanna Macha came in the fourth inning to relieve starting pitcher Giselle Juarez.
“I think it actually helped me, first game I kind of struggled a little bit, coach said I was seeing red,” said Macha. “And then, coming into this game I had a clear heart, clear mind and I just went and did what I had to do.”
For the first time all season, the Sun Devils waded into extra innings.
Tara Oltmann hit a single that looked like she was going to be tagged, but by fielder’s choice, she was ignored, and the ball was thrown to home plate. The throw was off, allowing Texas State to take a 3-2 lead.
Hackbarth led off the bottom of the eighth with Taylor Becerra on second. In NCAA softball, extra innings begin with a player on second base.
Hackbarth then bunted and when it looked like she was going to be thrown out at first, MacKay missed the throw, allowing Becerra to rush home and tie the game.
Gibson came up to bat with Howe on second and Hackbarth on first. She hit a single into center field to drive Howe home and win 4-3.
Her walk-off hit was something the Sun Devils needed, especially so early in the season, as a learning experience.
“I think this was a good team win for us, it really showed us our characteristic as a team, our energy was great, Macha coming in just shutting it down for us,” said Gibson. “I think after this game, our future games, anything, like a tight ballgame, we have confidence.”
The Sun Devils close out the Littlewood Classic Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. against San Diego.
