ASU Softball: Howe sends ASU to second-straight extra-innings victory over Cal

(Photo: Liesl Babicka/WCSN)

Junior outfielder Morgan Howe led No. 12 Arizona State softball to a 3-1 victory in 10 innings over No. 20 California Golden Bears Saturday afternoon.

ASU (26-4) earned their second Pac-12 road win of the season and the series victory over Cal (24-7) with still one game left. With Saturday’s win, Sun Devil second-year head coach Trisha Ford collected a proud accomplishment – her 200th win as a head coach.

Sun Devil senior Breanna Macha and Bears redshirt junior Zoe Conley put on a pitching clinic in the circle as the veteran starters dazzled the packed crowds at Levine-Fricke Field.

Macha and Conley wheeled and dealed the first time through the order only allowing a combined three hitters to reach base.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Sun Devils loaded the bases, however catcher Maddi Hackbarth popped out to squander the opportunity.

ASU continued to apply pressure to Cal starter Conley, who was backed up by the stellar Bears defense, including with the arm of outfielder Bradie Fillmore and at the hot corner of Karlee Sparacino.

The Bears threatened in the home half of the fifth as Cameron Kondo led off with a double down the third baseline and advanced on a sacrifice bunt.

However, Macha did not quiver as she got out of the jam striking out the ninth-place hitter for the Bears to keep the score deadlocked.

The game did not stay tied for long when the sixth inning came around. The Sun Devils sparked together a two-out rally. After Friday’s hero Marisa Stankiewicz drew a walk, Nicole Chilson smashed a pinch-hit double to the right field gap to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 advantage.

ASU’s lead did not last. In the next frame, the Bears tied the game up on ground ball miscue by Macha. The veteran starter kept her composure and limited the damage striking out the next two Cal batters.

With the score knotted after seven innings, the two teams needed extra innings for the second straight day.

The Sun Devils put up a fight right away. In the top of eighth inning, the first two Sun Devils hit back-to-back singles. Stankiewicz laced her second single of the game to left field. Howe raced around third and tried to reclaim the lead for the Sun Devils, but Fillmore gunned her down to keep the game tied.

Cal retaliated in the home half of the frame as the two leadoff Bears reached base. After that, Ford made the call to bullpen for her ace, sophomore G Juarez.

Macha’s line for the afternoon was strong. She pitched seven innings, allowing one run on six hits and one walk while striking out nine.

In relief, Juarez left off where her dominant performance was on Friday. The southpaw worked out of the eighth inning trouble to keep the game alive.

To the tenth inning the Sun Devils and Golden Bears stood tied, but Morgan Howe gave ASU a jolt of offense.

Sophomore Jade Gortarez roped a leadoff double. The next batter, Howe, crushed an opposite-field double to give the Sun Devils the 2-1 lead. Freshman Danielle Gibson followed with an RBI-single to add more insurance.

G Juarez closed out the game with ease. She picked up her 13th win of the season by striking out the last seven Cal hitters en route to the 3-1 victory over the Bears.

The Sun Devils go for the sweep and wrap up the series with the Golden Bears on Sunday, March 25, at Levine-Fricke Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

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