(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
No. 13 Arizona State tasted victory and defeat Friday afternoon after hosting New Mexico and No. 2 Oklahoma.
The Sun Devils battled the nation’s best and left it all out on the field. The odds were stacked against them entering the game against the Sooners however, ASU was in a position to win the game until the final pitch.
“I think it was a hell of a game,” head coach Trisha Ford said.
Coach Ford surprised many by electing to start freshman pitcher Allison Royalty over experienced sixth-year pitcher Cielo Meza, yet Royalty rose to the occasion and retired the first six batters she faced, including striking out the side in the 2nd inning.
“I gave her the ball today and that meant a lot,” Ford said.
The Sun Devils crossed home first after junior outfielder Makenna Harper launched a solo home run to right field, putting Arizona State up 1-0. That would be the last time the Sun Devils would have the lead. Freshman second baseman Tiare Jennings smacked a two-run homer to give the Sooners a 2-1 lead.
Impressive pitching by Royalty and Oklahoma senior pitcher, former Sun Devil, Giselle “G” Juarez, kept the score at 2-1 entering the 7th inning. Friday’s game was Juarez’s return to Tempe, where she spent her first two years of college as a member of Ford’s squad. After Arizona State fell to Oklahoma in the 2018 College World Series, Juarez later announced she would be joining the Sooners the following season.
When asked about Juarez’s return to the desert, “It’s not about G…We did a good job keeping it about us,” Ford said.
The Sooners finally figured out Royalty in the 7th when senior outfielder Nicole Mendes led off the inning with a home run to right. Two batters later, senior designated hitter Jocelyn Alo sent another ball flying over the fence, increasing the Sooner lead to 5-1.
Royalty’s night finished with that pitch. Senior pitcher Cielo Meza relieved her and stopped the bleeding after striking out two batters to end the top of the 7th.
Things looked gloomy for the Sun Devils entering the inning but that quickly changed after sophomore outfielder Jazmine Hill lead off the final frame with a single up the middle, shifting momentum. Arizona State kept the pressure on Juarez and the Sooners as senior first baseman Denae Chatman doubled, scoring Hill. Harper’s big day continued as her single drove in Chatman to bring the score to 5-3.
“Harper’s greatest strength is her competitiveness,” Ford said.
As did the Sun Devils, the Sooners had to go to the bullpen despite great outings from the starters. Senior pitcher Shannon Saile relieved Juarez and went on to retire the next 3 Sun Devils to end the game.
Royalty finished the night with seven strike outs while only giving up five hits. Not too shabby for a freshman facing the No. 2 team in the country.
“I thought she threw tremendous honestly,” Ford said.
Despite the loss, there were many positives to be taken away from Friday’s games. The most apparent of them being a 13-1 run-rule win for Arizona State over New Mexico. Sophomore pitcher Lindsey Lopez was fantastic as she only surrendered one hit over five innings pitched.
Fifth-year catcher Maddi Hackbarth, sophomore shortstop Alynah Torres, fifth-year outfielder Kindra Hackbarth and Hill all flashed their power and hit a home run in the dominant win.
New Mexico will get another shot against Arizona State on Sunday but before then, the Sun Devils will look to add two more wins on Saturday as they play host to Portland and No. 25 Iowa State.
“We’ll be alright,” said Ford.
