(Photo: Elaine Wilson/WCSN)
In desperate need to turn things around, the No. 22 Arizona State softball team entered the second of three games against the Utah Utes, but could not mount a late rally in their eighth Pac-12 loss, losing the contest 3-1.
Coming off a 10-2 loss the night before, sophomore right-handed pitcher Dale Ryndak got the start in the circle.
After getting through the first inning unscathed, Ryndak allowed junior right fielder Sammy Cordova, who was a pinch runner, to come around and score the game’s first run in the bottom of the second inning.
The Utes picked up their second run in the very next inning when junior left fielder Kay Kay Fronda pretended to lay down a bunt then brought the bat back and sent the pitch over the fence for an opposite field home run.
Meanwhile on the offensive side of the ball the Sun Devils had trouble getting going against sophomore pitcher Miranda Viramontes, who only allowed three hits through four innings.
The Utes struck again in the fourth grabbing another run on a single up the middle from first baseman Bridget Castro.
In the sixth inning ASU started to mount some pressure on Viramontes, getting runners on first and second with only one out.
Junior catcher Sashel Palacios capitalized on the situation hitting a grounder that was deflected by Viramontes into left field bringing in the Sun Devils first run of the game.
That run drove Viramontes from the game and the Utes called on sophomore right-handed pitcher Katie Donovan who promptly struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
The Sun Devils could not mount a rally in the top of the seventh inning against Donovan and dropped the game and the series.
The Devils will head back to Tempe to face Oregon next weekend.
If you have any questions or comments, you can contact Jacob Franklin via Twitter @JFrankSports or via email at jacobfranklin093@gmail.com.
