(Photo credit: Sierra Watson/WCSN)
TEMPE — The energy in the Valley was immaculate Wednesday night, as ASU Softball kicked its fall season off with a bang, defeating the Embry-Riddle Eagles by a score of 9-0.
From the beginning, ASU took control with a leadoff triple by junior outfielder Tanya Windle and a sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Samantha Swan. The Sun Devils extended their lead thanks to a three-run third inning. Junior infielder Ayden Allen was the main agent of chaos with a two-run home run to left field. Sophomore infielder Nehanda Lewis also went yard in the fifth inning extending ASU’s lead to 7-0.
On the split side, ASU’s pitching staff struck out 12 batters over seven innings while only allowing two hits. Duties in the circle were split between freshman right-handers Cambree Creager and Julianne Tipton; and sophomore right-hander Meika Lauppe.
Wednesday’s matchup featured Creager getting her first start as a Sun Devil. She began her career by throwing a ball outside. Early nerves were a factor for Creager, but the Georgetown, Texas native quickly recovered by striking out the first two batters of her collegiate career.
Creager also faced some early adversity due in part to two ASU errors. The first was a fielding error by junior infielder Katie Chester at third base, which she kicked up the third base line. The other was a throwing error to first base made by freshman infielder Takyla Davis at shortstop. However, Creager remained calm and escaped the inning unscathed.
Creager finished her ASU fall debut by going three innings, allowing no runs, only one hit and striking out five Eagles. The freshman pitcher was constantly bombarded with support from her corner infielders, Chester and senior utility player AJ Murphy.
On the other side, Embry-Riddle’s starting pitcher struggled out of the gate allowing seven earned runs in five innings of work. She finished her day going five innings, allowing seven runs, two home runs, walking two, hitting one, and striking out two Sun Devils. Perhaps the moment that best summarizes her performance came when she threw three consecutive wild pitches that plated a run for ASU.
For Embry-Riddle, Wednesday was not the ideal start. The Eagle offense managed just two hits. The game ended with the final six Eagles being retired in order. The pitching did not fare much better either. Embry-Riddle allowed 19 Sun Devils to reach base to go along with 11 hits and 9 runs. The Eagle’s defense was sloppy, with them committing three errors.
In a 9-0 victory, there are a lot of positives to take away for ASU. The Sun Devil’s offense boasted three multi-hit performances from Windle, Allen and freshman infielder Tiare Ho-Ching. Additionally, ASU’s pitching staff carried their weight as well. In addition to Creager’s five strikeouts, Tipton added four of her own in two innings pitched, and Lauppe rounded out her two innings of work with three. If the Devils keep firing on all sides, this fall could be a prosperous one at Farrington Stadium.
ASU improves to 1-0 on the fall season with their next matchup coming on Oct. 2 at Grand Canyon University.
