(Photo via Daniella Trujillo/WCSN)
Although initially scheduled to play a five-game slate at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral, California, ASU Softball will stay home instead and host Iowa State for a three-game series.
The Sun Devils decided to cancel their trip due to the rainy weather forecasted in Cathedral. The scheduling change gives ASU the opportunity to try and extend their home winning streak to seven games.
ASU (8-2) will open their series against Cyclones (6-4) on Friday night. The teams will then play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning in the afternoon.
Iowa State looks to be a very competitive team and will likely be the toughest competition the Sun Devils have faced since their 7-1 loss to Notre Dame. Iowa State has all but three players in its lineup hitting above .300, with their highest average coming from freshman infielder Ashley Minor, who is hitting .429. The Cyclones have totaled 47 runs, 80 hits, and seven home runs on the season altogether.
Offensively, ASU looks superior on paper. Even though the Sun Devils have racked up 64 runs, 90 hits, and 18 home runs the season, they will likely be challenged in the circle. Of the three pitchers who have spent the most time on the mound for Iowa State, the highest ERA is 2.55 posted by freshman utility player Tatum Johnson. Right-handed pitchers senior Karlie Charles and junior Saya Swain have even stronger resumes, recording ERAs of 0.72 and 1.79, respectively.
Altogether, Iowa State has only given up 23 earned runs and three home runs to their opponents. If the Sun Devils are going to rely on their power and the long ball, they will have to be ready to face the force that is the Cyclone’s pitching staff.
Luckily for ASU, it has some power of its own on the defensive end. Its pitching staff has three pitchers whose ERAs sit at or below 2.80. Those are sophomore righty Kenize Brown (1.91 ERA), freshman righty Kylee Magee (2.47 ERA), and graduate utility player and right-handed pitcher Marissa Schuld (2.80 ERA). Together, ASU’s pitchers have given up an average of just 2.6 earned runs per game, with 15 of the 23 earned runs scored against the Sun Devils coming in their two losses.
Offensively, ASU has been explosive to start the season. The majority of the team is hitting above .200, and four players are batting over .400. Those four are graduate outfielder Yanni Acuña, senior infielder Jordyn VanHook, graduate infielder Alexa Milius, and senior infielder Jazmyn Rollin. A player to look out for this weekend is VanHook, who is the reigning Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week.
After not seeing much playing time in her previous three seasons in Tempe, VanHook came into this season with something to prove. She is currently batting .483 with six home runs and 12 RBIs. Her six homers are tied for the most home runs in the nation.
Another player to watch this upcoming weekend is Acuña, who leads the team with 35 at-bats and 17 hits.
If Acuña and VanHook can continue their impressive starts to the season, they can help put ASU in a position to pick up three more wins this weekend.
