ASU Softball: Sun Devils Cap Off Opening Day with Pair of Wins in Walkoff Fashion

(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)

No. 16 Arizona State Softball opened its season with a doubleheader against the BYU Cougars in the annual Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils won both games but that may have been the only two similarities between the contests. The Sun Devils marched past the Cougars 7-2 in the first game before winning a thriller 7-5 in extra innings the following game by way of a walkoff home run from the bat of fifth-year designated player Alli Tatnall.

The Cougars jumped to an early lead as freshman outfielder Violet Zavodnik hit a solo home run over the center field wall to put BYU up 1-0. That pitch would go on to be one of few mistakes thrown by Arizona State fifth-year pitcher Cielo Meza. She went on to strike out 11 batters in 6 innings pitched. Meza impressed as she surrendered only 3 hits and 2 runs in her first outing of the year.

Arizona State got on the board in the 2^nd after a wild pitch from BYU senior pitcher Autumn Moffat-Korth allowing sophomore shortstop Alynah Torres to score knotting the game at 1-1. That would be the last time the Cougars would hold the lead as Arizona State capitalized off of more BYU errors in the 3^rd inning after fifth-year center fielder Kindra Hackbarth scored on a wild pitch. When asked about the impact of Hackbarth’s speed, “She’s probably one of the best I’ve ever had,” head coach Trisha Ford said. That went on to set up a two-run RBI infield single by sophomore outfielder Jazmine Hill with the bases loaded giving the Sun Devils a 4-run lead.

Junior designated hitter Bridget Fleener of BYU hit a laser of a home run to right field to bring the score closer, but it would not be enough as 2 innings later junior outfielders Makenna Harper went yard with a two-run shot to put Arizona State up 7-2. In the 7^th inning, freshman pitcher Allison Royalty relieved Meza and closed out the first win of the year for the Sun Devils. “She’s just going to get better and better,” said coach Ford.

After a rough outing in the first contest, BYU was ready to play. Junior shortstop Marissa Chavez drove in a run for the Cougars in the 2^nd inning to give Brigham Young an early lead. BYU continued to put pressure on the Sun Devils as Fleener singled down the right field line allowing senior center fielder Rylee Jensen-McFarland to cross home. With runners on the corners, Fleener intentionally put herself in a rundown allowing senior infielder Williams to steal home but ending the inning. At the end of the 3^rd inning, the Sun Devils trailed BYU 3-0.

The Sun Devils started to battle back as fifth-year catcher Maddi Hackbarth doubled to begin the 4^th inning, setting her up to score on a Torres ground out. The next inning, Harper launched her second bomb of the day bringing the score 3-2. With momentum on the Sun Devils side entering the 7^th inning, BYU found a way to score 2 runs by way of doubles from Jensen-McFarland and senior outfielder HannahJo Peterson. Just as things had started to go Arizona State’s way, the Cougars responded by adding even more cushion to their lead and entered the bottom of the 7^th leading 5-2.

Hill led off with a single to start the 7^th and Harper joined her on the bases after drawing a walk. The stage was set for Kindra Hackbarth as she smacked a double off of the left-center wall scoring Hill. Maddi Hackbarth was asked after the game about her twin sister and said, “I think she’s honestly the best athlete I’ve seen in a long time.”

The Sun Devils pressed forward as Harper scored on a Bella Loomis ground ball allowing Maddi Hackbarth to come to the plate. She quickly fell behind with two strikes, but she battled to get to full count and delivered with a clutch single up the middle to tie the game at 5. The hit in crunchtime by Hackbarth allowed Arizona State to shock BYU and force extra innings.

With momentum on their side, the Sun Devils held the Cougars scoreless and came back to the dugout looking to end the game. The stage was not too big for Tatnall as she blasted a home run over centerfielder Zavodnik’s head ending the game 7-5.

“That’s where Tat lives and dies,” Ford said when asked about the pressure Tatnall faced.

Despite the absence of a full stadium, the energy was at full capacity at Farrington Stadium as the walk-off cemented a 2-0 start to Arizona State’s season.

The Sun Devils ended the day 2-0 and will look to remain undefeated as they face Seattle tomorrow. Arizona State is very happy to be on the field and playing games, “I think we’re just very anxious,” Ford said. “I think it’s going to take us some time (to figure out our approach),” when discussing the outlook of the season. As anxious as Arizona State may be, they are and will be just as exciting. It is easy to believe that Thursday’s games were the first of many thrillers of this season that is now officially under way.