(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
No. 14 Arizona State made quick work of Utah as they finished off their Pac-12 rival in only six innings.
The victory marks the Sun Devils’ third win over the Utes this season, but this was the first Pac-12 matchup between the two squads. Arizona State moves to a conference record of (3-4) while Utah remains winless (0-7).
Freshman pitcher and Arizona native Mariah Lopez took the circle for the Utes in Thursday’s game as she faced off against sophomore pitcher Lindsay Lopez.
Both teams started a pitcher named Lopez but that may have been the only similarity between the two teams Thursday afternoon.
The Sun Devils put pressure on Lopez and the Utes early in the first inning, but they were able to find their way out of jams and keep the score knotted at zero.
Arizona State broke through the ice in the second inning after senior infielder Halle Harger doubled to left on a ball that one-hopped the fence. Harger’s double scored the first of many Sun Devil runs as junior outfielder Makenna Harper crossed home.
Fifth-year outfielder Kindra Hackbarth kept the rally going by launching her own double to left, scoring Harger and senior infielder Bella Loomis. One inning later, Harger turned her good day into a great one as she doubled again, picking up two more RBI.
Unlike Salt Lake City, the Sun Devils’ bats were anything but cold as they led the Utes 5-0 by the end of the third inning.
Lindsay Lopez had a no-hit bid that lasted until the fourth inning when junior infielder Ellessa Bonstrom went yard, giving the Utes their one and only run of the day.
The Utes put pressure on Lopez and the Sun Devils as they rallied for three straight hits in the fourth, but it would not be enough in the end.
Lopez tossed all six innings for Arizona State, tallying five strikeouts and allowing five hits as she picked up her eighth win of the year.
As for Mariah Lopez, she was on the opposite side of things as she picked up her eighth loss of the season.
The Utes made an adjustment in the fifth inning when they brought in sophomore pitcher Mary Beth Feldman to relieve. Feldman struggled as well, attempting to tame the ferocious bats of Arizona State.
Pitching was not the only area deserving blame for Utes as a good portion of Arizona State’s success came by way of capitalizing off of the Utes’ errors. The Utes had four errors in Thursday’s game, giving them a total of 38 on the season.
Fifth-year catcher Maddi Hackbarth put the nail in the coffin after sending a towering three-run home run over the scoreboard to put Arizona State 9-1. The bomb activated the run-rule, ending the Utes’ night one frame later in the bottom of the sixth.
Maddi Hackbarth’s three-run shot was her 13th of the year and brought her RBI total to 38. She leads the Pac-12 in both of those respected categories as she continues to have a great start to the season.
Arizona State will not have too long to celebrate as they suit up for round two with the Utes Friday afternoon. Normally Pac-12 conference series consist of a doubleheader on the second day of games, but the two teams will only play one game Friday.
The two teams are very familiar with each other, but the matchup should lack anything but excitement as Arizona State will be looking to bring their conference record to an even (4-4) while Utah will be searching for their first Pac-12 victory.
