(Photo Courtesy/Sun Devil Athletics)
Arizona State Softball’s offense has been explosive this season and when the Sun Devils score runs, they usually come in bunches. The bunches of runs can quickly sway the game in their favor.
On Friday night, the No. 8 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils (40-9) defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans (36-21) 5-2 to advance to the second round of the Tempe Regional.
“It’s [the] postseason; everybody is ready to play,” ASU head coach Trisha Ford said. “I thought [freshman right-handed pitcher] Mac [Morgan] did a great job of working and [I] was pleased with her performance.
Morgan led the way for the Sun Devils, pitching her sixth complete game of the season. Morgan breezed through the Titans’ lineup, striking out a career-high nine batters.
Unlike Morgan’s other starts this season, the run support did not appear until nearly the end of the game. Senior shortstop Yannira Acuña put ASU on top in the third with a solo homer to left field. Acuña’s home run stood as the only run on the scoreboard until the sixth inning.
“Tonight felt awesome,” Morgan said. “It was a great opportunity for me as a freshman to really learn what the feelings are actually like and learn how to deal with them. Feeling that pressure being up only one run makes you think and mentally prepare yourself for the next pitch.”
Morgan’s velocity – which has been her calling card all season – was effective for most of the night. She threw five consecutive innings, picking up a strikeout in each of those five innings.
It appeared Cal State Fullerton cracked the code on Morgan in the sixth inning, when junior designated hitter Deshea Hill singled to right-center field, scoring sophomore third baseman Hannah Becerra and senior Jasmyn Vigilante, who pitch ran for sophomore Jessi Alcala.
Despite getting two runners home, Cal State Fullerton was unable to extend the lead. Once the inning concluded, a player’s only meeting took place outside of the Arizona State dugout.
Heading into the bottom half of the sixth inning, Ford made multiple substitutions to try to get a runner home. Ford sent redshirt freshman infielder Kristiana Watson to the plate with the bases loaded. Watson battled off eight pitches and fought for her pitch. On the ninth pitch, she homered to deep right-center field, giving the Sun Devils a 5-2 lead.
“We preach that everybody 1-19 contributing and tonight we showed that,” Ford said. “I think it really says a lot about them to come off the bench, [sophomore outfielder] Emily [Cazares], [senior utility player] Mailey [McLemore] and obviously Watson.”
Morgan returned for the final frame and shut down the Titans’ lineup, earning ASU a hard-fought win.
Arizona State will move onto the winner’s bracket and face the San Diego State Aztecs, who beat the LSU Tigers in the Tempe Regional opener. The first pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.
