(Photo: Liesl Babicka/WCSN)
Junior Morgan Howe’s three-run home run to right centerfield in the fifth inning cut the Oregon lead, but it wasn’t enough to carry the Arizona State squad to a victory in Oklahoma City Thursday afternoon.
After being absent from the Women’s College World Series for four years, No. 8 seed Arizona State fell 11-6 to No. 1 seed Oregon with Oregon’s WCWS experience and ASU’s defensive struggles.
The Sun Devils began with a strong showing in Oklahoma City against pitcher Miranda Elish with freshman DeNae Chatman’s two-run home run that landed in left centerfield to give ASU a 2-0 lead.
Despite the Sun Devils taking the lead, the Ducks bounced back to follow up with two runs as well. The defensive struggles began when Jenna Lilley bunted and reached base with the ball being dropped at first.
Alexis Mack’s bunt ended up as a single. Gwen Svekis followed Mack with a single that barely passed Jade Gortarez to head into left field to bring in the two base runners to tie the game 2-2.
It wasn’t until the third inning that the Ducks took their first lead of the game. Southpaw G Juarez faced seven batters starting with another single by Mack.
Juarez hit Svekis to put two Ducks on the bases. Shannon Rhodes took advantage of the opportunity with a single into left field that allowed Mack to reach home.
Designated player Lauren Burke hit a triple to clear the bases which gave Oregon a 5-2 lead over the Sun Devils.
Morgan Howe led off with a single in the fourth. But, her teammates were unable to create anymore offense to touch the three-run lead.
Two more defensive mistakes haunted the Sun Devils in the bottom of the inning. Lilley hit a single into left field, but advanced to second base with a fielding error.
The fielding error was followed by another. Mack singled to third base, but advanced to second with a throwing error from Taylor Becerra on her throw to first and Lilley extended the lead to 6-2 when she hit home.
Juarez threw her 300-strikeout of the 2018 season to end the inning without any more offensive damage from the Ducks.
Skylar McCarty and Kindra Hackbarth reached base both with singles. Howe then hit her three-run home run to cut the Oregon lead to 6-5. But, the Ducks didn’t back down as Rhodes doubled down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the inning.
Haley Cruse homered to left field for her first hit of the day. Cruse’s two-run home run put the Ducks back on top leading by three runs over the Sun Devils.
Elish was relieved by Megan Kleist and began her relief with success as the Devils didn’t put up any offense.
Oregon’s offense continued strong as they scored three more runs before the end of the game. DJ Sanders was walked by Juarez and Svekis singled to Juarez.
Already with two hits on the day, Rhodes added a three-run home run to the list, making the game 11-5.
The Sun Devils fought in the last inning to remain alive, but ultimately failed to do so. With another single by Hackbarth, pinch runner Ashley Moss scored the final run of the day.
Oregon will move into the winner’s bracket and will play Friday night against the winner of No. 5 Washington and No. 4 Oklahoma game.
ASU heads into the loser’s bracket and will face either the Huskies or Sooners Saturday, June 2, 9 a.m. PT.
