(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
Sun Devil softball showed off the power of their bats and the discipline of their pitching staff to score 18 runs while giving up zero in Sunday’s games to capture two more wins on the final day of the ASU Invitational.
“I felt like we just put everything together,” ASU Coach Trisha Ford said of her team’s performance in their final tournament of the season.
Lehigh
The first three innings saw little offensive production from the Mountain Hawks, with only two base runners off of two hits and zero runs.
Lindsey Lopez got the start for the Sun Devils in the circle and Coach Ford was pleased with her performance after the game. “Lindsey came in and had another solid start,” she said.
The Sun Devils had only one more hit than the Mountain Hawks after three, but thanks to two of them being home runs from catcher Maddi Hackbarth and third baseman Kiara Kennedy, ASU led 2-0.
The game picked up in the fourth inning with the Mountain Hawks seeing some offensive action. Lehigh led off the inning with two singles by second baseman Mary-Hannah Smith and first baseman Jaelynn Chesson. Third baseman Karsen O’Rourke then hit a ball to Kennedy who appeared to have tagged Smith in the base path. The umpires originally called Smith safe, but after a quick meeting they ruled Smith out. Samantha Mejia then came in to replace Lopez in the circle.
Mejia walked her first hitter to load the bases. The Mountain Hawks could not capitalize on this chance and Mejia was able to get out of the inning with zero runs allowed. The score going into the bottom of the fourth was 2-0.
The bottom of the fourth inning began with first baseman Denae Chatman walking. First baseman Mailey Mclemore came in for Chatman after the walk. McLemore was able to steal second. Second baseman Halle Harger had a hard hit ball to the shortstop and was able to beat out the throw and was safe at first. Designated player Jordyn Vanhook had a hard hit ball to first that scored McLemore. Kennedy then came up to the plate to hit a double to left field to score Harger, but that would be the final run of the inning as the Sun Devils left two runners stranded. The score after four was 4-0.
After the Sun Devil defense, behind Mejia, was able to go three up three down in the top of the fifth it was time for their bats to get to work again.
Hill led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. McLemore then came to the plate for a hard hit ball to the center field wall for a stand up double that brought Hill home.
“That kid is special,” Coach Ford said of McLemore. “It was good for her tonight to get out there and hit that ball hard.”
Torres keeps things rolling with a single up the middle. She was able to take second on the Mountain Hawks throw home that came too late allowing McLemore to score. Harger continued the rally with a single to left field to advanceTorres to third. Harger also advanced on the throw in.
With runners on second and third and only one out the Mountain Hawks looked to slow down the Sun Devils by taking out pitcher Kittle and replacing her with Jaelynn Chesson. This was to no avail as VanHook came to the plate to smash a three-run home run to end the game in a 9-0 run-rule victory for the Sun Devils.
“My approach to my last at bat was just wait for your pitch and when you get it drive and that’s what I did,” VanHook said. “It felt great.”
Ohio State
The Sun Devils have made a habit of jumping on teams early and this game was no exception. ASU kept up its offensive momentum going into the game against Ohio State.
Hackbarth started the game with a single into left field and then stole second base. Hill, Chatman, and Loomis all followed with walks to score Hackbarth. Torres hit Hill in with a single up the middle. Harger then came up huge for the Sun Devils with a single into the right field. The right fielder misplayed the ball which allowed Chatman, Loomis, and Torres to all score. Harger was then hit by a pitch before K. Hackbarth grounded out to end the inning with a 5-0 lead for the Sun Devils.
“Its crucial for us,” Coach Ford said. “When we score first we are winning a lot of those games.”
Preston stayed perfect through the first two innings with two strikeouts and zero hits.
“Preston is such a dynamic pitcher,” Maddi Hackbarth said. “She lets her ball dance, break, fool batters.”
The second inning began with a walk to Hill followed by a single to left field by M. Hackbarth. The Buckeyes then changed pitchers from Skylar Hayward to Jessica Ross but in similar fashion as the first game a pitching change could not slow the Sun Devils bats down. Third baseman Bella Loomis was able to bring both right fielder Jazmine Hill and M. Hackbarth home with her third home run of the season.
Preston allowed her first base runners in the third inning with a walk and a single, but was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
ASU slowed down in the third going three up and three down with their first three hitters in their lineup.
The top of the fourth inning saw more of the same for Preston in the circle forcing a ground out and two strikeouts for the Buckeyes.
“Preston was very very efficient,” Coach Ford said. “I was very pleased with her performance tonight.”
Chatman’s solo home run in the bottom of the fourth would be the final scoring play of the game as the Sun Devils would not allow another run in the top of the fifth to complete the 9-0 run rule victory.
“Overall it was a great weekend. We bounced back after New Mexico State,” Maddi Hackbarth said. “It was just a great way to finish the weekend.”
In honoring International Women’s Day, Coach Ford took a moment to speak about the pride she feels knowing some of the great coaches who have paved the way before her and her team.
“I think it’s important to give back and be very humbled by everybody that fought hard for us to be here,” Ford said.
