ASU Softball: Sun Devils get set for final non-conference series

(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)

After losing two of three to the University of Arizona last weekend, the No. 21 Arizona State Sun Devils welcome non-conference opponent Texas Tech to Tempe for a three-game series.

The Red Raiders come to Tempe with a record of 14-16 on the year. The surprising thing about that record is that Texas Tech is just 3-8 on the road this season.

The Texas Tech offense is led by defending Big-12 Player of the Week, junior outfielder Kierra Miles. Miles over the weekend hit her conference leading 10th home run of the season and knocked in 9 RBI bringing her team high total to 28.

Pitching was not an issue for ASU over the past weekend. Junior Kelsey Kessler had two great outings against the University of Arizona but took one loss due to the lack of Sun Devil offense.

In the Friday night matchup against Arizona, the Sun Devils only mustered one hit. That will have to change if the Sun Devils want to have success this weekend.

The ERA leader for the Red Raiders is junior Mattison Maisel, who has an ERA of 4.22. The pitching staff for Texas Tech looks to be a favorable matchup for an offense that struggled last weekend.

For the Sun Devils to get back on track offensively it has to start at the top of the lineup. Jennifer Soria, Katee Aguirre, and Chelsea Gonzales, all had relatively quiet weekends against the Wildcats. Look for each of them to step up this weekend against a pitching staff that has a collective ERA of 6.20.

The Sun Devil pitching staff has fared much better this season and continues to be the strength of this team. All the ASU arms have ERA’s under 3.00 and have 154 strikeouts compared to just 42 walks given up.

Kessler has separated herself as the ace of the staff, but sophomores Breanna Macha and Dale Ryndak have performed very well in their own right. The Texas Tech offense hits just .275 as a team and has struck out 163 times collectively. Kessler is the power arm of the three but both Macha and Ryndak could get high strikeout numbers as well this weekend.

The series starts off Thursday evening as first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Every game of the series can be seen on the Pac-12 Digital Stream.

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