(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
The No. 13 Arizona State softball team hit the road the first time this season for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, CA this past weekend, leaving with a 4-2 recond on the tournament and 12-4 overall.
On Thursday, the Sun Devils began their weekend bid in the tournament against No. 20 Oklahoma State, trading scoreless innings until an OSU single cashed in the Cowgirls’ first run of the game. ASU had no response in terms of offense and the Cowgirls scored another run in the sixth on a solo home run by OSU right fielder Michaela Richbourg. The Sun Devils were shut down in the final inning, losing 2-0.
The Devils struggles continued shortly afterward as they faced No. 23 Texas Tech less than an hour after the loss to OSU.
The fresh Red Raiders team pounced on the weary Sun Devils, putting up six runs in the first inning on just four hits. ASU’s Samantha Mejia found her stride in the second and third innings, allowing zero runs with just two additional hits, however, the Devils’ offensive ineptitude continued.
Mejia’s luck ran out in the bottom of the fourth, as three Red Raider hits put the score up to 8-0. Arizona State couldn’t answer in the top of the fifth and fell in the run-rule loss 8-0.
Despite their day one struggles, the Devils came out hot in their first matchup on Friday against Nebraska. Senior left fielder Skylar McCarty hit a double to left field to score junior right fielder Kindra Hackbarth, giving ASU a quick 1-0 lead in the first.
The Cornhuskers answered later on in the top of the third tying the game 1-1. Nebraska broke the game open in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs on an error by senior center fielder Morgan Howe. They continued to put pressure on ASU’s defense in the fifth, adding another two runs on three hits to put the score at 5-1.
ASU responded with a massive push in the bottom of the fifth, as two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Howe at the plate. On a full count with no outs, Howe drove the ball to deep center field to equalize the game at 5-5.
In the sixth, sophomore second baseman Bella Loomis lead off the frame with a double, and would then score on a single by McCarty to put ASU driver’s seat for the rest of the game, giving the Sun Devils the 6-5 win.
ASU then took on Texas A&M later on in the day, as freshman pitcher Abby Andersen got her first start since the Feb. 15 loss to Florida. Andersen went the distance, throwing all seven innings of the contest against the Aggies, allowing two earned runs on nine hits.
Arizona State struck early again with a two-run home run second inning, led off with a solo shot by junior catcher Maddi Hackbarth. Loomis hit her second home run of the year, a two-run blast to right field, later in the frame.
The Aggies countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second, then added two more to tie the game at three in the third inning. ASU put up two runs of their own the fourth on an RBI single from Kindra Hackbarth and a sac fly from McCarty.
Texas A&M put up one more run in the fifth but could provide no more offense to respond to ASU, with the Devils eventually grabbing the 5-4 win.
On Saturday, ASU took on Bethune-Cookman in their fifth game at the tournament. Mejia once again took the circle for the Devils, throwing another complete game, and yet another victory to add to her now 7-1 record.
ASU broke the scoring open in the third when McCarty, who reached base on a bunt, scored on a wild pitch. They continued the offense in the fourth when a Kindra Hackbarth double scored Kiara Kennedy. Hackbarth herself would later score on a wild pitch, putting ASU up 3-0.
BCU responded in the top of the sixth with a run of their own, but ASU matched it in the bottom of the frame with an RBI double from McCarty. Mejia struck out the final two batters in the seventh to seal the ASU victory.
Finally, ASU took on Cal Poly in their last game of the tournament on Sunday and put together their best overall showing on both sides of the ball.
Andersen pitched a one-run gem of a game in the circle, holding the Mustangs to four hits with three strikeouts.
ASU put up four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by Maddi Hackbarth to left field. A fourth-inning RBI double from sophomore first baseman Denae Chatman put the deficit at 5-1 in favor of the Sun Devils.
Arizona State continued to dominate on offense in the fourth and fifth. RBI singles from Howe and Loomis put the score at 7-1. A Kindra Hackbarth triple scored three more, and another RBI single from Howe made the score 11-1 Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils return home this weekend to host the Sun Devil Classic where they will face the likes of Princeton, Wisconsin and Texas.
