ASU Softball: Sun Devils struggle in Utah series opener

(Photo via Nicole Mullen/WCSN)

Arizona State Softball came into snowy Salt Lake City looking to build momentum from its first Pac-12 Conference series victory, but the Utes offense hit the Sun Devils like an avalanche and turned the game into a blowout.

The Sun Devils (20-12, 4-6) fell 12-3 in five innings to No. 22 Utah (23-7, 7-3) in one of their weakest all-around pitching performances this season. ASU’s pitchers combined for 12 earned runs and four wild pitches while giving up 13 hits. Meanwhile, the offense couldn’t find its groove to make up for it, only totaling three hits.

Junior right-hander Mac Osborne got the start for the Sun Devils, but she didn’t pitch for very long. After grounding out the first batter, the bases were quickly loaded due to two singles and a wild pitch. Utah junior outfielder Sophie Jacquez capitalized with a single deep into centerfield that scored two runs. After another wild pitch, head coach Megan Bartlett pulled Osborne in favor of sophomore right-hander Kenzie Brown, who usually subs in toward the middle of games.

Brown, who is usually a calming presence for the Sun Devil defense, could not get the train back on the rails. She started by throwing a wild pitch that scored Utah’s third run. Redshirt sophomore outfielder Shelby Ortiz then hit a triple into left field for run number four. A hit-by-pitch and a stolen base set up sophomore catcher Kendall Lundberg to hit a single up the middle for runs five and six before the Sun Devils finally recorded their second out of the inning.

In between the first and second outs, ASU gave up six runs, four singles and one triple while recording three wild pitches. The Sun Devils had to rely on its offense to get back in the game and throw a counterpunch at Utah.

ASU didn’t come close to matching Utah’s momentum though, with hits coming few and far between. The fourth inning provided the Sun Devils their best chance to do some damage, as the bases were loaded with one out after two walks and a single. Graduate catcher Gianna Boccagno hit a single to drive in one run, but the next two batters lined out to end the inning.

One of the more encouraging moments of the night for ASU came when junior infielder Kayla Lissy hit her first home run as a Sun Devil to lead off the third. Lissy has found her way into Bartlett’s lineup thanks to her defensive skills at shortstop. She has been struggling on offense though, batting .125 coming into this weekend’s series. She will look to build off her performance today.

In the fourth inning, the Utes once again caught fire on offense. They started the inning with three consecutive singles to load the bases. A double down the left field line from graduate student utility player Ellessa Bonstrom scored three more runs for Utah and ended Brown’s night.

Junior right-hander Deborah Jones then took over on the mound for just her ninth appearance of the season. She got the next two batters out, but a wild pitch, a walk and a single scored Utah’s 10th run of the game. Lundberg hit a double to score another two runs to put it out of reach and give the Utes a 10-run lead. ASU scored once more in the fifth thanks to two throwing errors from Utah but couldn’t climb back into the game and lost via the run rule.

Friday night, ASU added another Pac-12 series opener loss, and it has now lost the first game of every Pac-12 series this season. The Sun Devils will look to quickly forget about their performance Friday, as they will play Utah twice more in a doubleheader Saturday.