ASU Softball: Sun Devils use extra innings to avoid series sweep from Cal

(Photo via Daniella Trujillo/WCSN)

After dropping the first two games of the series to California, ASU Softball was able to come up clutch and take game three on Sunday.

Arizona State (18-10, 2-4) gave junior righty pitcher Mac Osborne the start on the mound against Cal (22-8-1, 4-4-1). She began the game with two clean innings against the Golden Bears.

It wasn’t until the third inning that the Sun Devils scored the first run of the game. It came on an RBI groundout by graduate infielder Alexa Milius, which scored junior infielder Savannah Price after her leadoff double. Cal was unable to score in the bottom half, allowing ASU to keep the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth.

Senior catcher Makena Smith started the Golden Bears’ offense with a single to left field. Sophomore infielder Acacia Anders then laid down a perfect bunt to advance the runner to second base and put herself safely at first base. After some more small ball and a dropped pop-up by senior infielder Jazmyn Rollin on a blooper from freshman outfielder Tianna Bell, Cal was able to tie the game at one run apiece.

Heading to the fifth, the Sun Devils looked to regain the lead, and junior infielder Kayla Lissy led off with a single up the middle. A productive out by Price allowed Lissy to advance to second. Lissy then tagged up on a flyout from graduate outfielder Yannira Acuña to get to third. A wild pitch from sophomore pitcher Annabel Teperson sealed the deal for Lissy, who came in to score ASU’s second run of the day.

The Golden Bears, however, wasted little time with their offense tying the game up once more in the bottom half of the inning. Junior outfielder Kennedy Thomas started the bottom of the fifth with a single to left-center field. In response, Arizona State called for a pitching change and brought in sophomore right-handed pitcher Kenzie Brown to relieve Osborne. Unfortunately for ASU, that didn’t stop Cal as Smith hit a double to center to even the score.

Both teams finished the seventh inning with two runs, leading to an extra frame. The Sun Devils struck first in the eighth with a two-run home run from Milius to put ASU up by two. It would end up being the game-winning hit, as Brown allowed just one runner on base before retiring the side.

In fashion with the first two games of the series, Sunday’s matchup was a defensive battle. Both teams came into the last game with a combined six errors which have proven costly, especially for ASU. The Sun Devils added another two Sunday but this time they were able to overcome their mistakes.

Despite the win, Arizona State still lost the away series 2-1. The Sun Devils’ path only gets harder from here as they’re slated to face No. 12 Washington next weekend. Returning to Club Farrington, the Sun Devils hope their series with Washington will have a much better result.