(Photo by Alex Roddier/ WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils wrapped up the Kajikawa Classic with an 8-2 win over Cal State Northridge Sunday afternoon. Arizona State’s win concluded a 4-1 weekend in which the Sun Devils outscored their opponents by 30 runs.
For much of the afternoon junior Samantha Mejia held the Matadors lineup in check, setting down 11 consecutive batters after allowing an infield single in the top of the first inning. Mejia, an All-Mountain West Second Team selection in 2018 for Fresno State, gave up two runs, on two hits in a complete-game effort.
“I think what was working well for me today was my screwball,” Mejia said. “Getting ground balls and being able to let my defense work behind me [helped].”
Mejia’s only trouble came in the top of the fifth inning, when Mackenzie Babbitt drove in two runs on a double down the right-field line. Still, Mejia was able to work her way out of a jam, stranding runners on second and third to keep ASU in front. Mejia’s win improved her record to 3-0 on the season.
Arizona State’s offense was provided by their upperclassmen, as seniors Skylar McCarty and Morgan Howe did the heavy lifting. In the bottom of the sixth inning, McCarty drove in her second and third RBIs of the afternoon with a two-run home run to center field. The home run for McCarty was the culmination of a 3-for-3 day at the plate, and kickstarted an inning which saw the Sun Devils bat around the lineup and score five runs.
“I’m going to be honest, I don’t remember my at-bat,” McCarty said. “Everything was so relaxed, I didn’t hear anything, it was just easy.”
Howe’s RBI was her ninth of the weekend, in which she went 7-for-14 with a home run and five walks during the Sun Devils five games.
Head coach Trisha Ford said she didn’t have any grand takeaways from the weekend but was excited to see the potential of the team.
“I think we have a long ways to go,” Ford said. “Obviously we’re a work in progress and the thing that excites me is that we’re going to get better as the season goes on.”
Next weekend, the Sun Devils will host the Littlewood Classic in Tempe. Arizona State begins the weekend with a 6:30 p.m. matchup against the Illinois State Redbirds on Thursday night. The rest of the Sun Devils schedule includes match-ups with Florida, Central Michigan, Utah State and San Diego.
