ASU splits doubleheader with San Diego, needed extras for the win

(Photo via Marina Williams/WCSN)

ASU Softball took a quick trip to San Diego for a doubleheader against the Toreros on Wednesday afternoon. With the Toreros holding just nine wins coming into the pair of matchups, it seemed like the midweek slate would provide ASU with a break from its challenging Pac-12 Conference schedule and a chance to get back on track.

However, ASU’s short-handed pitching staff was highlighted in the Sun Devils midweek doubleheader against San Diego (10-26), where ASU (18-15, 2-7 Pac-12) was forced to use three of its pitchers en route to a 7-4 loss in the first game. In the second game, the Sun Devils were able to save their pitchers’ arms after graduate right-hander Marissa Schuld pitched a complete game in a 3-2 win that took extra innings.

Game one was back and forth with four lead changes throughout the game, but a three-run fifth inning was the deciding factor in this game, as San Diego came away with the win heading into the second game of the day.

Game two needed extra innings to determine a winner despite a complete game from Schuld that kept the Devils in front for most of the contest. San Diego tied it up late with a two-run seventh inning, but ASU prevailed in the ninth.

Senior right-handed pitcher Deborah Jones started the day on the mound for ASU and pitched a solid two and a third inning only giving up one run, before senior righty Mac Osborne entered the circle in relief. Osborne gave up a two-run home run to the first batter she faced and gave San Diego a 3-2 lead.

Both teams scored in the fifth inning after a scoreless fourth. Senior catcher Sara Kinch gave the Devils a 4-3 lead with an RBI double, her third RBI of the game after she started the scoring off with a two-run shot in the first inning.

Osborne started the fifth inning before freshman right-hander Meika Lauppe came in for just her ninth appearance of the season. She hit a batter and then gave up a three-run triple to sophomore pinch hitter EJ Joyner to give San Diego the lead once again. The Toreros would stay in front for the rest of the game. Junior first baseman Joecellia Roberts added an insurance run in the sixth on an RBI single.

The Devils entered the seventh needing to put up runs in a hurry, and things looked good with two base runners and only one out. Senior infielder Kayla Lissy outran a double play, and the tying run came up to the plate with two outs. It was none other than Kinch, exactly who the Devils wanted at the plate.

Unfortunately, Kinch couldn’t channel her first two at-bats and struck out, as the Devils headed into the second game of the doubleheader on a four-game losing streak. ASU showed it was capable of putting together solid performances in the batter’s box, but once again needed to tidy things up in the circle.

Schuld started the second game of the day after serving as a pinch hitter in the first game. She pitched all nine innings giving up just two runs on 10 hits. Schuld kept ASU competitive in the game and helped lead her team to victory.

The second game started relatively similar to the first game, with leadoff hitter freshman outfielder Jada Lewis starting off the game with a triple. Graduate outfielder Kelsey Hall brought Lewis home on a sacrifice fly. The score remained stagnant at 1–0 for the next five innings, until sophomore outfielder Tanya Windle added another run in the sixth on an RBI single to put the pressure on the Toreros.

San Diego was down to its last out before back-to-back RBI singles from sophomore utility player Taylor Johnson and Roberts tied up the game. Bonus softball was needed to decide the second game with both teams running on fumes.

The eighth was scoreless, with Schuld holding strong, and the Sun Devil offense produced one more run in the ninth on an RBI single from graduate infielder Alesia Denby to give ASU a 3-2 lead. Schuld held down the fort in the circle, and the Devils ended their four-game losing streak.

While the midweek split against a West Coast Conference opponent wasn’t ideal, the Devils will need to have short-term memories as they go back on the road next weekend to take on the No. 5-ranked Stanford Cardinal.