Popescue helps the Sun Devils stay perfect in long relief effort

(Photo:Josh Frons)

It was a little rocky at times, but the Sun Devil softball team overcame a 3-1 deficit in the second inning to get a 10-3 victory over Tennessee State, its seventh of the season. Starter Alexis Cooper was pulled after just 1.2 innings after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks.

“She has to be more aggressive and pound the zone more,” Arizona State head coach Craig Nicholson said. “She had good velocity and movement but was a little too erratic.”

Cooper was replaced in the circle by Mackenzie Popescue who immediately forced Kate Morris to ground out to third, the first of what would be 13 straight batters retired, to stop the bleeding at just three runs crossing the plate in the second inning.

“The first out was big to shut down the rally in the second inning,” Nicholson said. “She just went from there and did a nice job.”

Popescue picked up her fourth win of the season throwing 5.1 shutout innings in relief of Cooper.

“I don’t prepare any differently,” Popescue said when asked about coming in as a reliever. “My mentality when I come in as a reliever or close it might be more intense.”

The Sun Devils’ performance in the circle was backed up at the plate as well. Arizona State scored 10 runs on 11 hits including a solid two-RBI performance from Elizabeth Caporuscio who extended her personal hitting streak this season to six games.

“We went out as a team and tried to stay on top of the ball,” Caporuscio said. “We have Cooper’s back knowing that we have the ability to come back.”

Also chipping in offensively was Haley Steele who drove in two runs and Nikki Girard who hit her first home run of the season.

The undefeated Sun Devils will face their biggest test of the season on Friday when defending National Champion Oklahoma comes to Farrington Stadium.

“It’s pretty exciting but we want to go out there and play everyone with the same competitiveness and mindset,” Caporuscio said.

“We’re ready and excited for the challenge,” Nicholson said. “We are prepared and it’s good for us to get an early season test.”

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