Roberts’ go-ahead single the difference in ASU’s comeback win

TEMPE — On a cold night under the stadium lights at Alberta B. Farrington Stadium, Arizona State had felt the impacts of the clouds above as its pitching looked gloomy to open the game, allowing Nevada to jump out to an early 4-0 lead after the first inning. But as the game progressed, the Sun Devils fought their way back to tie things up 6-6 in the bottom of the fifth, as fans were on the edge of their seats in yet another nailbiter in Tempe.

Freshman infielder JazMarie Roberts stepped back into the box on a 2-2 count with a runner on third and with a chance to come up big for her squad in just her eighth career game. Roberts’ inexperience would be quickly forgotten about, as her single would score senior outfielder Kaylee Pond from third, giving the Sun Devils their first lead on Friday to ignite the Tempe crowd.

No. 22 ASU (7-1) completed a four-run comeback to seal a 7-6 victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack (4-3). On a night where the Sun Devils had their struggles on the mound, their offense continued to show consistency up and down the lineup on Friday night.

“Jaz is awesome,” senior pitcher Kenzie Brown said. “She is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen. She is constantly on the field after a three-hour-long practice, she wants more reps or before practice she wants more reps … I had zero doubt she was going to be great for us this year.”

For the second night in a row, ASU’s pitching staff surrendered six runs. Junior pitcher Meika Lauppe started the night and struggled right from the opening frame.

In the first inning, Lauppe gave up four total runs on three singles and two doubles. Nevada’s offense was poised and looked like it was signaling the beginning of the end for the Sun Devils.

After the rocky first frame, Lauppe settled back in and fired home a scoreless inning of work before being replaced by senior pitcher Aissa Silva.

“She is going to be hard on herself no matter what,” Brown said. “ I think she knows she has the confidence in us and she is a great teammate. We are here to pick Meika up and she is here to pick us up.”

After Silva gave up two unearned runs through three frames, Brown looked to close the game and record the final six outs after struggling Thursday night. The ace of the staff returned to her regularly scheduled programming on Friday night, giving up no hits and striking out three batters.

“Even first team All-Americans have an off night once in a while,” head coach Megan Bartlett said. “ I mean, that kid is incredible. So what you saw tonight is 99% of the time what we get out of her, so she will keep getting the ball in big moments.”

Roberts ended the day going 3-3 from the plate with two RBIs, two singles and a double.

Junior catcher Samantha Swan and Pond, who have been a real staple for Bartlett thus far, showcased their veteran ability in the lineup to help put the Sun Devils over.

Swan hit a three-run home run to left field to cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the second inning and recorded three RBIs in Friday night’s contest.

For Pond, her single in the fifth inning helped her record an RBI and bring two across to score following an error to tie the game up at six.

“Those two are veterans, right? That is what they are here to do,” Bartlett said. “Really happy for Sam, she obviously had a rough first weekend with me … (I am) just so happy for Sammy because she is such a good kid and works so hard.”

Five errors were recorded as both sides had their struggles in the field. The Sun Devils had two errors early, an unusual sight for them to start the year, while the Wolfpack had three, including two in the fifth inning to set up the eventual tying and go-ahead runs to score.

ASU will look to get its seventh and eighth straight victories on Saturday when it faces Portland State at 12:15 p.m. and Pacific at 6:15 p.m. MST at Alberta B. Farrington Stadium.

“Like (sophomore outfielder) Ashleigh Mejia says, the Devils do not quit,” Roberts said. “We are not going to quit and we are never going to give up until that last out.”