ASU bats catch fire to clinch series

After dropping two heart breakers to Utah last weekend, the Lady Devils made a loud statement with their bats against a top-ten opponent.

The fifth-ranked Arizona State softball team shutout No. 10 California with an 11-0 win Saturday night at Farrington Stadium.

The Sun Devils dominated throughout the game with the offense coming out strong and staying strong, scoring 11 runs on nine hits, behind winning pitcher Mackenzie Popescue.

Third baseman Haley Steele and first baseman Bethany Kemp were 2-for-3 and earned three RBI’s a piece, driving in more than half of the runs scored during the game.

Three home runs were hit throughout the game, one by Steele, Kemp, and designated player, Amber Freeman. All of which accounted for eight out of the 11 runs of the game.

Freeman and Kemp’s home runs came in the second inning to help the maroon and gold stay on pace for five runs that inning. Thanks to the offensive productivity, Popescue improved to 17-3 on the season.

She recorded three strikeouts and only walked one in her five innings of work. The California Bears only reached base safely five times.

The win makes Arizona State 41-7 overall and 12-5 in Pac-12 play.

The Sun Devils finish their series against the Bears Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Farrington Stadium.