ASU ties best start in program history

The Arizona State softball team came out with determination on the second night of the Wilson/DeMarini Invitational. That determination paid off with a number of firsts for the team on Friday night.

After two games, the Sun Devils improved their record to 19-0, which is tied for the best start in the team’s history.

They won game one 9-1 over Binghamton and 8-0 in the second game against North Dakota.

Their road to the top began much like any other game, with the first inning. Though, for the Sun Devils, their first innings proved to be vital. They put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning against Binghamton.

Shortstop Cheyenne Coyle scored the first run on a throwing error by Binghampton’s shortstop Caitlyn Friis. Second baseman Sam Parlich got an RBI and scored catcher Amber Freeman. Right fielder Mary Spiel hit a shot into the right, centerfield gap to score first baseman Nikki Girard to score the Sun Devil’s third run.

After five innings, the game ended in a 9-1 mercy rule win for ASU and pitcher Alexis Cooper.

“I think getting the first one under your belt is a really important thing to have happened. So, I feel a lot better now that I have my first win,” freshman pitcher Cooper said about her first start.

Cooper earned her first career W, while only allowing two hits and one earned run. She also struck out three batters.

In game number two on the night against North Dakota, pitcher Mackenzie Popescue took the rubber and dominated all afternoon. Moving forward with this momentum, the offense exploded in the bottom of the first.

With two walks from centerfielder Alix Johnson and Coyle, designated hitter Amber Freeman had runners in scoring position. Freeman ripped the ball up the middle and earned the first RBI of the night by scoring Johnson. Third baseman Haley Steele hit a double over the head of the leftfielder to score Coyle.

With two runners on, Aubrect hit a bomb over the left field wall for her third homerun of the season, to make the score 6-0 Sun Devils.

Though the undefeated team was not done yet. After two back-to-back, two-out doubles from Johnson and Coyle the score became 8-0 before the first six outs of the game were recorded.

All eight runs scored in the bottom of the first inning proved to be enough for the Sun Devils. All the runs scored in the game came from the first inning while Popescue receives her eighth win of the season, throwing a one-hitter against North Dakota.