ASU softball took the field for the first time this season in Tempe, earning a 3-0 victory over Mountain West opponent New Mexico. This was the first game of seven for the Sun Devils in the Kajikawa Classic this weekend.
Sun Devil pitcher Dallas Escobedo was once again dominant going seven shutout innings while allowing only one hit and striking out 15, one off her career high. After the game, coach Clint Myers praised her effort calling it “a combination of hard work in the fall and the spring.”
The Sun Devils offense, however, was not as electric, but still did enough to get the win. Sophomore Elizabeth Caporuscio went 3-3 at the plate with two runs scored. Caporuscio credited her success to just looking for her pitch and capitalizing on it.
ASU got the scoring started in the second on an RBI groundout by freshman first basemen Nikki Girard and Caporuscio crossed home plate giving ASU an early 1-0 lead.
The Sun Devils struck again in the fifth for two runs thanks to an RBI single by second baseman Sam Parlich and a called illegal pitch by New Mexico starter Lauren Soles that gave ASU a 3-0 lead. The Sun Devils would not cross the plate again, but that was not necessary thanks to the Sun Devils performance inside the circle.
Escobedo would strike out seven of the last nine hitters she faced on the way to her 62nd career victory, tying her for seventh on the all-time wins list in program history. “I was happy to overcome the jitters and pitch how I know how.” Escobedo said after the game.
Coach Myers continued his praise of Escobedo postgame.
“We hope she has that stuff every time she pitches.”
The Sun Devils victory was their 18th straight season opening win.
Arizona State will take part in a double header on Friday playing Cal State Northridge in game one and Indiana in game two with first pitches scheduled for 4:30 and 7 p.m. at Farrington Stadium.
