Steele’s two doubles help ASU sweep Utah

(Photo: Josh Frons/WCSN)

Haley Steele had two RBI doubles as the Arizona State softball team completed the series sweep on Saturday afternoon, 7-4 over the Utah Utes.

The Sun Devils were down two runs entering the bottom of the sixth after Utah outfielder Marissa Mendenhall hit a three-run home run in the top of the inning. With the game tied up at 4, Haley Steele hit her second double of day, scoring Alix Johnson and Allie Butterfield to give ASU the 6-4 lead.

“Our offense kind of got going in that sixth inning,” said coach Craig Nicholson. “I thought today our approach at the plate was a lot better.”

Alix Johnson led off the bottom of the first with a single and later scored on a Haley Steele double to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead. Utah responded in the top of third after an error by ASU outfielder Elizabeth Caporuscio put runners on second and third for infielder Hannah Flippen, who hit a sac fly that scored Kristen Stewart.

“I saw the ball well today,” said Steele. “I made some minor adjustments during the weekend and came out and executed today.”

Dallas Escobedo celebrated her 22nd birthday by picking up her 18th win of the season. She carried a one-hitter into the sixth inning until the three-run home run by Mendenhall. After the five-run sixth inning, Escobedo retired all three batters in order in the seventh to give ASU their 37th victory this year. She gave up four runs (three earned), four hits, and struck out two.

“I did okay,” said Escobedo. “It was kind of like going threw the motions. We weren’t as up (energy) as we could and should have been.”

The Sun Devils travel to Washington next weekend.

You can reach Julian Lopez on Twitter @juliansdayoff22 or via email at jlopez27@asu.edu.

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