(Photo: Joshua Eaton WCSN)
TEMPE, AZ- Senior pitcher Makenzie Brown, a first-team All-American and Big 12 player of the year nominee, opened her fall season with seven strikeouts.
The Sun Devils dominated the field for their opening Fall Ball clash on Tuesday evening, defeating Eastern Arizona College 18-3.
“They put the jersey on for the first time, and it’s a big deal,” Head coach Megan Bartlett said.
Arizona State softball started hot off the bat, with junior third baseman Ryan Brown retiring all three outs in the first. Brown also had a strong day at the plate, with a hard hit out to left field, resulting in an RBI double. During the second inning, Brown also hammered a ball right over the 210 sign in center field, giving her three RBIs for the night.
ASU took the lead early, finishing the first inning 8-0 with only one HR and two walks. Momentum halted in the 2nd inning with back-to-back line drives being caught by the Monsters’ freshman shortstop, Saunette Oshiro. The Devils quickly worked back, getting four more runs by the end of the 3rd.
“That is not an easy pitching staff to hit against,” Bartlett said. “I thought they all did a nice job tonight.”
ASU utilized its entire pitching staff against EA, including Brown, who sat down three players in her first inning. Freshman pitcher Mary Peyton Hodge also started the season strong, only facing seven batters in the two innings she began.
“MP( Mary Peyton Hodge) did a nice job, came in, spun the ball from the left side, and did her job,” said Bartlett.
Left-handed University of Arizona transfer pitcher, Aissa Silva, also wore Sun Devil threads for the first time tonight. She shut out the game with two strikeouts and a fly ball to left field, securing ASU’s first fall ball win of the season.
The Devils stayed disciplined at the plate, only giving up five strikeouts the entire night, and battling for 10 walks, five of which were earned in the fifth inning.
“I’m uninterested in what the scoreboard says right now. Are we picking good pitches?” said Bartlett. “Are we on time and adjusting our own timing mechanisms, and they did a nice job at the plate.”
Despite the stacked pitching staff ASU played, the Monsters were able to grab two runs in the sixth inning on stolen bases due to heads-up base running.
“GCU is a whole different animal of speed and chaos on the bases, so they’re going to learn quickly on the fly,” said coach Bartlett.
The Sun Devils will face Grand Canyon University tomorrow at 6 p.m. The second fall ball game will be played at Alberta Farrington Stadium.
