(Photo: Joshua Eaton/ WCSN)
TEMPE, Ariz. – After an unexpected 9-inning game, Arizona State charged to an outstanding victory against Phoenix College with one catch; every top of the inning already had players on base.
That’s right; last night’s game against the Bears was completely scripted. While the score itself wasn’t, the number of PC players on base at the start of each inning was. After a 25-4 win against PC, it’s clear that the Sun Devils didn’t need the practice.
“They came out in that first inning, and we’re kind of rocking them all over the yard, which is amazing,” said ASU head coach Megan Bartlett.
ASU practiced a heap of possible defensive scenarios last night with different numbers of players on base. Even when they had bases loaded, PC was unable to score based on a hit the entire game.
Coach Bartlett said that the scripted game was mainly used to test her pitchers under pressure. The coaching staff wanted to put their defensive players in all sorts of situations to figure out how they could play when the game was on the line.
At the top of the 6th inning, for example, first and second base were preloaded with runners. After freshman infielder/outfielder Hailey Alvarez was walked to first, the Sun Devils had to show off how they could handle themselves when the bases were loaded.
Immediately after, freshman pitcher Mary Peyton Hodge showed off her skills by striking out freshman infielder Kennedy Carr. Phoenix College was unable to score a run during this inning.
It was important to the team that each of its pitchers would be able to play three innings, which led to the mid-game decision to stretch the game from the initial seven innings to nine.
When asked if there were any major lessons the team could learn from tonight’s simulation game, Coach Bartlett said that the night would be important to learn what they can improve upon for conference play.
“I think we probably had a few pick-off opportunities we didn’t take, which will certainly be important as we head into the conference season.”
The film from this game will be especially important to the Sun Devils as they will be able to see every type of game they could be faced with in the spring.
While ASU has had a dominant fall ball season, there is still much left for the team to learn. The Sun Devils look to continue this momentum into their final fall ball game against an outside opponent on Nov.11, against the Pima College Aztecs.
“You can always work from early; there’s nothing you can do late,” said Coach Bartlett. “I thought we did a really good job on the front tonight.”
