(Photo via Julia Coyne/WCSN)
PHOENIX — Arizona State softball traveled across the valley Wednesday night to battle their cross town rival GCU for the second time this fall.
Coming off four straight wins including a 5-4 victory against the Lopes two weeks ago, ASU came into its last fall ball game with confidence. However, the ensuing slug fest would result in a 4-0 loss for the Sun Devils.
Unlike their previous four matches, Arizona State’s stellar offensive output was put to a halt by the Lopes. Even after a couple GCU pitching changes, the Sun Devils couldn’t find any luck getting the ball beyond the fence.
Junior right-handed pitcher Kenzie Brown started out on the mound for ASU, striking out four batters in the first two innings. Despite successful early pitching and defense, Arizona State couldn’t make any strides on offense.
After an uneventful first two innings, the Sun Devils started to heat up. After a pair of walks and a big hit to center field by graduate shortstop Alesia Denby, ASU had the bases loaded. However, the Sun Devils failed to capitalize on their opportunities and left the third inning scoreless.
Unfortunately for Arizona State, its opponents also came into the third inning hot. To open up the bottom of the third, ASU missed a crucial catch that put a runner on base. Two at-bats later, an RBI put the Lopes up one and GCU started gaining momentum.
The fourth inning resulted in more failed opportunities for the Devils. Two hits put runners on first and third base, but once again GCU’s defense stopped them in their tracks.
The bottom of the fourth saw graduate right-hander Marissa Schuld enter the game and sway momentum the other way. Despite an infield error that led to a double, the defense momentarily cooled GCU’s hot streak. A fly ball snatched up by sophomore outfielder Tanya Windle and a quick throw by Denby ended the inning and put Arizona State back at the plate.
Contrary to their sudden defensive surge, the same energy couldn’t be replicated in the top of the next inning. ASU had a single RBI, while the Lopes’ defense caught three quick balls and turned the fifth inning into a short-lived offensive appearance for the Sun Devils.
The Lopes stepped up to bat and Schuld amped up her game, striking out a batter. Impressive plays in the outfield by Windle and graduate left fielder Audrey Leclair capped off the bottom of the fifth and tallied another success inning on defense for Arizona State.
In a crucial sixth inning where runs needed to be put on the board, the Sun Devil’s at-bats stalled with more missed chances. Three putouts by the GCU infield ruined what could have been promising for the two ASU runners left on base.
The Lopes looked to score in the bottom of the inning to put the game away and prevent Arizona State from potentially coming back in the seventh. The Sun Devils had other plans as Leclair, sophomore right fielder Yannixa Acuña and sophomore second baseman Ayden Allen made consecutive clutch plays to close the lightning fast.
ASU had one final chance to get on the board in the seventh inning, but once again GCU’s pitching and fielding proved to be too much to overcome. After Windle got thrown out at first and Denby struck out, graduate first baseman Jordyn VanHook stood at the plate with a 2-0 count. GCU caught a fly ball and the Sun Devils hopes of staying in the game evaporated.
Arizona State’s defense quickly fell apart in the bottom of the last inning, as four fielding mistakes allowed the Lopes to plate three runs in before the end of the night. Acuña finally ended the game with a catch in the outfield and put an end to a disastrous seventh inning for the Sun Devils.
The 4-0 loss concluded the second meeting between the Devils and the Lopes this fall, and dropped Arizona State to a 4-1 record in fall play.
ASU will wrap up its fall slate with a Maroon & Gold scrimmage, for one last chance for players to show off the improvement they’ve made this offseason.
