GAME INFORMATION...
Date: March 14
Game Times: 4 p.m. // 6 p.m.
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Venue: Farrington Stadium
Dimensions: 202 (LF), 210 (CF), 202 (RF)
Television: ASU LIVE STREAM-1
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
All-Time Series: ASU leads, 23-10
• Arizona State softball will continue their home stand with a midweek doubleheader against Iowa on Wednesday March 14. The pair of games marks the Sun Devils' 9th and 10th- straight home games, in a stretch of 13 games to be played at Farrington Stadium.
• Following a loss to No. 4, and defending National Champions, Oklahoma on Feb. 27, the Sun Devils have won 11-straight games. In those 11 games, the Sun Devils have shutout seven opponents, including a pair of shutout victories against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
• Sophomore pitcher G Juarez has been absolutely lights out in the circle for the Sun Devils in 2018. This week Juarez was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week after games that saw the lefty strikeout 28 batters and earn three shutout victories.
• Entering the week, ASU has three players who are batting at, or above .400 on the season. Sophomore Kindra Hackbarth leads the way with a .423 batting average, followed closely by Morgan Howe and Danielle Gibson who are hitting .413 and .411, respectively. As a team, ASU is batting at a .327 clip, a mark that checks in at No. 18 in the nation.
• Freshman Danielle Gibson has looked to hit her stride in the Maroon and Gold. The Murrieta, Calif., native has gone 23-for-56 at the plate this season, including blasting a team-leading nine home runs. Her 1.000 slugging percentage also leads the team this season and ranks sixth- nationally.
• Through the first 23 games of the season, ASU has outhit opponents, 192-91, leading to a 148-41 ASU lead in runs scored. Entering the week, ASU's 6.43 runs per game average ranks No. 13 in the country, and fourth in the Pac-12.
• As a staff, the Sun Devil pitchers have combined to post a 1.37 ERA, the 14th- lowest ERA in the country entering the week of play.
G GOT GAME, LOTS OF IT...
Following a week that saw sophomore G Juarez strike out 28 batters in 18 innings pitched, ASU celebrated their first Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honor since Breanna Macha's honor in March 2015. Juarez has been a force this season in the circle for ASU. She has already amassed 98 strikeouts (she had 81 total strikeouts in 2017), and has not allowed a run in the last 38 innings of play (five games). Juarez has been basically unhittable this season, allowing just seven hits in her last five games in the circle. She has consistently struck out more batters than she has allowed total base runners (98-42 this season). Nationally, Juarez currently ranks in the top-50 in six different categories including hits allowed per seven innings (No. 10), overall ERA (No. 35) shutouts (No. 8) strikeouts (No. 20) and strikeouts per game (No. 10).
FORD EYEING WIN No. 200...
With her team perched on an 21-2 record so far this season, head coach Trisha Ford is eyeing career-win 200. Ford enters this weekend's slate with a career-record of 195-97-1, moving her just five-wins away from her 200th- career victory in just her sixth season as a head coach. Since arriving in Tempe, Ford has led the Sun Devils to a 52-24 record that translates into a .671 win percentage.
PITCHING POWERING SUN DEVIL SUCCESS...
While the ASU bats have been on fire early in the season, ASU's pitching has been equally as impressive through the first month of the season. So far this season, opposing batters have been held to a miniscule .171 batting average, and have only scored a handful of runs. Dale Ryndak leads the staff with a 0.58 ERA on the season, a mark that ranks No. 12 nationally. Macha has also been dealing for the Devils, holding opposing hitters to a .209 batting average in her 12 appearances for ASU this season.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION....
The Hawkeyes enter the midweek tilt looking to build on the momentum they were able to create in the Grand Canyon Invitational this past weekend. Mother Nature has not been kind to Iowa this season, with three contests having already been rained out this year, including a meeting with ASU similar opponent Cal State Fullerton and a meeting with No. 17 ULL. While there have been a few missed opportunities, the Hawkeyes did pick up a big win against No. 8 Baylor at the Judi Garman Classic on March 4th, and arrive in Tempe winners of four of their last five games.
At the plate, junior Mallory Kilian has paced Iowa with a .325 batting average. Kilian blasted a solo home run on the first pitch at the Grand Canyon Invitational helping the Hawkeyes go on to defeat Georgetown, 5-0. Senior Allie Wood has also played a key role for the Hawkeyes at the plate. Last weekend at the Grand Canyon Invitational, Wood led the team with five hits, two runs, a double, and a .357 batting average
ON DECK...
Following Wednesday's games, the Sun Devils will begin Pac-12 Conference play with a three-game series against top-ranked Washington, on Saturday, March 17 at 5 p.m., Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m., and Monday, March 19 at 2 p.m. This weekend will be Green Weekend as the team celebrates St. Patrick's Day on Saturday featuring themed food and activities and Sunday is the team's Green Game highlighting ASU's sustainability practices with giveaways, trivia and more.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND DRESS LIKE THE TEAM...
Wednesday, March 14 - Wear Maroon
Saturday, March 17 - Wear White
Sunday, March 18 - Wear Black
Monday, March 19 - Wear Gold