May 21, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. – With ASU’s Katelyn Boyd leading the charge going three-for-three with three runs scored, the Sun Devils Softball team opened the postseason with a bang Friday night in Amherst topping the BU Terriers 6-1 in Game One of Regional action. Hillary Bach took the win to move to 24-7 on the year while ASU improves to 42-15 on the year.
To open the postseason ASU sent Hillary Bach to the circle with a 23-7 record on the year to face Terrier ace, Cassidi Hardy who entered with a 20-8 record. While the Sun Devils did attack the scoreboard first in the outing, it wasn’t without help from the Terriers as starting pitcher Cassidi Hardy struggled in the opening inning being called for eight illegal pitches to bring home two runs for ASU.
BU answered the deficit in the top of the second with relief pitcher Whitney Tuthill turning the first pitch of the inning into a souvenir with a solo shot to deep left center, but Bach inherited the composure trait and got out of the inning with ASU still ahead 2-1.
The Sun Devils started to put some offense together in the third though as they brought home a legitimate run with Katelyn Boyd leading off with a double to left center which Lesley Rogers brought home with an RBI single through the right side to push ASU up 3-1.
ASU threatened again in the fifth inning with three straight singles to lead off the inning, but BU flashed the leather for three straight outs to leave the bases loaded and keep ASU with in reach.
The bats finally adjusted to the time change and caught up with ASU in the sixth inning after an error to put Katie Crabb on first which lit the ignition for the Sun Devil offense as they hit back-to-back-to-back doubles with Talor Haro, Katelyn Boyd and Lesley Rogers all guilty parties in the melee of smooth foxes on the basepaths.
With the win the Sun Devils will return to action for their second game of the NCAA Tournament where they’ll face the winner of the UMass/Long Island match-up tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET at the UMass Softball Complex.