Feb. 12, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. – Freshman pitcher Dallas Escobedo was lights out Friday night as the second day of the Kajikawa Classic rolled on which saw the freshman collect two wins with a 6-5 (8) victory over Cal Poly as well as complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 1-0 win against No. 11 Oklahoma State. Escbedo and the Sun Devils move to 3-0 on the season with the win.
Game one saw ASU take on the Cal Poly Mustangs with Mackenzie Popescue taking her first collegiate start for the Sun Devils where she cruised through five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. The Sun Devil offense got to work in the second inning as Sam Parlich cracked her second home run of the season to double her total from 2010 in just two games as she plated two for a 2-0 lead.
An RBI single from Mandy Urfer in the third and back-to-back home runs from Urfer and Alix Johnson for her first career home run in the sixth gave the Sun Devils a nice 5-0 lead before Popescue found herself in a smidge of hot water in the sixth inning as pitcher Anna Cahn dug in to crush a three run shot to cut the lead to 5-3. Another long ball given up to the Mustangs to bring in two more in the seventh knotted it up at five apiece to send it to extras where an RBI from Sam Parlich and a untouchable Dallas Escobedo closed out the win.
In the nightcap, Escobedo took the ball for ASU where she saw a scare in the first inning with a long double to right center from Amy Hamilton to threaten, but the freshman put it behind her to keep the Cowgirls hitless until the seventh while keeping OSU on their heels striking out 11.
The Sun Devil offense struggled against freshman pitcher Simone Freeman who came in to throw three shutout innings herself until the difference maker came in the fourth inning with Krista Donnenwirth taking an inside pitch on a full count deep to right center for a solo shot that would prove all Escobedo needed as she completed her first career complete game shut out.
The Sun Devils hit the diamond again Saturday as the Kajikawa Classic resumes taking on No. 8 Oklahoma and Utah at 4:30 and 7 p.m. in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.