Feb. 12, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - Lights out pitching performances by Dallas Escobedo and Hillary Bach coupled with a grand slam from Annie Lockwood led the highlights on the day Saturday as the No. 13 ASU Softball team split Day Three of the Kajikawa Classic with a 4-3 win over No. 9 Oklahoma and a 3-1 loss (8) to Utah. The Sun Devils are now 4-1 on the season with Escobedo holding a 4-0 record and Mackenzie Popescue taking the first loss for ASU in her first collegiate decision.
The Oklahoma match-up proved to be a gritty as predicted with the score remaining 0-0 through two complete before the Sun Devils decided to make a move in the third inning as Mandy Urfer pulled a walk to start the commotion with Talor Haro and Katelyn Boyd putting together back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases for clean-up hitter Annie Lockwood. Lockwood dug herself into a 1-2 hole before adding a little onomatopoeia to the game as boom went the dynamite on the next pitch to Lockwood with a grand slam shot to right field for a 4-0 lead.
Escobedo was masterful through three complete, striking out six before running aground in the fourth as Destinee Martinez fulfilled her namesake by starting the rally with a single to left field. She came around to dust the plate when Jessica Shultz dug in to launch a two run shot to center field to cut it to 4-2 ASU. OU wasn't done yet though a sBrittany Williams took to the batters box next to match Shultz' feat with a solo shot of her own to make it 4-3.
Gritting it through Escobedo was lights out the rest of the game as OU couldn't touch her again en route to her 11 strikeouts and en route to fourth win in as many games for ASU.
The nightcap saw veteran Hillary Bach take her first start in 2011 for the Sun Devils against Utah and pitch a flawless five innings of Bach-tastic softball, keeping the Utes baffled allowing only three hits while striking out three. The ASU offense remained lackluster throughout the duration as they left 11 on base through the game which remained scoreless through seven complete. Mackenzie Popescue came in to relieve Bach in the sixth inning where she managed to get through two innings as the game rolled into extra innings.
The Sun Devils were finally able to put a run across in the eighth using the international tie breaker, but Utah claimed last ups as the home team and made the most of it. Putting two on with no outs in the bottom of the eighth, first baseman, Tia Palauni decided to take matters into her own hands as she send an 0-2 pitch into the Phoenix flight path to bring home three and stun the Sun Devil faithful.
The Sun Devils will wrap the Kajikawa Classic tomorrow with one last game against San Jose State at 1:30 p.m. in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.