March 5, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. – Complete game shutouts from Mackenzie Popescue and Dallas Escobedo coupled with a huge 2-for-3 day with two runs scored and four RBIs with a home run from Mandy Urfer gave the No. 7 ASU Softball team the surge they needed as they collected two more wins Saturday night. The Sun Devils topped Northern Colorado 9-0(5) and New Mexico State 17-0(5). Popescue moves to 4-1 on the year as Escobedo holds at a perfect 9-0 while ASU moves to 16-1.
The Sun Devils started the day off right against the Northern Colorado Bears as Sam Parlich cracked a solo shot off a 2-2 pitch for her fourth home run of the season. ASU was back at it again in the second with an RBI single from Katelyn Boyd before Mandy Urfer opened up a can in the fourth crushing a 3-1 pitch deep to left field to make it 5-0.
With Popescue wheeling and dealing in the circle to keep the Bears at bay, Lacy Goodman decided to cut the fun short as she strode to the plate with bases loaded for her first grand slam in the fifth inning as she took a 3-1 pitch for a joy ride with a shot to right center to give ASU the 9-0 win.
The nightcap gave Escobedo the ball as she entered with a 8-0 record. She didn’t disappoint either as she threw four hitless innings against the NMSU Aggies while her offense did work. Plastering 14 hits on the board with home runs from Sam Parlich and Kaylyn Castillo and birthday girl, Mandy Urfer going 1-for-1 with three RBIs to add fuel to the fire as the offense rattled off 17 runs to tie their season high.
Escobedo held the no-hitter until the fifth inning when NMSU was just able to squeak off a hit to break it up though Escobedo composed herself to get out of the inning and take off with her ninth collegiate win to keep her record unblemished.
The Sun Devils will wrap the Wilson/DiMarini Invitational tomorrow as they set to face the Creighton Jays at 1 p.m. in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.