April 21, 2011
TUCSON, Ariz. – In an 11 strikeout complete game shutout, Dallas Escobedo, coupled with Katelyn Boyd’s grand slam heroics saved the day Thursday afternoon as the No. 2 Arizona State Softball team took a 4-0 win from in-state rival, No. 7 Arizona in only the second win in 20 years in Tucson for ASU. Escobedo moves to 20-3 on the year as ASU improves to 40-5 overall and 7-3 in Pac-10 play as Shelby Babcock took the loss for UA to move to 15-3 while UA drops to 36-9 overall and 7-3 as well in conference play.
It was a pitchers duel from the start as both pitchers maneuvered through six complete without a run gracing the scoreboard, though Escobedo was straight nasty as she threw five perfect innings against one of the top scoring teams in the NCAA.
Only a sprinkling of hits were the Sun Devils able to rally as Babcock snaked out of runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth inning but it was Escobedo getting out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth with three strikeouts that made the difference as an amped ASU offense took to the box in the seventh with Annie Lockwood leading off with a single up the middle. A walk and single loaded the bases as 2010 First-Team All-American Katelyn Boyd took the place and made the case for a repeat of that honor, taking a 1-0 pitch yard past left center for her second grand slam of the season.
The Sun Devils will return to Hillenbrand Stadium again tomorrow night as they set to face their rival again in Game Two of the State Farm Territorial Cup at 7 p.m. in Tucson.