June 3, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – In a nailbiting game for the ages, Annie Lockwood played hero of the night as Dallas Escobedo threw the game of her life giving No. 1 ASU Softball a walk-off 6-5 win over No. 4 Florida to propel them into Championship Sunday at the Women’s College World Series. Escobedo threw a career-high 174 pitches to move to 34-3 on the year while ASU improves to 57-6 on the year and a perfect 7-0 in postseason play.
A State brought the noise to the game early as an RBI single from Annie Lockwood in the first started the mood right for ASU before a costly error in the second inning by Stephanie Brombacher allowed two more to come rolling in to make it 3-0 after two complete.
The Sun Devils weren’t ready to pipe down yet though as Mandy Urfer added to the melee in the third inning with a solo shot to left center for her 11th of the season and 28th of her career to make it 4-0 after three complete.
Dallas Escobedo went out to deal through the early part of the game, striking out the first three gators and getting out of jams in the second and third to dance around the lethal line-up of UF.
She wasn’t able to keep up the pace though as Florida stormed back in the fourth inning as she gave up two home run shots to the chomping gators before an RBI hit and a play at the plate made it 5-4.
ASU fired back immediately in the bottom of the fourth though as Annie Lockwood shone again with a solo shot to right center field to knot it at fives across the board.
The pitching battle resumed with Escobedo locking up the Florida bats throughout the rest of the night until the seventh inning when ASU pinch hitter Lucy Aubrecht drew a clutch walk before Katelyn Boyd snagged a single while Kaylyn Castillo drew a walk before Annie Lockwood strode to the plate already 2-for-2 on the night where she smokeshowed a ball to third base for ASU’s fifth walk-off win of the season.
The Sun Devils will now await their next opponent after Elimination Saturday goes off where they’ll face Baylor, Missouri or Oklahoma Sunday at 2:30 pm CT in Oklahoma City, Okla. At ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.