March 10, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. – Four Sun Devil home runs lifted No. 5 Arizona State softball (24-2) over the Pacific Tigers on Saturday night, with a final score of 7-4.
Katelyn Boyd and Elizabeth Caporuscio are now tied for the most homers on the squad this year with 10 each after the victory. Four of Arizona State’s seven hits connected for home runs – marking the third time this season the Sun Devils have tallied four homers in a single game.
The Tigers (13-9) lit up the board first thanks to a two-run long-yarder from Nikki Armagost. ASU answered in the bottom of the frame as Boyd launched her 10th home run of the season, which extended her hitting streak to 15-straight games.
The Devils tied it up at two runs apiece in the third, with Boyd scoring from second on a base hit from Annie Lockwood. In the next at-bat, Caporuscio gave ASU a 4-2 lead with a four-bagger of her own that plated Lockwood.
Amber Freeman and Haley Steele widened the gap in the bottom of the fifth, knocking in three more runs to make it 7-2. Freeman rocketed a clear shot over the center field wall, and Steele matched it with a homer of her own that plated Talor Haro.
Pacific did not see another run until the sixth, when Taylor Petty came around on a single from Megan Hom just before the third out. Kelsey Rodriguez put another home run over the wall for the Tigers in the last inning for the final score of 7-4.
Dallas Escobedo fanned six through seven innings and improves to 9-1. Pacific is now 13-9, with Dani Bonnet taking the loss for a 5-4 record.
Up Next:
ASU faces New Mexico State at 1 p.m. to finish off the Diamond Devil Invitational. For complete tournament results, stats and updates click here.