May 26, 2012
Myers Press Conference | Lockwood Press Conference | Escobedo Press Conference | Johnson Press Conference | Louisiana Press Conference
TEMPE, Ariz. - Home runs fueled the Sun Devils, as the Arizona State softball team (51-9) will make its 10th appearance at the Women's College World Series. ASU topped Louisiana (53-6) twice on Friday- logging 9-2 and 8-0 (6) victories to capture the Super Regional series.
Information about game times and opponents for the Women's College World Series will be available after the conclusion of the Super Regionals which wrap on Sunday.
On the night, Sam Parlich and Alix Johnson each had two homers. Johnson's pair came in the nightcap while Parlich's were in the first contest. As a team, the Sun Devils rallied for eight home runs in the final two games.
Hillary Bach (21-1) captured the first game's win, going the distance with one strikeout and just two walks. Dallas Escobedo finished Louisiana's season when she took the third game of the series, fanning seven batters in her 6.0 inning outing.
Check back with thesundevils.com on Sunday night for updates about WCWS opponents @SparkyArizonaSt @NCAAsoftball @NFCAorg @asu #forkem
-- ASU Softball (@ASUSoftball) May 26, 2012
Game One: ASU 9, Louisiana 2
The Sun Devils jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Amber Freeman homered a two-run shot to left, plating herself and Katelyn Boyd. In the third, a double from Haley Steele made it a 4-0 cushion with Boyd and Johnson scoring on the play.
ASU was not done in the frame, adding three additional runs for a 7-0 early lead. Annie Lockwood homered to left to bring home Steele - marking her 10th homer of the year and 42nd of her career. Parlich capped the frame with a long ball of her own, a solo shot - ASU finished the stanza with five runs on four hits.
In the bottom of the inning, Louisiana's Brianna Cherry hit an RBI-single to right to plate Katie Smith, breaking up the shutout at 7-1.
With bases loaded in the fourth, ASU saw Nikole Afusia walk, pushing home Boyd to make it an 8-1 ballgame. UL capitalized on a Sun Devil error in the fifth to chip at the lead, 8-2, when Nerissa Myers scored on the play, unearned.
It was lights out as Parlich launched her second home run of the game in the top of the seventh for what would be the final score of 9-2. Her homer marks the second time in the sophomore's career that she has had a multiple home run game.
Ashley Brignac garnered the loss for UL, dropping her final record of the year to 23-4. Brignac struck out nine but walked six in the outing. Bach picked up the win to improve to 21-1.
DYK @asu will make its 10th appearance in the WCWS as @SparkyArizonaSt moved past UL with two wins Friday thesundevils.com/sports/w-softb... @NCAAsoftball
-- ASU Softball (@ASUSoftball) May 26, 2012
Game Two: ASU 8, Louisiana 0
Timely and consistent hitting allowed the Sun Devils to run away with this 8-0 shutout in six innings, while clutch pitching from Escobedo kept all but one of UL's six base runners from advancing past second base. Escobedo struck out five on the night for her 23rd win of the season (23-6).
ASU again scored two runs in the first frame, this time on back-to-back home runs from Johnson and Steele. The Sun Devils are 27-0 on the year when scoring in the first inning and 37-1 when they score first in the game.
Elizabeth Caporuscio got in on the home run action, hitting her 16th of the season in the second, bringing home Parlich and giving the club a 4-0 lead. Caporuscio is second on the team in homers and is tied for 16th all-time in the category at ASU.
Congrats to the defending Nat'l Champs @ASUSoftball heading back to #WCWS & Congrats to @ULRaginCajuns on a terrific run & great season!
-- Jennie Finch (@jfinch27) May 26, 2012
Three runs on three hits in the fifth pushed the Sun Devils to a 7-0 cushion after Johnson hit her second homer of the game with a three-run jack to right center that brought around Boyd and Talor Haro. The glow ball is Johnson's second career two-homer performance in a single game.
Steele sealed the mercy-rule win in the bottom of the sixth on a single to right, allowing Haro to come home after she reach on a single to left three batters prior. Steele leads the ASU offense in the postseason, hitting at a .444 clip with eight hits, two doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and a 1.056 slugging percentage.
Jordan Wallace took the loss for the Ragin' Cajuns dropping her to 27-2 overall.