March 24, 2012
– A late-game hitting spree pushed No. 5 Arizona State softball (30-3, 2-0 Pac-12) over the Arizona Wildcats in the second game of this weekend’s Territorial Cup Series, with a final score of 9-6. Fans can catch the entire State Farm Territorial Cup Series webcast on FoxSportsArizona.com.
A stellar two-RBI pinch-hit performance from Nikole Afusia and Katelyn Boyd’s 14th season home run highlighted the back-and-forth battle, which saw pitcher Dallas Escobedo’s record improve to 12-2. pitcher Shelby Babcock garners the loss and is now 8-5. capitalized on 10 walks from the UA bullpen, scoring seven runs pushed through via walk.
The Wildcats (19-7, 0-2 Pac-12) lit up the scoreboard first with a two-out two-run homer from Jessica Spigner. The score was at a standstill until the top of the fourth, when two fielding errors plated ’s pinch runner Sam Davis to make it 3-0.
The Sun Devils cut down the lead in the bottom of the frame with Haley Steele’s double to left field. The hit scored both Kayla Ketchum and Elizabeth Caporuscio, and marked Steele’s third double on the year, pulling the score to 3-2.
put the pedal to the metal in the fifth inning, with a leadoff home run from Boyd that tied it at three-apiece. The long-yarder was Boyd’s 57th in her career, which puts her three shy of second place in the Sun Devil records.
The Devils took the lead later in the frame when Alix Johnson wheeled home on a wild pitch after reaching on a walk. Pinch hitter Afusia then tallied two RBI with a single that brought in Caporuscio and Annie Lockwood. Afusia is now 4-for-5 in her last five pinch hits.
A three-run four-bagger in the sixth from Wildcat second baseman Kristen Arriola saw another tie game at six runs each. Lockwood answered later that same inning with a two-RBI base hit up the middle, which pulled her career total RBI to 150, just three short of fourth place in the record books. Johnson scored her second run of the night on a groundout for the final run of the inning to make it 9-6, the eventual final score.
Katelyn Boyd finished the game 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI. UA’s top offensive performer was Spigner who was 2-for-4 at the dish with two RBI and two runs scored.
UP NEXT:
The final game of the 2012 State Farm Territorial Cup Series against starts at noon Sunday. All three games of the series are broadcasted online, free, by www.foxsportsarizona.com. To check the series and point breakdown visit www.territorialcupseries.com. For the ASU softball schedule that includes live game statistics, game recaps and season statistics here.
WEEKEND PROMOTION
Sun Devil softball has teamed up with Avnet, Maag Toy Foundation and Crisis Nursery. Help brighten the lives of area children that have been exposed to abuse, neglect or homelessness at this weekend's State Farm Territorial Cup Series against the . Fans are encouraged to bring toys and gifts to the final game this weekend and they will then be donated to the Crisis Nursery. For more information, click here.