Feb. 8, 2013
TEMPE, Ariz. - Fourth-ranked Arizona State University softball (3-0) moved past Cal State Northridge (0-1) in its first game on Friday with a score of 6-1. ASU then handed Indiana its first loss, 8-0 (5), in the night cap.
Friday proved to be a successful night as Mackenzie Popescue and Dallas Escobedo both earned wins to help ASU to a 3-0 record thus far. The Sun Devil offense lit up opponents in both games with homers sparking scoring sprees. Arizona State recorded 18 hits and 14 runs in a combined 12 innings of play.
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GAME ONE: ASU 6, Cal State Northridge 1
Cheyenne Coyle's home run to left scored three, followed shortly thereafter by a homer from Bethany Kemp to right.
Mackenzie Popescue subdued the Matadors by allowing just two to reach base through the fourth. ASU's defense helped Popescue stay in control during the fifth - ending a two-out rally by CSUN with bases loaded.
The Sun Devils were able to notch one final run in the sixth via a sacrifice fly to right by Haley Steele that let Bailey Wigness score from third to make it 6-0. Cal State Northridge responded in the bottom of the frame with an unearned run, 6-1, but was unable to stave off a loss after seven complete innings.
Popescue picks up her first win of the season, her 21st career victory while CSUN's Mia Pagano garnered the loss (0-1).
GAME TWO: ASU 8, Indiana 0 (5)
Amber Freeman and Coyle hit back-to-back home runs in the second, giving the offense a jolt of energy after the Hoosiers turned a double play in the first that cut the frame short.
Two batters later, Lucy Aubrecht singled up the middle, scoring Kemp, and set up Wigness for a bizarre play that allowed ASU to score an additional two runs. Wigness bunted just in front of home plate to move around Aubrecht to second, but an Indiana throwing error allowed both runners to run home unscathed as the ball rolled into deep right field. ASU finished the second inning up 5-0 on six hits.
Coyle finished the night 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI thanks to yet another home run, her third on the night including her previous one against Cal State Northridge. Her second homer of the game came in the third and stretched the ASU lead to 6-0.
The Sun Devils weren't done yet though, adding two more runs in the fifth. Kemp's double to right brought home Coyle and Parlich to complete the 8-0 mercy rule in five innings.
Dallas Escobedo's second win of the year was on a two-hit, 10 strikeout performance. Escobedo is now tied for sixth all-time at ASU for 63 career wins. Meaghan Murphy left the game after 1.1 innings pitched but will take her first loss; Brooke Boetjer finished the final 3.1 innings for Indiana.
#winning 6-1 over Cal State Northridge and 8-0 (5) over Indiana. Lets keep this rolling tmrw! thesundevils.com/sports/w-softb... @thesundevils @asu
— ASU Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 9, 2013
Up Next
ASU will play Kentucky on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and then finish the night with a 7 p.m. start against Western Michigan.
Notes
Both Cheyenne Coyle and Bethany Kemp recorded their first career home runs as Sun Devils against Cal State Northridge. Coyle's was a three-run homer while Kemp's was a solo shot.
Coyle went on to record three home runs on the day, two against Indiana.
ASU is now 10-8 all-time against Cal State Northridge, dating back to 1980.
Dallas Escobedo's win against Indiana is her second of the season and her 63rd career victory which ties her for sixth all-time at ASU in the category. Also at sixth is Desiree Serrano who played from 2003-06. Next on the benchmark is fifth with 76 wins.
ASU is now 5-1 against Indiana, dating back to 1983.