April 26, 2013
Promotion Schedule
TEMPE, Ariz. - The fifth-ranked Arizona State softball team hit six home runs en route to topping No. 10 California in five innings, 10-2. Saturday's game will be at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
The Sun Devils improve to 40-7, 11-5 in conference, marking the eighth time that Clint Myers has led Arizona State to a 40+ win season under his watch. California falls to 35-10 overall and 9-7 in the Pac-12 in its first mercy rule loss of the year.
Both Cheyenne Coyle and Amber Freeman went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored. Coyle had two homers and Freeman had one. Dallas Escobedo struck out nine for her 23rd win of the season (23-4). Cal's Nisa Ontiveros falls to 4-2 after leaving the circle following seven batters faced. ASU's six runs in the bottom of the first commenced the hitting spree in what would lead to 10 runs on 11 hits during the game.
Saturday, 7 p.m. PT | Live Stats | Live Stats | Blaze Radio | Pac-12 Network
Part of a six-run first inning, Alix Johnson and Cheyenne Coyle led ASU off strong, smacking in back-to-back solo homers to put the team ahead 2-0. Amber Freeman followed with a double in left center that just hit the tip of the outfield wall, narrowly missing a third-consecutive homer.
Freeman would come in with Bethany Kemp and Elizabeth Caporuscio on a grand slam from Sam Parlich, the team's fifth grand slam of the year. Cal elected to bring in Nikki Owens in place of Nisa Ontiveros who started in the circle. Owens got the final two outs of the stanza but not before ASU did damage on the board, 6-0, and hit around the lineup.
Not to be deprived of her glow ball, ASU saw Freeman eventually get her home run, in the second, to right field stretching the lead to 7-0 on four homers via seven hits.
Adding to the lead, the Sun Devils made it 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Kemp hit a two-run shot past center that also scored Haley Steele, who reached on a walk.
The home runs were not over however, California responded with a two-run homer in the top of the fifth to momentarily stall a mercy rule. Coyle hit her second home run of the game that allowed ASU to tally the mercy rule, 10-2 (5). It is the second time for Coyle hitting two homers in one game this season and gave ASU a new record for single-game homers with six.
UP NEXT
Sun Devil softball returns on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT. It will be on the Pac-12 Network. The series will also conclude on TV on the conference network with a 3 p.m. PT first pitch Sunday.
NOTES
Parlich's grand slam is ASU's fifth of the season.
ASU is 36-2 when scoring first, 18-2 when scoring in first inning.
Clint Myers has won at least 40 games in each of his eight years at ASU (2006-present).
ASU is 11-5 against ranked teams in 2013.
ASU has 15 mercy rule wins on the year, three in the Pac-12 (No. 23 Oregon State, No. 14 Stanford, No. 10 California).
The six homers from ASU against California is a new season best for single game homers. Previously the team had hit five homers in a single game on two occasions.
Alix Johnson hit her 10th homer of the season, 26th of her career which is good for 14th all-time.
Cheyenne Coyle hit her 16th and 17th homers of the year, tied for sixth in single season at ASU. In career records she is tied for 20th all-time.
Sam Parlich hit her first grand slam of the season, her 10th homer this year. She is tied for 12th all-time at ASU with 27 homers in her career.
Amber Freeman hit her 15th homer of the year, tying her for 11th in single-season records. She is 11th all-time at ASU with 28 total.
Bethany Kemp hit her seventh homer of the year.
MARKETING PROMOTIONS
Saturday, April 27, 7 p.m. PT [Televised on Pac-12 Network]
Alumni Night/Booster Club Appreciation
First 500 through the front game will get a commemorative poster
Postgame: Autographs of the athletes on the field
Sunday, April 28, 3 p.m. PT [Televised on Pac-12 Network]
Kids in the Park Day
Postgame: Kids can run the bases
Sunday is Kids in the Park Day at Farrington Stadium. A FREE kids zone will be set up outside of the stadium with inflatables and face painters starting at 1:30 p.m. Bring the kids and join in the fun at ASU softball!
Remaining Softball TV Schedule
April 27 vs. California 7 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
April 28 vs. California 3 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 3 at Arizona 6 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 4 at Arizona 6 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 5 at Arizona 3 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 10 vs. Oregon 5 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 11 vs. Oregon 5 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network