TEMPE ? The No. 22 Arizona State softball team was unable to complete their sweep at the Kajikawa Classic, falling to 18th-ranked Kentucky, 5-3, in the tournament finale Monday afternoon at Farrington Stadium.
The Sun Devils (6-1) put up a fight against an SEC foe that advanced to the Super Regional last year, and had four players with two or more hits and while rallying from a three-run deficit to tie things in the fifth. But UK’s Christian Stokes popped a two-run homer in the top of the sixth that would prove to be the difference in the game.
Abby Spiel led all hitters going 3-for-4, but it was Chelsea Gonzales who had the big hit, going 2-for-4 with a base-double and three RBI.
It was a pitcher’s duel for four innings as neither Breanna Macha (3-1) nor Meagan Prince gave up a run until the top of the fifth when the Wildcats struck first.
Ansley Smith hit a double with one out and advanced to third on a hit from Rachael Metzger. Hannah Huffman came in to pinch run, giving Erin Rethlake an opportunity with runners in scoring position and still one out. A collision between Nikki Girard and Taylor Becerra would load the bases.
Smith would score as Maisie Steed fouled out to right field to give Kentucky (5-1) a 1-0 lead. Sylver Samuel singled to center to score Huffman and an overthrow from Soria to catcher Sashel Palacios allowed Rethlake to come and extended the Wildcats lead to 3-0.
The Sun Devils came roaring back in the bottom half of the inning, however, as Becerra singled to left after a Palacios out. Soria legged out a single to Christian Stokes at shortstop, giving Spiel a chance with two on and one out. Spiel floated one to Stokes near the circle who would not make a play anywhere as ASU loaded the bases with still one out.
Gonzales stepped up to the plate with two outs after the Wildcats replaced Prince with Kelsey Nunley and the sophomore shortstop game the ball a rude, just missing the grand slam as the ball bounced off the wall in left field to clear the bases and even things at 3-3 after five innings
Yeah, making it a tie ballgame in the bottom of the fifth will get you @ASUSoftball's #12Best Moment! #Pac12SBhttps://t.co/qhO7CjZNSn
? Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) February 16, 2016
Kentucky started the top of the sixth in similar fashion as Nikki Sagermann singled to right field before an Abbey Cheek out. Stokes stepped up and hit a moon shot to center field as the Wildcats regained the lead 5-3.
The Sun Devils ultimately fell short despite having a runner in scoring position and Gonzales at the plate in their final at bat.
ASU returns to the diamond Friday, Feb. 19 to kick off the Littlewood Classic against Michigan State at 6 p.m. MT at Farrington Stadium.