TEMPE – The No. 21 Arizona State softball team defeated the Georgetown Hoyas, 8-3, on Saturday at the Louisville Slugger Invitational and earned the 1,600th victory in program history in the process.
Entering the 2016 campaign with 1,579 wins in its illustrious program lore, ASU picked up win No. 21 of the season just 26 games into the year to improve to 21-5 overall and earn the milestone victory.
All but three Sun Devils saw time on the diamond as ASU boasted double-digit hits for the fifteenth time this year. Chelsea Gonzales knocked in her seventh home run of the season. Nichole Chilson and Margaret Stahm each posted three hits apiece. Taylor Beccera singled twice in the game to extend her team-leading hitting streak to 10 games.
ASU’s sophomore duo got the job done in the circle. Dale Ryndak (7-0) earned the win, allowing just three runs while striking out and walking three in five innings pitched. Breanna Macha pitched two solid innings in relief and gave up just one hit.
The Sun Devils rolled in the runs early, scoring a pair in the first inning. Taylor Becerra walked and took second on an Abby Spiel single.
After a Jennifer Soria reach on a fielder’s choice, she stole second but the Hoyas’ second baseman couldn’t handle the throw and Becerra would score as Soria ended on third. Nikki Girard hit a sac fly to right to score Soria for the 2-0 lead.
ASU scored two more on a two-run home run off the bat of Gonzales in the second and Fa Leilua added an RBI single later in the inning to make it a 5-0 ball game.
E2 | Devils can't add to the lead but it's now 4-0 after two thanks to Chelsea 💣💣💣-Zales!!! https://t.co/mEATJw9KRV
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 13, 2016
Georgetown got one back after loading the bases with one out in the top of the third but Ryndak and the Sun Devils picked up the inning’s final two outs without allowing any more runs to cross.
ASU added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth after Brynley Steele walked and scored on a pinch hit double off the bat of Raianna Dobbs – her first hit of the season. Chilson followed with a double of her own off the wall in right field to score Dobbs for a 7-1 Sun Devil lead.
The Hoyas added a pair in the fifth after to cut the ASU lead to 7-3 but that would be the extent of the GU offense for the night.
The Sun Devils added their final run in the sixth after pinch runner Avi Davis scored on a Stahm single.
Arizona State is back in action tomorrow for the final day of the Louisville Slugger Invitational. The Sun Devils play No. 9 James Madison at 11:30 a.m. Arizona time before facing Ohio State at 1:30 p.m.