TEMPE ? The No. 21 Arizona State softball team rallied from a two-run deficit to take the third and final game of the Territorial Cup series against No. 18 Arizona, 3-2, on Sunday at Farrington Stadium.
Kelsey Kessler pitched another admirable game for the Sun Devils (22-9, 1-2 Pac-12) and Jenn Soria knocked a two-run home run in the fifth that would prove to be the difference as ASU held on for its first Pac-12 victory of the season.
After suffering back-to-back losses to the Wildcats (20-9, 2-1 Pac-12) in games that were decided by a pair of two-run home runs in the top of the seventh in on Friday and Saturday, Sunday’s matchup was not without its fair share of drama as befitted such an exciting series.
Kessler (9-5) returned to the circle for the Sun Devils after not allowing any earned runs in a tough 2-0 loss Friday and she worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh on Sunday night to secure the win for ASU.
The right-hander allowed four hits and struck out six Wildcats, allowing three walks and giving up two earned runs in the complete game effort.
With ASU clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh, Kessler struck out the UA’s Mo Mercado for the first out of the inning and clinched a hitless weekend for Arizona’s top hitter. But, Tamara Statman followed that with a double to left center to put the tying run in scoring position.
Pinch hitter Nancy Bowling drew a full count walk on a pitch that everyone in the stadium thought was strike three outside the umpire and the Wildcat bench to put runners on first and second with no outs.
The junior hurler responded in kind, however, striking out Lauren Young for the second out of the inning. But the flair for the dramatic continued as Joelle Krist walked to load the bases with two outs. Kessler was unfazed, however, getting Ashleigh Hughes to fly out to left field for the final out of the game.
Prior to that, the game was eerily reminiscent to game one of the series as Kessler and Arizona’s Danielle O’Toole stifled the opposing offenses and kept things scoreless through three innings with just one hit between the two teams.
The Wildcats would break through first, however, as Katiyana Mauga knocked her 10th home run of the season in the top of the fourth ? a two-run shot to put Arizona on top.
ASU got one back in the bottom half of the inning after Katee Aguirre singled and advanced to second on a Margaret Stahm fielder’s choice. Breona Peralta came in to pinch run for Aguirre and scored from second on a Fa Leilua single through the left side to cut the Wildcat lead to 2-1.
The Sun Devils struck again in the following frame as Abby Spiel drew a walk and Jenn Soria hit a two-run homer off the top of the wall in opposite right center - her fifth homer of the year - to give ASU a 3-2 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Jenn Soria, dinger specialist, gets @ASUSoftball's #12Best! https://t.co/C9CZUFvDjw
? Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 21, 2016
The Sun Devils return to action Thursday, March 24 in a non-conference three-game series against Texas Tech at Farrington Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Arizona time.