FULLERTON, Calif. – The No. 19 Arizona State University softball team rebounded from a tough opening day at the Judi Garman Classic to the tune of a 4-1 victory over Wisconsin on Friday evening in Fullerton, Calif.
Dale Ryndak improved to 6-0 on the year with an efficient six innings of action as she scattered seven hits, struck out five, walked none and allowed just one earned run to help the Sun Devils move to 16-4 on the season.
Ryndak had 72 strikes on 105 pitches, forcing 10 groundouts to just two flyouts and did her part defensively with two assists, helping her cause in a game where the Devils had three infield errors.
Breanna Macha entered the game in the top of the seventh, allowing two singles but otherwise fanning three to earn her second save of the season.
ASU did most of its offensive damage in the bottom of the first inning as Katee Aguirre grounded into an error on the Badger shortstop to bring across Jenn Soria and Nichole Chilson for an early 2-0 advantage.
On the very next batter, the Devils went into their ‘Major League’ playbook as power-hitting first baseman Margaret Stahm caught the Badger defense sleeping with a bunt single to score Chelsea Gonzales and give the Devils a 3-0 edge.
ASU would add to the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Nikki Girard knocked her 36th career double – this one of the RBI variety – to score Soria and add an insurance run to the mix.
A leadoff triple and sac fly would get the Badgers on the board in the top of the sixth. UW continued the threaten with back-to-back two out singles in the inning but Ryndak got out of it unscathed with her fifth and final strikeout of the night.
ASU returns to action at the Judi Garman Classic tomorrow against No. 18 Missouri in a game scheduled for 5 p.m. PT.