SALT LAKE CITY – The Arizona State University team battled back from two separate deficits to reclaim the lead but inevitably came up just short in a 6-5 loss in the series finale against Utah on Monday.
After taking a 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning, ASU reached the bottom of the seventh needed three outs to earn the victory. Unfortunately a walk and a trio of singles capped by Bridget Castro's walk-off RBI would be the difference in the game.
The Sun Devils showed plenty of moxie on offense for the first time in the series, knocking 11 hits in the contest and scoring more run than the first two games of the series combined.
Fa Leilua was 3-for-3 with a run while Nikki Girard - battling on essentially a single good leg after a hard foul shot of her foot yesterday – went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and her first career triple. Chelsea Gonzales and Allie Butterfield also added two hits each while scoring runs.
Despite the resurgence on offense, the Utes were able to tag starting RHP Kelsey Kessler for 12 hits and seven earned runs as the junior walked three and struck out just one as she fell to 13-8 on the year.
ASU will have a relatively quick turnaround this week as they prepare for a top-10 Oregon team that comes to town for a three-game series starting Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m. PT.