TEMPE – The No. 25 Arizona State softball team fell to No. 5 Oregon, 5-4, undone for the second evening in a row by a five-run fifth inning from the Ducks.
The Sun Devils rallied late, getting the tying run into scoring position in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to complete the comeback in front of a spirited crowd of over 1,700 on a night that ASU inducted Katie Burkhart as the inaugural member of the Sun Devil Softball Wall of Honor.
What an amazing moment for Katie Burkhart, the first player inducted to our Softball Wall of Honor! pic.twitter.com/UHcLNFdrW0
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) April 24, 2016
Kelsey Kessler (13-9) took the loss, allowing six hits and five earned runs in 4.2 innings worked. Dale Ryndak entered the game and tossed a solid 2.1 innings, giving up just one hit and one walk without allowing any runs.
The Sun Devil bats scattered nine hits through seven innings and Chelsea Gonzales led the way, going 2-for-4. Jenn Soria knocked an RBI triple in the fifth, her first triple of the year, before scoring a run on a sac fly.
ASU scored first for the second straight night. Abby Spiel drew a walk and Allie Butterfield singled in the bottom of the third inning. Taylor Becerra laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. Jenn Soria then reached on a fielder’s choice as Spiel beat the throw home for the 1-0 lead.
Another big fifth inning for the Ducks proved to the difference-maker. Despite having escaped a bases loaded jam twice in the game, the Sun Devils were unable to keep the Ducks off the board a third time. Oregon scored five runs, including a two-out grand slam from Gerri Ann Glasco to provide all the offense they needed, going up 5-1.
The Sun Devils responded in the bottom half of the frame with two runs. Taylor Becerra walked and scored on Soria’s triple. The senior center fielder then scored on a Nikki Girard sac fly to cut the Ducks lead to 5-3.
Devils not going quietly into the night! @jennsoria5 with RBI triple followed by a Girard sac fly to cut it to 5-3!https://t.co/VrqylXv4xS
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) April 24, 2016
ASU had a chance in the bottom of the seventh after Girard reached on a fielding error and was lifted for pinch runner Missy Eisen, who took second on a passed ball. Palacios followed with a walk and Marissa Stankiewicz came in to pinch run. Gonzales stepped to the plate and reached on a fielder’s choice and took second on a throwing error, allowing Eisen to score the fourth and final Sun Devil run. Despite having the tying run 120 feet away with just one out, ASU was unable to finish the comeback.
Arizona State and Oregon will play the series finale tomorrow at 1 p.m. PT. The game will air live on Pac-12 Network Arizona/Oregon.