TEMPE – The No. 25 Arizona State softball team battled back from an early deficit in the series finale against Oregon but unfortunately came out on the wrong end of a 7-4 extra inning loss on Sunday in Tempe.
All three Sun Devils pitchers saw time in the circle. Dale Ryndak (8-4) took the loss, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Kelsey Kessler started and finished the game, tossing a total of 1.2 innings. The redshirt junior gave up five hits and three earned runs.
Jenn Soria finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh that sent the game into extras.
UO’s Koral Costa hit a two-run homer, before the Ducks tagged on another run for an early 3-0 lead in the first inning that brought Macha in in relief early. Macha would go on to pitch four efficient innings allowing just three hits and a run.
ASU responded in the bottom of the first as Taylor Becerra and Soria both singled. Nikki Girard hit a base-clearing triple – her second in two weeks - to left field to cut the Ducks lead to 3-2.
The Sun Devils tied the game at three runs apiece in the bottom of the fourth. Breona Peralta came on to pinch run after Sashel Palacios singled. Katee Aguirre followed with a single and moved to second on the throw and Margaret Stahm stepped up to the plate with runners in scoring position. The sophomore bloop-singled to the right side, allowing Peralta to score and tying the game at 3-3.
The Ducks quickly regained the lead in the following half-inning after Costa hit her second home run of the game, a solo shot to left field.
Trailing by one in the bottom of the seventh, Soria hit her 13th home run of the season to tie the game at four.
Oregon responded in the eighth inning with two quick hits before Hailey Decker hit the decisive three-run home run for the 7-4 final score.
The Sun Devils are back in action next weekend as the team travels to Los Angeles for a three-game series against UCLA beginning on Friday at 5 p.m. PT.