BERKELEY ? Despite some hot-hitting throughout the order over the course weekend, the No. 20 Arizona State University softball team allowed California to stay within striking range in the first two games. There was no such drama in the series finale as the Sun Devils dropped the hammer in a 9-1 rout in six innings to take the series against the Golden Bears.
Jennifer Soria capped off her singular weekend with a 3-for-4 effort with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored while freshman Fa Leilua went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs to pace the Sun Devil attack. Nichole Chilson also added three RBI in the effort.
Soria finished the weekend batting at a 7-for-13 clip (.538), knocking an incredible four home runs for a 1.462 slugging percentage. She had a team-leading six RBIs and also scored a team-best seven runs ? four more than any other player on the roster. She was also a perfect 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts while making a number of highlight reel plays in center field.
Kelsey Kessler went all six innings on Sunday, escaping three bases loaded jams with only one run allowed to move to 13-5 on the season as she struck out four and scattered five hits.
Soria wasted no time getting ASU on top as she moved to the three-hole for the first time on the weekend and responded with a two-run shot in the top of the first inning ? her fourth homer of the weekend ? to put ASU (27-10, 3-3 Pac-12) up early.
M1 | Strikeout ends it as ASU strands bases loaded but not before @jennsoria5 helps ASU to a 3-0 lead. https://t.co/sJyUb7SxZl
? Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) April 3, 2016
Leilua would draw a bases loaded walk for her first RBI of the day to give ASU an early 3-0 lead.
The Devils added to it in the second behind the bat of Soria again as the senior knocked an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-0 before Chilson brought one more across on an RBI groundout to give ASU a 5-0 lead early.
Cal (15-14-1) threatened for the first time in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with no outs. But Kessler took the gut check in stride, getting an infield popup, a shallow fly ball to left and an inning ending fielder’s choice to escape the frame with no damage done.
ASU added some insurance In the fourth on Chilson’s RBI fielder’s choice but the Bears would load the bases again in the bottom half of the inning with two outs. However, Kessler picked up an inning-ending strikeout against Danielle Bower to escape the threat.
Leilua came to the plate with one out in the fifth and gave the Cal fans a reason to remember her name after the PA announcer incorrectly called her “Fay” Leilua, launching a no-doubt bomb to left center ? her second dinger of the weekend ? to make it a 7-0 game.
M5 | Devils continue to slowly build the lead. @leilua18's solo shot in the fifth makes it 7-0 as we head to B5!https://t.co/SJ9xAEgnuQ
? Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) April 3, 2016
Again, Cal loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the fifth and finally broke through against Kessler on a sacrifice fly but the senior quickly ended the threat with a groundout to escape yet another jam.
Back-to-back RBI singles with the bases loaded in the sixth gave ASU the eight run advantage it needed to close things out early as Kessler responded to a leadoff double in the frame with three straight outs, the last coming on an incredible sliding grab at the warning track by Soria to end it.
The Sun Devils return home for a pivotal Pac-12 contest next weekend against 11th-ranked Washington. The series opener will take place on Friday, April 8 at 5 p.m. PT.