BATON ROUGE -- The Arizona State University softball team's season came to an end on Sunday as the Devils dropped a heartbreaking 2-0 affair to the host and 10th-ranked LSU in the Baton Rouge Regional Final.
Kelsey Kessler and Dale Ryndak limited the potent Tiger offense to just a single earned run to keep the Sun Devils within striking distance throughout, but a tough call at home plate turned the tide of the game with the Sun Devils finding some momentum in the bottom of the sixth.
Kessler earned her fourth start of the weekend and pushed her weekend pitch count to 407 pitches as she went 4.0 innings, allowing one earned run with two strikeouts and five hits. Ryndak, much like last night, entered the game in relief and pitched a one-hitter in 3.0 innings while keeping LSU off the scoreboard
The efforts of the two pitchers over the course of the weekend earned both a spot on the Baton Rouge All-Regional team, as selected following the conclusion of the tournament.
The Sun Devils looked to have something going in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with just one out and cleanup hitter Nikki Girard at the plate. Girard lined a fly ball to right field and Abby Spiel tagged up at third and came home. The senior clearly looked to safely duck the tag and slide her hand firmly across the bag but it was ruled that she missed home plate on the slide and was tagged out for the double play.
@abby_spiel has had several highlight reel slides into home. This was no different. Thanks for the memories, Abby! pic.twitter.com/Ad8tZwLzh6
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) May 22, 2016
The ruling crushed the Sun Devil momentum as it looked to all as if ASU had cut the lead to one run and had two runners in scoring position with the hot bat of Katee Aguirre coming to the plate.
Jennifer Soria didn't get a hit in the contest but did draw the walk to load the bases and wrapped out her epic defensive season with what might be the catch of the year in all of college softball, nearly standing on top of the fence in dead center to take away what looked like a surefire Bianka Bell home run. It was an absolutely fitting way for the super senior to close out her career.
Didn't get the win, but @ASUSoftball's Jennifer Soria had a #SCTOP10 play w/ this Home Run robbing catch vs LSUhttps://t.co/yGlTgLSlMI
— ESPNU (@ESPNU) May 22, 2016
Soria, who hit a home run and had the game-winning walk last night against McNeese St., was also named to the All-Tournament team.
Aguirre would end up singling to lead of the bottom of the seventh but ASU could not bring her pinch runner around as LSU held on to take the game and advance to the Super Regional.