TEMPE – The Arizona State University softball team ended it's winless drought in a big way against Stanford, posting a 9-1 decision in five innings in the series opener on Friday in Tempe.
Nikki Girard went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including the game-winning hit that scored the two runs needed to run-rule the Cardinal. Jenn Soria also had a big night going with her 14th home run on the season with two runs on the evening. All told, the five Sun Devil seniors that saw action went 6-for-13 with six runs scored and four RBIs to open their final career home series at Farrington Stadium.
Kelsey Kessler (14-10) tossed a complete game from the circle. The redshirt junior struck out three while allowing just four hits and one earned run.
The Sun Devils showed patience at the plate, drawing seven walks from the Cardinal pitching staff. Three straight walks loaded the bases for ASU in the first inning. A Girard ground out scored in Taylor Becerra from third for a 1-0 lead.
ASU (28-22, 4-15 Pac-12) added three more runs in the bottom of the second. Nichole Chilson led things off with a single and took second on an error by the left fielder. A wild pitch placed the sophomore on third before Margaret Stahm ground out to second to score Chilson. Abby Spiel singled and reached second on a Becerra sacrifice bunt. Soria stepped to the plate with two outs and hit a two-run home run – her 14th of the season – to extend the lead to 4-0.
E2 | Devils have an early 4-0 lead here thanks to Big No. 5. On to the third!https://t.co/DAkMSbqbXJ
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) May 7, 2016
Stanford got one back on a Kayla Bonstrom home run in the top of the third to cut the Sun Devils’ lead to 4-1.
ASU responded with another three run inning. Chelsea Gonzales drew a walk and Katee Aguirre singled up the middle to start the Sun Devils off. Chilson loaded the bases on a walk and all three runners advanced a base on an illegal pitch from Stanford pitcher Haley Snyder. Stahm reloaded the bases after with a walk. Spiel came to the plate and reached on a fielder’s choice as Aguirre was out at home. Fa Leilua pinch hit for Becerra and singled down the left field line to score two more runs for a 7-1 edge.
After going scoreless in the fourth inning, ASU led off the bottom of the fifth with a Spiel single. Leilua came to bat a hit a near game ending shot to the wall in left field, but just fell short of the walk off but it advanced Spiel into scoring position. Soria reached on an error and Palacios singled to load the bases with one out. Girard singled on the second pitch she saw to score Spiel and Soria for the win.
One more look at @nikki_girard's game-winning two-RBI single! Devils back at it against tomorrow at 12 p.m.!https://t.co/ptZ0FVW1vy
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) May 7, 2016
Arizona State and Stanford will play game two of the three-game series tomorrow at 12 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcasted live on Pac-12 Arizona/Bay Area.