TEMPE, ARIZ. – In the second game of the Kajikawa Classic, the Arizona State softball team defeated Virginia, 4-1, on Thursday night at Farrington Softball Stadium.
"Winning is always good, but I think I am most proud of the types of games we played," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We played really solid defense. I thought both pitchers pitched a heck of a game and we made some phenomenal defensive plays tonight."
Redshirt junior Marisa Stankiewicz opened the scoring for the Sun Devils (2-0) in the bottom of the second, sending one over the center field wall for her first home run of the season that gave ASU a two-run lead early in the game.
"It was very important to come out with a bang," said Stankiewicz. "We feel like we made a statement, and it was fun. I felt like we needed to come out and prove something again in the second game. Virginia is a great team, and I feel like when we come out swinging we play a lot better."
Virginia answered back during the next frame with a home run of their own, however, the Devils quickly regained their 2 run lead in part by junior Nichole Chilson, who doubled to deep center field, and sophomore Skylar McCarty, who cashed in the runner on third with a single, to bring the score to the final 4-1 heading into in the top of the 5th inning.
Pitching was a huge asset for the Devils all night, with junior Breanna Macha only allowing five hits through seven innings of work in her first complete game of the season.
"Our game is a game of momentum," added Ford. "Making routine plays with the type of pitching we have is something we will need to do. That is our expectation and I think we did a good job with that tonight."
Macha allowed one run in the second and locked in to allow just four base runners in the remaining innings. This just hours after junior Dale Ryndak threw the sixth perfect game in school history, and the first since Hilary Bachs accomplished the feat in 2012.
Tonight's win marks the 22nd-straight year in which the Devils won their season opener and improve the team to 39-7 all-time in season openers
The Devils return to action tomorrow, February 10, as they will play in the second day of the four-day Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils are scheduled to face Purdue at 4 p.m. before concluding the day against San Diego at 7 p.m.
"Winning is always good, but I think I am most proud of the types of games we played," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We played really solid defense. I thought both pitchers pitched a heck of a game and we made some phenomenal defensive plays tonight."
Redshirt junior Marisa Stankiewicz opened the scoring for the Sun Devils (2-0) in the bottom of the second, sending one over the center field wall for her first home run of the season that gave ASU a two-run lead early in the game.
"It was very important to come out with a bang," said Stankiewicz. "We feel like we made a statement, and it was fun. I felt like we needed to come out and prove something again in the second game. Virginia is a great team, and I feel like when we come out swinging we play a lot better."
Virginia answered back during the next frame with a home run of their own, however, the Devils quickly regained their 2 run lead in part by junior Nichole Chilson, who doubled to deep center field, and sophomore Skylar McCarty, who cashed in the runner on third with a single, to bring the score to the final 4-1 heading into in the top of the 5th inning.
Pitching was a huge asset for the Devils all night, with junior Breanna Macha only allowing five hits through seven innings of work in her first complete game of the season.
"Our game is a game of momentum," added Ford. "Making routine plays with the type of pitching we have is something we will need to do. That is our expectation and I think we did a good job with that tonight."
Macha allowed one run in the second and locked in to allow just four base runners in the remaining innings. This just hours after junior Dale Ryndak threw the sixth perfect game in school history, and the first since Hilary Bachs accomplished the feat in 2012.
Tonight's win marks the 22nd-straight year in which the Devils won their season opener and improve the team to 39-7 all-time in season openers
The Devils return to action tomorrow, February 10, as they will play in the second day of the four-day Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils are scheduled to face Purdue at 4 p.m. before concluding the day against San Diego at 7 p.m.