Tempe, Ariz.- Arizona State softball fought hard, but could not complete the series sweep against Oregon State, dropping the final game of the three-game series against the Beavers, 5-4, Monday afternoon at Farrington Stadium.
"Taking the first two was huge for us for our momentum," said head coach Trisha Ford. "Obviously, today we would have liked to come out and had a different result, but tip our hats to Oregon State. They came out the rallied. They scored first, we punched back and they came back."
The loss Monday put a rather unflattering cap on a weekend that was anything but unimpressive for the Sun Devils. In their three games against the Beavers, ASU amassed 25 hits, including 11 home runs, resulting in 23 runs on the weekend. As a team, the Sun Devils combined to go 25 for 78 at the plate, while holding the Beavers to just 15 hits in the three-game set.
Among the most notable performances of the weekend was junior second baseman, Marisa Stankiewicz. The Gilbert Ariz., native combined for four hits in seven at-bats, including a three-for-three effort in Saturday's game, to lead the team with an .571 batting average through the weekend series. Stankiewicz finished the series with two home runs and two doubles en rout to a team leading 1.714 slugging percentage.
Junior, Dale Ryndak had the ball in the circle for the Sun Devils in game three and the Beavers attacked early. In the top of the first, OSU plated two runs on a single to centerfield that gave Oregon State their first lead over the Sun Devils through the three-game series.
The ASUl offense was held quiet through the first two innings of play but did not let the Beavers stay ahead for long. In the bottom of the third, freshman Breezy Wise put ASU on the board with a solo home run. In the same frame, Skylar McCarty singled to the shortstop and a bad throw would bring in Taylor Becerra from third base.
Ryndak kept the Beavers scoreless in top of the fourth, while in the home half of the frame, senior Sashel Palacios hit a two-run home run that put the Sun Devils ahead 4-2.
Unfortunately, the Beavers fought back in the final three innings of play. In the top of the fifth inning, OSU hit a sacrifice fly that brought in another run making it a one-run lead for the Sun Devils. Doubles in both the top of the sixth and the seventh inning would bring in one run each to make the final score 5-4 in the Beavers' favor.
The Sun Devils will take the field again next weekend to face the No. 3 Oregon Ducks. First pitch of the three-game series is set for Friday at 6 p.m. in Eugene, Oregon. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2017 season by following the team on Twitter at @ASUSoftball.