Fullerton, Calif.- The 20th- ranked Arizona State softball team split on the opening day of the 2017 Judi Garman Classic, stumbling against No. 14 Michigan, 2-0, before rebounding for a 10-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton Thursday evening at Anderson Family Field.
In game one of the double header, ASU (13-4) found themselves in a rematch against No. 14 Michigan. Freshman Giselle Juarez took the circle for the Sun Devils allowing five hits, and two runs, in her second appearance this season against a top-25 team. The Wolverines scored early in the bottom half of the first, and added on one more in the bottom of the sixth, to carry a two-run lead into the final frame. Unfortunately, the Sun Devil offense was held quiet in the final half inning, sealing the Wolverines second straight victory over the Sun Devils.
Following the heartbreaking loss in game one, the Sun Devils came out hot in the second half of the doubleheader, beating Cal State Fullerton, 10-1, in six innings. The ASU offense had a slow start, but found their fire in the top of the third when senior shortstop Chelsea Gonzales blasted a two-run shot to centerfield, igniting a 10-run offensive explosion. Pitcher Breanna Macha dominated in the circle as she threw a total of 72 pitches and allowed just two hits, and one run, against the Titans.
Game 1: MICH 2, ASU 0
After falling to Michigan in the final game of the 2017 Mary Nutter Classic in their last outing, the Sun Devils took the field looking to avenge the loss on Thursday.
Freshman Giselle Juarez threw a competitive game in the circle on day one for the Sun Devils, giving up just five hits to her second aperance against a top-25 team this season.
Unfortunately, Michigan's offense got off to a quick start, plating one run in the home half of the first, on a bases-loaded wild pitch. Juarez fought back and kept the Wolverines scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning, when a triple from Katie Alexander put one more on the board, and gave the Wolverines a 2-0 lead.
ASU had a difficult time getting their bats going in game one of the weekend. The Sun Devils had a combined total of two hits which included singles by both, Skylar McCarty and Margaret Stahm, but were unable to get any bodies across the plate which resulted in a 2-0 Michigan victory.
Game 2: ASU 10, CSFU 1 (6)
In game two of Thursday's doubleheader, ASU rebounded to top the Cal State Fullerton Titans, 10-1 in a six inning run rule victory.
The Sun Devil offense found their groove in game two, and came out swinging against the Titans. Senior shortstop, Chelsea Gonzales started the offensive onslaught for the ASU with a two-run homerun in the top of the third.
The Sun Devils put up four more runs in the top half of the fourth inning, and made it look like a walk in the park, literally. Three players crossed the plate on three different bases-loaded walks, and a single by Gonzales brought in one more, giving ASU a 6-0 lead over the Titans heading to the fifth.
The Titans would respond in the bottom of the fifth, bringing in their first run of the game on a homerun to center field, making the score 6-1. But the ASU offense would not go quietly.
ASU rallied in the sixth inning, starting with a bases-loaded single by sophomore, Fa Leilua that brought in Skylar McCarty from third. Freshman, Alli Tatnall followed with her first collegiate RBI, a single in the sixth that scored Gonzales, before freshman Breezy Wise recorded two RBIs of her own.
Junior Breanna Macha was lights-out in her five innings on the mound. The Mesa, Ariz., native threw 72 total pitches on the night recording three strike outs, zero walks, and only allowed two hits, before handing the ball over to Dale Ryndak to close the game. Ryndak slammed the door on the Titans with a pair of strikeouts in four batters faced, locking down the 13th- victory of the season for the Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils will return to the field on Friday for the second day of the 2017 Judi Garman Classic. The Sun Devils are scheduled to take on Baylor at 10 a.m. MST time, for the team's fifth game against a top-25 team this season. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2017 Sun Devil softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.