TEMPE, Ariz. -- The 23rd- ranked Arizona State softball team fell to No. 10 Utah in game two of the weekend series, 7-6, Saturday evening at Farrington Stadium.
For the second straight night, the Sun Devils fell behind early, only to battle back to take the lead before a four-run seventh inning for the Utes to put them ahead for good.
The Sun Devils (28-12, 6-8) fought until the very end, staging a late two-run rally in the seventh, but would eventually suffer just their third home-loss of the season.
Game one hero, Emma Ramelot, went 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI, leading the way to another solid offensive performance for the Sun Devils. Ramelot had plenty of help in the lineup, including infielder Margaret Stahm and outfielder Fa Leilua who each launched two-run home runs in the Sun Devil loss.
All nine ASU starters recorded a hit as part of a 12-hit performance for the Sun Devil offense. The Sun Devils drew seven walks and did not strike out against the two Utes pitchers, the first time all season the Sun Devils did not strike out in a game.
Left-hander Giselle Juarez got the start for ASU. Juarez rebounded nicely after allowing a two-run home run in the first inning, retiring the next 10 batters she faced before another Utah home run gave the Utes just their third hit of the game. Juarez would make it through the sixth inning, giving up four earned runs on five hits while striking out four before giving way to right-hander Breana Macha in the seventh.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first, the Sun Devil offense responded immediately and in a big way in the bottom half of the frame. Back-to-back singles from outfielder Skylar McCarty and catcher Sashel Palacios put a pair of runners on for senior shortstop Chelsea Gonzales. Gonzales looped an RBI-single to left field followed by an Emma Ramelot RBI-single to knot the game at 2.
In the bottom of the third inning, Fa Leilua drove in Sashel Palacios with a two-run shot to left field to push the Devils ahead 4-2. A solo home run from Utah pulled them back within one run, 4-3, where the score stayed until the seventh inning.
Utah would take the lead back with a four-run, four hit seventh inning to put them back in front, 7-4. The Devils would not be counted out yet, as Nichole Chilson singled down the right field line for a one-out single. Next batter, Margaret Stahm, smoked a line drive over the center field fence to cut the Utah lead down to 7-6.
ASU brought the game-winning run to the plate, but the rally would not quite be enough, with the Devils falling by a score of 7-6.
The Sun Devils will return to action tomorrow morning for the final game of the three-game series againt the tenth-ranked Utes. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network with Ann Schatz and Kenzie Fowler on the call. Fans can stay up to date with the Sun Devils all season long by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.