Oxford, Miss -- Powered by four home runs, The No. 22 Arizona State softball team defeated North Carolina, 9-3, in game one of the 2017 NCAA Oxford Regional Friday night at Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
Junior Breanna Macha made her 19th- start in the circle for the Sun Devils, throwing her 11th complete game of the season. Macha allowed just three runs on four hits in her seven innings pitched, while recording five strikeouts.
The Tar Heels opened the scoring with a three-run first inning, but the Sun Devils would respond in the home half with a five-run home half. Taylor Becerra reached on a single to left, before being brought in on senior shortstop Chelsea Gonzales' 43rd- career home run. The rally would continue for the Sun Devils when Margaret Stahm blasted ASU's second home run of the inning to left scoring Skylar McCarty and Sashel Palacios to make it a 5-3 Sun Devil lead heading to the second.
Following a 42 minute rain delay after the first inning of play, Macha looked to settle down in the second, retiring the Tar Heels in order in her second inning of work.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Sun Devil offense came to life again, as Gonzales launched her second home run of the night to put ASU up, 6-3, following the third inning of play.
In the third, junior Brynley Steele lifted a two-run blast to straightaway center, for the Sun Devils' third homer of the night, pushing the ASU lead to 8-3 entering the fourth inning of play.
Following a quiet fourth, ASU added another run, on yet another home run, to put the game on ice, and seal the, 9-3, ASU victory.
The four home runs hit by the ASU offense in Friday's win was their fourth game with four or more homers in a single game this season. ASU has eclipsed the four home run mark just once this season, hitting five long balls against Oregon State on March 26. The 12 hits in Fridays' game marked the 13th game for the Sun Devils to have 10 or more hits in a game.
The Sun Devils will be back on the field tomorrow to take on the winner of Ole Miss and Southern Illinois. First pitch in that game is scheduled for 11:30 PT and will be aired on the ESPN family of networks with Eric Collins and Amanda Scarborough on the call. Fans can follow all of the action from the Sun Devils' postseason run by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
Junior Breanna Macha made her 19th- start in the circle for the Sun Devils, throwing her 11th complete game of the season. Macha allowed just three runs on four hits in her seven innings pitched, while recording five strikeouts.
The Tar Heels opened the scoring with a three-run first inning, but the Sun Devils would respond in the home half with a five-run home half. Taylor Becerra reached on a single to left, before being brought in on senior shortstop Chelsea Gonzales' 43rd- career home run. The rally would continue for the Sun Devils when Margaret Stahm blasted ASU's second home run of the inning to left scoring Skylar McCarty and Sashel Palacios to make it a 5-3 Sun Devil lead heading to the second.
Following a 42 minute rain delay after the first inning of play, Macha looked to settle down in the second, retiring the Tar Heels in order in her second inning of work.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Sun Devil offense came to life again, as Gonzales launched her second home run of the night to put ASU up, 6-3, following the third inning of play.
In the third, junior Brynley Steele lifted a two-run blast to straightaway center, for the Sun Devils' third homer of the night, pushing the ASU lead to 8-3 entering the fourth inning of play.
Following a quiet fourth, ASU added another run, on yet another home run, to put the game on ice, and seal the, 9-3, ASU victory.
The four home runs hit by the ASU offense in Friday's win was their fourth game with four or more homers in a single game this season. ASU has eclipsed the four home run mark just once this season, hitting five long balls against Oregon State on March 26. The 12 hits in Fridays' game marked the 13th game for the Sun Devils to have 10 or more hits in a game.
The Sun Devils will be back on the field tomorrow to take on the winner of Ole Miss and Southern Illinois. First pitch in that game is scheduled for 11:30 PT and will be aired on the ESPN family of networks with Eric Collins and Amanda Scarborough on the call. Fans can follow all of the action from the Sun Devils' postseason run by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.