TEMPE, Ariz. – The long ball reigned supreme, as the No. 22 Arizona State softball team earned a series clinching, 10-0, victory over the visiting California Golden Bears Saturday evening at Farrington Stadium.
In her 11th start on the season junior Dale Ryndak posted an exceptional two-hit shutout in five innings of work to improve to 8-3 on the season. Ryndak needed just 55 total pitches on the night, throwing 37 for strikes en rout to her second shutout victory.
Arizona State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, plating a pair of runs in the frame. After consecutive walks granted the Sun Devils runners on first and second, Senior Chelsea Gonzalez connected on a 2-2 pitch from California's Katie-Sutherland Finch for her team-best 12th double of the season to score the game's opening run. The Sun Devils would tack on one more as Skylar McCarty showed good instincts on the bases beating a tag at the plate, to make it a 2-0 Sun Devil lead heading to the second.
After a scoreless second, Arizona State would scratch in two additional runs in the bottom of the third courtesy of two-run single by Gonzalez, to extend its lead , 4-0.
The Sun Devils would continue their offensive onslaught in the bottom half of the fourth, as Gonzalez and Palcious combined for back-to-back solo home runs to push the Arizona State advantage to 6-0. Gonzalez's long ball in the fourth was her 11th on the season, and 42nd of her collegiate career, placing the La Habra, Calif., native in a tie with Annie Lockwood (2009-12) for sixth all-time on the Arizona State career homerun list.
A pair of long balls in the bottom of the fifth would ultimately cap the win for ASU. Freshman Randi Farricker kick started the frame with a solo shot to left that put the Sun Devils ahead 7-0, and after a pair walks it was Fa Leilua who would play hero, rocketing a walkoff three-run home run to left to seal the Sun Devil victory.
Arizona State will seek the series sweep Sunday afternoon at Farrington Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. PT. Kate Scott and Amanda Freed will once again have the call via Pac-12 Network. Fans can also follow all of the action on Twitter by following @ASUSoftball.
For The Fans Sunday:
Sunday (Sunday FUNday) – Every Sunday at Farrington Stadium is filled with family-friendly entertainment! Grab a softball BINGO card and follow along for the chance to win. Bring the kids on the field after the game to run the bases. That and much more only on Sunday FUNday!
In her 11th start on the season junior Dale Ryndak posted an exceptional two-hit shutout in five innings of work to improve to 8-3 on the season. Ryndak needed just 55 total pitches on the night, throwing 37 for strikes en rout to her second shutout victory.
Arizona State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, plating a pair of runs in the frame. After consecutive walks granted the Sun Devils runners on first and second, Senior Chelsea Gonzalez connected on a 2-2 pitch from California's Katie-Sutherland Finch for her team-best 12th double of the season to score the game's opening run. The Sun Devils would tack on one more as Skylar McCarty showed good instincts on the bases beating a tag at the plate, to make it a 2-0 Sun Devil lead heading to the second.
After a scoreless second, Arizona State would scratch in two additional runs in the bottom of the third courtesy of two-run single by Gonzalez, to extend its lead , 4-0.
The Sun Devils would continue their offensive onslaught in the bottom half of the fourth, as Gonzalez and Palcious combined for back-to-back solo home runs to push the Arizona State advantage to 6-0. Gonzalez's long ball in the fourth was her 11th on the season, and 42nd of her collegiate career, placing the La Habra, Calif., native in a tie with Annie Lockwood (2009-12) for sixth all-time on the Arizona State career homerun list.
A pair of long balls in the bottom of the fifth would ultimately cap the win for ASU. Freshman Randi Farricker kick started the frame with a solo shot to left that put the Sun Devils ahead 7-0, and after a pair walks it was Fa Leilua who would play hero, rocketing a walkoff three-run home run to left to seal the Sun Devil victory.
Arizona State will seek the series sweep Sunday afternoon at Farrington Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. PT. Kate Scott and Amanda Freed will once again have the call via Pac-12 Network. Fans can also follow all of the action on Twitter by following @ASUSoftball.
For The Fans Sunday:
Sunday (Sunday FUNday) – Every Sunday at Farrington Stadium is filled with family-friendly entertainment! Grab a softball BINGO card and follow along for the chance to win. Bring the kids on the field after the game to run the bases. That and much more only on Sunday FUNday!