TEMPE, Ariz. – Junior Dale Ryndak threw the sixth perfect game in school history as the Sun Devil softball team run-ruled the University of Texas, El Paso, 8-0, on Thursday evening at Farrington Softball Stadium.
The Illinois-native made quick work of the Miners from the start, scattering six strikeouts across five innings of work. Calm and poised, Ryndak never faltered, forcing four flyouts and five groundouts en route to the feat. It was the first perfect game for the Sun Devils since Hilary Bach accomplished the feat in 2012 against Wichita State.
On the other side of the field, Junior Nichole Chilson broke the game open in the third with one swing of her bat, knocking a grand slam to straight-away center field to clear the bases and post a 5-0 Sun Devil lead that they wouldn't relinquish behind Ryndak's effort in the circle.
Sophomore Taylor Becerra broke open the scoring for the Sun Devils (1-0) with a bases-loaded walk to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the second. Walks were a major theme in the game with the Devils drawing 10 in just four innings at the plate, reaching double digits for the first time since last season against Mount St. Mary's. Fe Leilua led the way on Thursday evening with three walks in three plate appearances.
ASU brought the score to 7-0 in the fourth off of a passed ball and a bloop single to center field by senior Chelsea Gonzales. Pinning the final nail in the coffin was Gonzales again, notching a double to score the game-winning eighth run to secure the mercy rule.
Chilson's grand slam in the bottom of the third inning scored Leilua, Melissa Stankiewicz and Gonzales, in what would stand as the largest offensive inning for the Sun Devils. For Chilson, it was her second consecutive year to connect on a home run in the season opener, as she blasted a three-run homer in last season's opener. She also hit a home run in her first plate appearance as a Sun Devil during her 2015 freshman campaign.
The Sun Devils will close the first day of the Kajikawa Classic tonight with a game against Virginia.
The Illinois-native made quick work of the Miners from the start, scattering six strikeouts across five innings of work. Calm and poised, Ryndak never faltered, forcing four flyouts and five groundouts en route to the feat. It was the first perfect game for the Sun Devils since Hilary Bach accomplished the feat in 2012 against Wichita State.
On the other side of the field, Junior Nichole Chilson broke the game open in the third with one swing of her bat, knocking a grand slam to straight-away center field to clear the bases and post a 5-0 Sun Devil lead that they wouldn't relinquish behind Ryndak's effort in the circle.
Sophomore Taylor Becerra broke open the scoring for the Sun Devils (1-0) with a bases-loaded walk to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the second. Walks were a major theme in the game with the Devils drawing 10 in just four innings at the plate, reaching double digits for the first time since last season against Mount St. Mary's. Fe Leilua led the way on Thursday evening with three walks in three plate appearances.
ASU brought the score to 7-0 in the fourth off of a passed ball and a bloop single to center field by senior Chelsea Gonzales. Pinning the final nail in the coffin was Gonzales again, notching a double to score the game-winning eighth run to secure the mercy rule.
Chilson's grand slam in the bottom of the third inning scored Leilua, Melissa Stankiewicz and Gonzales, in what would stand as the largest offensive inning for the Sun Devils. For Chilson, it was her second consecutive year to connect on a home run in the season opener, as she blasted a three-run homer in last season's opener. She also hit a home run in her first plate appearance as a Sun Devil during her 2015 freshman campaign.
The Sun Devils will close the first day of the Kajikawa Classic tonight with a game against Virginia.