TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona State Sun Devil offense will return all but three players to its lineup in the 2018 season. Head coach Trisha Ford will rely on her upper-class veterans as well as young talent to produce runs this upcoming season.
ASU's lineup will be led by junior third-baseman Taylor Becerra and junior centerfielder Skylar McCarty, two left-handed slap-hitters who are also known for their speed on the basepaths. This duo also contains the only returning veterans who started all 53 games for the Sun Devils in 2017.
Becerra, a 2017 All-Pac-12 Second-Team selection, posted a .338 batting average last season, the second-highest mark on the team.
McCarty, on the other hand, tied the ASU school record with a 12-game hitting streak last season. Her 53 total hits also tied the team's highest individual mark.
Becerra and McCarty also displayed their speed regularly, combining for nine stolen bases out of 13 attempts.
In total, Arizona State's offensive unit produced 62 home runs in 2017 and will look to top that number this year. Junior Fa Leilua, a home-run machine, will be called on as the offensive sparkplug this season after the team lost three power-hitting seniors following the 2017 campaign. Leilua blasted 13 home runs last year, tied for the team's lead.
Along with Leilua, seniors Marisa Stankiewicz and Nichole Chilson will be asked to step up this season to produce for the Sun Devil offense. In 2017, the two had a combined 50 hits — 22 of them for extra bases — along with nine home runs and 34 RBIs.
Arizona State also added a handful of transfers in the offseason including Jade Gortarez, Morgan Howe, Maddi Hackbarth and Kindra Hackbarth, along with a strong freshmen class, who should be able to contribute to an already potent offense.
ASU's lineup will be led by junior third-baseman Taylor Becerra and junior centerfielder Skylar McCarty, two left-handed slap-hitters who are also known for their speed on the basepaths. This duo also contains the only returning veterans who started all 53 games for the Sun Devils in 2017.
Becerra, a 2017 All-Pac-12 Second-Team selection, posted a .338 batting average last season, the second-highest mark on the team.
McCarty, on the other hand, tied the ASU school record with a 12-game hitting streak last season. Her 53 total hits also tied the team's highest individual mark.
Becerra and McCarty also displayed their speed regularly, combining for nine stolen bases out of 13 attempts.
In total, Arizona State's offensive unit produced 62 home runs in 2017 and will look to top that number this year. Junior Fa Leilua, a home-run machine, will be called on as the offensive sparkplug this season after the team lost three power-hitting seniors following the 2017 campaign. Leilua blasted 13 home runs last year, tied for the team's lead.
Along with Leilua, seniors Marisa Stankiewicz and Nichole Chilson will be asked to step up this season to produce for the Sun Devil offense. In 2017, the two had a combined 50 hits — 22 of them for extra bases — along with nine home runs and 34 RBIs.
Arizona State also added a handful of transfers in the offseason including Jade Gortarez, Morgan Howe, Maddi Hackbarth and Kindra Hackbarth, along with a strong freshmen class, who should be able to contribute to an already potent offense.