TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State softball opened the 2018 Littlewood Classic on a high note, run ruling the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 8-0, on Friday night at Farrington Softball Stadium.
The game was preceded by a ceremonial first pitch from legendary softball coach, Mary Littlewood, who was joined on the field by alumni who played under her during her 21-year career as the head coach of ASU Softball.
"Coach Littlewood has been phenomenal," current head coach Trisha Ford said. "She has really taken me under her arm and has sat down and had a lot of conversations about how to bridge her alums and our current players. We are all part of one program so for me, I just really sincerely thank her for her willingness to help and be so inclusive with our staff. It was really cool to see a bunch of ladies on that field reminiscing and enjoying each others company. I just thank coach Littlewood for helping get all of her alums here."
When the game started, Taylor Becerra got things rocking for the Sun Devils in the first inning, legging out a comebacker up the middle for a leadoff single. Morgan Howe battled, and knocked another single into left field to put runners on the corners for the dangerous hitting, Maddi Hackbarth. The catcher stepped into the box and answered the call, blasting one just deep enough to the second baseman to pull the throw, allowing Becerra to score from third, giving ASU an early, 1-0, lead.
Starting pitcher Alyssa Loza was lights out through the first three frames, setting the Fighting Hawks down in order in both the second and third innings. Senior Dale Ryndak took the circle to begin the fourth frame, using just four pitches to retire the side in order.
M. Hackbarth wasn't finished after her first inning RBI, again stepping up to the plate with a runner on with two outs in the third inning. This time, Hackbarth muscled the sixth pitch of her at-bat over the wall in left center, pushing the Devils' lead to 3-0.
Arizona State put up another run in the home half of the fourth inning thanks in part to Nichole Chilson's gritty at-bat. The outfielder split the gap perfectly in right centerfield, bouncing a double to the warning track that allowed Marisa Stankiewicz to score all the way from first base.
For the third-straight inning, the Devils lit up the scoreboard in their half of the fifth. This time it was freshman Danielle Gibson who connected with the second pitch of her at-bat to knock an absolute rocket over the wall in straight-away center, plating two runs. A bloop single by Chilson allowed another run to score, and Bella Loomis took advantage of a throwing error by North Dakota's right fielder to score on that same play, to cement the Devils' run rule victory, 8-0.
Arizona State will return to action tomorrow afternoon for a pair of games. Things will get started with a 4:45 (MST) tilt that pits the Sun Devils against the Illinois State Redbirds, before closing the day against Texas State at 7:15. Fans can follow all of the action by following @SunDevilSB on Twitter, or by tuning into the ASU Live Stream here.
The game was preceded by a ceremonial first pitch from legendary softball coach, Mary Littlewood, who was joined on the field by alumni who played under her during her 21-year career as the head coach of ASU Softball.
"Coach Littlewood has been phenomenal," current head coach Trisha Ford said. "She has really taken me under her arm and has sat down and had a lot of conversations about how to bridge her alums and our current players. We are all part of one program so for me, I just really sincerely thank her for her willingness to help and be so inclusive with our staff. It was really cool to see a bunch of ladies on that field reminiscing and enjoying each others company. I just thank coach Littlewood for helping get all of her alums here."
When the game started, Taylor Becerra got things rocking for the Sun Devils in the first inning, legging out a comebacker up the middle for a leadoff single. Morgan Howe battled, and knocked another single into left field to put runners on the corners for the dangerous hitting, Maddi Hackbarth. The catcher stepped into the box and answered the call, blasting one just deep enough to the second baseman to pull the throw, allowing Becerra to score from third, giving ASU an early, 1-0, lead.
B1 | ?????? pic.twitter.com/zMgrecUIzq
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 17, 2018
Starting pitcher Alyssa Loza was lights out through the first three frames, setting the Fighting Hawks down in order in both the second and third innings. Senior Dale Ryndak took the circle to begin the fourth frame, using just four pitches to retire the side in order.
E4 | ????????
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 17, 2018
That's how many pitches it took @dale_hope to get through the fourth ??
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?? 3??
M. Hackbarth wasn't finished after her first inning RBI, again stepping up to the plate with a runner on with two outs in the third inning. This time, Hackbarth muscled the sixth pitch of her at-bat over the wall in left center, pushing the Devils' lead to 3-0.
Arizona State put up another run in the home half of the fourth inning thanks in part to Nichole Chilson's gritty at-bat. The outfielder split the gap perfectly in right centerfield, bouncing a double to the warning track that allowed Marisa Stankiewicz to score all the way from first base.
B4 | Chilson stepped up to the plate and got the second best kind of split there is (sorry, banana).
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 17, 2018
Nichole splits the gap in leftcenter to plate @marisa_stank from first!#Devils lead 4-0 with two outs! pic.twitter.com/1SrY7QsrgJ
For the third-straight inning, the Devils lit up the scoreboard in their half of the fifth. This time it was freshman Danielle Gibson who connected with the second pitch of her at-bat to knock an absolute rocket over the wall in straight-away center, plating two runs. A bloop single by Chilson allowed another run to score, and Bella Loomis took advantage of a throwing error by North Dakota's right fielder to score on that same play, to cement the Devils' run rule victory, 8-0.
Arizona State will return to action tomorrow afternoon for a pair of games. Things will get started with a 4:45 (MST) tilt that pits the Sun Devils against the Illinois State Redbirds, before closing the day against Texas State at 7:15. Fans can follow all of the action by following @SunDevilSB on Twitter, or by tuning into the ASU Live Stream here.