Cathedral City, Calif. -- The 17th- ranked Sun Devil softball team (10-2) split the opening day of the 2018 Mary Nutter Classic, topping Mississippi State, 3-1, before falling to fourth ranked Oklahoma, 7-2, Thursday in Cathedral City.
GAME 1: No. 17 Arizona State 3, Mississippi State 1
In the first game of the day, sophomore lefty G Juarez was lights out in the circle. She threw all seven frames, holding the Bulldogs to just one run on one hit in the game. The Glendale, Ariz., native notched a career-high 12 strikeouts in the outing, topping her previous high of 11, set against Illinois State in 2017.
The Sun Devils cracked the scoreboard early, bringing in two runs in the top of the first on a double by freshman, Danielle Gibson. The hit brought in Kindra Hackbarth and Jade Gortarez to give ASU a 2-0 lead.
Following a dominant first three innings of play that saw Juarez strike out nine, the Bulldogs showed signs of life launching a leadoff homer to left to make it a one-run game. Just one batter later, Mississippi State attempted to shoot a single through the left side, but Gortarez made a phenomenal play to keep the ball in the infield. Gortarez threw the runner out, and effectively crushed any momentum the home side could have built off the home run.
Following a quiet, but tense, fourth and fifth inning, the Sun Devils were finally able to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Again it was Gortarez who came to life in a big spot, shooting a double into left field that scored Beccerra as the final run of the game.
GAME 2: No. 17 Arizona State 2, No. 4 Oklahoma 7
The 2017 National Champion Sooners got off to a fast start in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader, bringing across three runs in the top half of the first.
Following a quiet home-half, the Sun Devils would battle back to score a pair in the second when Marissa Stankiewicz roped an RBI single that scored freshman Ashley Moss (pinch ran for M. Hackbarth), followed by a Taylor Becerra RBI that brought in Nichole Chilson.
But the Sooner defense would respond with a three spot in the third to blow the game back out to a 6-2 OU lead.
With neither team able to score in the proceeding three innings, a one-run top of the seventh would prove to be the final run in the 7-2 Sooner victory.
Senior Breanna Macha would be saddled with the loss after throwing a gutsy seven inning, 112 pitch game. The righty allowed just eight hits and three earned runs on evening while matching her season high of five strikeouts.
The Sun Devils will be back in action tomorrow morning for an 11 a.m. (MST) matchup against LIU Brooklyn. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil Softball Season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
GAME 1: No. 17 Arizona State 3, Mississippi State 1
In the first game of the day, sophomore lefty G Juarez was lights out in the circle. She threw all seven frames, holding the Bulldogs to just one run on one hit in the game. The Glendale, Ariz., native notched a career-high 12 strikeouts in the outing, topping her previous high of 11, set against Illinois State in 2017.
The Sun Devils cracked the scoreboard early, bringing in two runs in the top of the first on a double by freshman, Danielle Gibson. The hit brought in Kindra Hackbarth and Jade Gortarez to give ASU a 2-0 lead.
Following a dominant first three innings of play that saw Juarez strike out nine, the Bulldogs showed signs of life launching a leadoff homer to left to make it a one-run game. Just one batter later, Mississippi State attempted to shoot a single through the left side, but Gortarez made a phenomenal play to keep the ball in the infield. Gortarez threw the runner out, and effectively crushed any momentum the home side could have built off the home run.
Following a quiet, but tense, fourth and fifth inning, the Sun Devils were finally able to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Again it was Gortarez who came to life in a big spot, shooting a double into left field that scored Beccerra as the final run of the game.
??FINAL??
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 22, 2018
Sun Devils top Mississippi State 3-1 in their first game of the 2018 @NutterClassic! @ggotgame45 with a career-high 12 strikeouts in the game! pic.twitter.com/GWHzuLMhSt
GAME 2: No. 17 Arizona State 2, No. 4 Oklahoma 7
The 2017 National Champion Sooners got off to a fast start in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader, bringing across three runs in the top half of the first.
Following a quiet home-half, the Sun Devils would battle back to score a pair in the second when Marissa Stankiewicz roped an RBI single that scored freshman Ashley Moss (pinch ran for M. Hackbarth), followed by a Taylor Becerra RBI that brought in Nichole Chilson.
But the Sooner defense would respond with a three spot in the third to blow the game back out to a 6-2 OU lead.
With neither team able to score in the proceeding three innings, a one-run top of the seventh would prove to be the final run in the 7-2 Sooner victory.
Senior Breanna Macha would be saddled with the loss after throwing a gutsy seven inning, 112 pitch game. The righty allowed just eight hits and three earned runs on evening while matching her season high of five strikeouts.
The Sun Devils will be back in action tomorrow morning for an 11 a.m. (MST) matchup against LIU Brooklyn. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil Softball Season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.