TEMPE, Ariz.-- The 13th- ranked Arizona State softball team will open Pac-12 play with a three-game weekend series against No. 1 Washington at Farrington Stadium. The Sun Devils (22-3, 0-0) will begin the series against the Huskies on Saturday (5 p.m. AZT), with game two scheduled for Sunday (2 p.m. AZT), and the series finale set on Monday afternoon (2 p.m. AZT).
LEADING OFF...
• Arizona State will open Pac-12 play with a home series against No. 1 Washington this weekend, capping what will be a stretch of 13-games in 18-days for the 13th- ranked Sun Devils.
• The Sun Devils enter Pac-12 play with a lot of confidence having already played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. Entering the weekend series, ASU's combined schedule checks in at No. 11 in the nation based on combined opponent win percentage.
• Sophomore pitcher, G Juarez, has been absolutely lights out in the circle for the Sun Devils in 2018. On Tuesday, Juarez was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week after a week that saw the lefty strikeout 28 batters and earn three shutout victories. Juarez stayed focus in the circle, earning her seventh double-digit strikeout performance in ASU's 9-0 run-rule victory over Iowa Wednesday.
• As a team, ASU enters the weekend series batting .326 on the season, a mark that ranks 21st- nationally. Sophomore Kindra Hackbarth and Freshman Danielle Gibson lead the way for the Sun Devils with an impressive .410 average so far this season.
• Freshman Danielle Gibson has looked to hit her stride in the Maroon and Gold. The Murrieta, Calif., native has gone 25-for-61 at the plate this season, including blasting a team-leading 10 home runs. Her 1.000 slugging percentage also leads the team this season and ranks fifth- nationally.
• Through the first 25 games of the season, ASU has outhit opponents, 208-100, leading to a 158-44 ASU lead in runs scored. Entering the weekend series, ASU's 6.32 runs per game average ranks No. 15 in the country, and fourth in the Pac-12.
• As a staff, the Sun Devil pitchers have combined to post a 1.40 ERA, the 14th- lowest ERA in the country entering the weekend series against the Huskies.
G GOT GAME, LOTS OF IT...
Following a week that saw sophomore G Juarez strike out 28 batters in 18 innings pitched, ASU celebrated their first Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honor since Mackenzie Popescue earned the honor in April of 2014. Juarez has been a force this season in the circle for ASU. She has already amassed 98 strikeouts (she had 81 total strikeouts in 2017) and has not allowed a run in the last 38 innings of play (five games). Juarez has been basically unhittable this season, allowing just eight hits in her last six games in the circle. She has constantly struck out more batters than she has allowed total base runners (111-43 this season). Nationally, Juarez currently ranks in the top-50 in six different categories including shutouts (No. 3), hits allowed per seven innings (No. 8), strikeouts per game (No. 6), total strikeouts (No. 12) and overall ERA (No. 27).
Sun Devils Face Challenging Schedule in 2018...
To be the best you have got to play the best. That is an idea not lost on the coaches at Arizona State who have set out on a 2018 schedule that features 22 games against teams ranked in the preseason top-25. Those games include a three-game series against conference foes Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Utah, who check in at No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 15 respectively. Entering the week, Arizona State's remaining schedule checks in as the 10th- toughest, based on opponent win percentage. Looking at the most recent rankings, ASU has scheduled contests against 11 teams that are either ranked or receiving votes.
FORD EYEING WIN No. 200...
With her team perched on an 23-2 record so far this season, head coach Trisha Ford is eyeing career-win 200. Ford enters this weekend's slate with a career-record of 196-98-1, moving her just four-wins away from her 200th- career victory in just her sixth season as a head coach. Since arriving in Tempe, Ford has led the Sun Devils to a 53-25 record that translates into a .679 win percentage.
PITCHING POWERING SUN DEVIL SUCCESS...
While the ASU bats have been on fire early in the season, ASU's pitching has been equally as impressive through the first 25 games of the season. So far in 2018, opposing batters have been held to a miniscule .174 batting average, and have only scored a handful of runs. Dale Ryndak leads the staff with a 0.75 ERA on the season, a mark that ranks No. 15 nationally. Macha has also been dealing for the Devils, holding opposing hitters to a .216 batting average in her 13 appearances for ASU this season.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION....
Washington enters the weekend series flying high and boasting one of just two remaining undefeated record in the nation. Most recently, the Huskies defeated Bryant, 7-0, in a home midweek contest on Wednesday evening.
Last weekend, the Huskies took part in the Rebel Classic in Las Vegas that saw the Nation's No. 1 team go 4-0 in the event. Washington was pushed to the brink, however, by New Mexico State in their final game of the event, but the Huskies would eventually escape with a 3-2 win in ten innings.
On paper, Washington has been impressive through the nonconference portion of their schedule. senior Kirstyn Thomas has led the Huskies at the plate to this point, batting at a .466 clip entering the weekend series. Sis Bates, a 2017 All-American, has continued to shine in the Purple and Gold, clocking a team-leading 43 hits that include five home runs so far this season. Bates enters the series against the Sun Devils on a five-game hit-streak, including connecting for three hits in the Huskies last two outings.
ON DECK...
Following the series finale against Washington on Monday, the Sun Devils will hit the road to continue Pac-12 play against California in Berkeley, March 23-25. Following the road series against the Golden Bears, the Sun Devils will return to Farrington to host North Dakota State and BYU in a pair of doubleheaders on March 30th and 31st.
LEADING OFF...
• Arizona State will open Pac-12 play with a home series against No. 1 Washington this weekend, capping what will be a stretch of 13-games in 18-days for the 13th- ranked Sun Devils.
• The Sun Devils enter Pac-12 play with a lot of confidence having already played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. Entering the weekend series, ASU's combined schedule checks in at No. 11 in the nation based on combined opponent win percentage.
• Sophomore pitcher, G Juarez, has been absolutely lights out in the circle for the Sun Devils in 2018. On Tuesday, Juarez was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week after a week that saw the lefty strikeout 28 batters and earn three shutout victories. Juarez stayed focus in the circle, earning her seventh double-digit strikeout performance in ASU's 9-0 run-rule victory over Iowa Wednesday.
• As a team, ASU enters the weekend series batting .326 on the season, a mark that ranks 21st- nationally. Sophomore Kindra Hackbarth and Freshman Danielle Gibson lead the way for the Sun Devils with an impressive .410 average so far this season.
• Freshman Danielle Gibson has looked to hit her stride in the Maroon and Gold. The Murrieta, Calif., native has gone 25-for-61 at the plate this season, including blasting a team-leading 10 home runs. Her 1.000 slugging percentage also leads the team this season and ranks fifth- nationally.
• Through the first 25 games of the season, ASU has outhit opponents, 208-100, leading to a 158-44 ASU lead in runs scored. Entering the weekend series, ASU's 6.32 runs per game average ranks No. 15 in the country, and fourth in the Pac-12.
• As a staff, the Sun Devil pitchers have combined to post a 1.40 ERA, the 14th- lowest ERA in the country entering the weekend series against the Huskies.
G GOT GAME, LOTS OF IT...
Following a week that saw sophomore G Juarez strike out 28 batters in 18 innings pitched, ASU celebrated their first Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honor since Mackenzie Popescue earned the honor in April of 2014. Juarez has been a force this season in the circle for ASU. She has already amassed 98 strikeouts (she had 81 total strikeouts in 2017) and has not allowed a run in the last 38 innings of play (five games). Juarez has been basically unhittable this season, allowing just eight hits in her last six games in the circle. She has constantly struck out more batters than she has allowed total base runners (111-43 this season). Nationally, Juarez currently ranks in the top-50 in six different categories including shutouts (No. 3), hits allowed per seven innings (No. 8), strikeouts per game (No. 6), total strikeouts (No. 12) and overall ERA (No. 27).
Sun Devils Face Challenging Schedule in 2018...
To be the best you have got to play the best. That is an idea not lost on the coaches at Arizona State who have set out on a 2018 schedule that features 22 games against teams ranked in the preseason top-25. Those games include a three-game series against conference foes Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Utah, who check in at No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 15 respectively. Entering the week, Arizona State's remaining schedule checks in as the 10th- toughest, based on opponent win percentage. Looking at the most recent rankings, ASU has scheduled contests against 11 teams that are either ranked or receiving votes.
FORD EYEING WIN No. 200...
With her team perched on an 23-2 record so far this season, head coach Trisha Ford is eyeing career-win 200. Ford enters this weekend's slate with a career-record of 196-98-1, moving her just four-wins away from her 200th- career victory in just her sixth season as a head coach. Since arriving in Tempe, Ford has led the Sun Devils to a 53-25 record that translates into a .679 win percentage.
PITCHING POWERING SUN DEVIL SUCCESS...
While the ASU bats have been on fire early in the season, ASU's pitching has been equally as impressive through the first 25 games of the season. So far in 2018, opposing batters have been held to a miniscule .174 batting average, and have only scored a handful of runs. Dale Ryndak leads the staff with a 0.75 ERA on the season, a mark that ranks No. 15 nationally. Macha has also been dealing for the Devils, holding opposing hitters to a .216 batting average in her 13 appearances for ASU this season.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION....
Washington enters the weekend series flying high and boasting one of just two remaining undefeated record in the nation. Most recently, the Huskies defeated Bryant, 7-0, in a home midweek contest on Wednesday evening.
Last weekend, the Huskies took part in the Rebel Classic in Las Vegas that saw the Nation's No. 1 team go 4-0 in the event. Washington was pushed to the brink, however, by New Mexico State in their final game of the event, but the Huskies would eventually escape with a 3-2 win in ten innings.
On paper, Washington has been impressive through the nonconference portion of their schedule. senior Kirstyn Thomas has led the Huskies at the plate to this point, batting at a .466 clip entering the weekend series. Sis Bates, a 2017 All-American, has continued to shine in the Purple and Gold, clocking a team-leading 43 hits that include five home runs so far this season. Bates enters the series against the Sun Devils on a five-game hit-streak, including connecting for three hits in the Huskies last two outings.
ON DECK...
Following the series finale against Washington on Monday, the Sun Devils will hit the road to continue Pac-12 play against California in Berkeley, March 23-25. Following the road series against the Golden Bears, the Sun Devils will return to Farrington to host North Dakota State and BYU in a pair of doubleheaders on March 30th and 31st.