TEMPE, Ariz. -- Shutting out the No. 1 Washington Huskies for the second time this weekend, No. 13 Arizona State softball defeated Washington, 2-0, on Monday afternoon at Farrington Softball Stadium. With the win, the Sun Devils notched their first series win over the Huskies since 2013.
"I think yesterday we did not play our game," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Today we came out and played our game. I challenged them a little yesterday and this was a great opportunity for us and we cashed in. I am just very happy for G (Juarez), she was lights out and amazing again. We played great defense and she was special."
The Sun Devils got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs with two outs in the frame. Morgan Howe sparked the offense with a two-out walk and Nichole Chilson took one for the team with a hit by pitch, setting the table for Danielle Gibson. The freshman laced a two-RBI double down the right-line, plating two runs to give ASU a 2-0 lead in the first.
The two runs would be enough for sophomore lefty G Juarez, who spun yet another gem in the Sun Devil win. Juarez took a near-perfect game into the sixth frame in her 12th outing of the season. The back-to-back Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week sat the Huskies down through the first six innings, ending the afternoon with eight strikeouts while holding Washington to three hits in seven innings of work. The victory marks her 11th on the season, and the shutout was her second of the Huskies on the weekend, pitching seven innings of scoreless ball on Saturday night as well.
With both teams remaining relatively quiet offensively throughout the game, the Sun Devils threatened again in the bottom of the second. Taylor Becerra knocked a two-out double to right-center before Skylar McCarty stepped into the box and followed with a single to put runners on the corners with two outs. Unfortunately, a strikeout ended the threat and the inning for ASU.
Aside from clutch hitting by Gibson and pitching by Juarez, the Devils defense also shined in the outing. Becerra charged into foul territory with one out in the fourth inning and reached over the dugout fence to bring it back in for the second out. Kindra Hackbarth sealed the game for ASU, going backward to track down a fly ball in the gap to secure the 2-0 victory.
ASU hits the road this weekend for a conference road matchup at California. Fans can follow the action by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
"I think yesterday we did not play our game," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Today we came out and played our game. I challenged them a little yesterday and this was a great opportunity for us and we cashed in. I am just very happy for G (Juarez), she was lights out and amazing again. We played great defense and she was special."
The Sun Devils got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs with two outs in the frame. Morgan Howe sparked the offense with a two-out walk and Nichole Chilson took one for the team with a hit by pitch, setting the table for Danielle Gibson. The freshman laced a two-RBI double down the right-line, plating two runs to give ASU a 2-0 lead in the first.
B1 | Two outs and two on in a scoreless ballgame is nothing for @danielleeee41.
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 19, 2018
She laces one down the line to give the Devils a 2-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/6d0OkgeOoU
The two runs would be enough for sophomore lefty G Juarez, who spun yet another gem in the Sun Devil win. Juarez took a near-perfect game into the sixth frame in her 12th outing of the season. The back-to-back Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week sat the Huskies down through the first six innings, ending the afternoon with eight strikeouts while holding Washington to three hits in seven innings of work. The victory marks her 11th on the season, and the shutout was her second of the Huskies on the weekend, pitching seven innings of scoreless ball on Saturday night as well.
With both teams remaining relatively quiet offensively throughout the game, the Sun Devils threatened again in the bottom of the second. Taylor Becerra knocked a two-out double to right-center before Skylar McCarty stepped into the box and followed with a single to put runners on the corners with two outs. Unfortunately, a strikeout ended the threat and the inning for ASU.
Aside from clutch hitting by Gibson and pitching by Juarez, the Devils defense also shined in the outing. Becerra charged into foul territory with one out in the fourth inning and reached over the dugout fence to bring it back in for the second out. Kindra Hackbarth sealed the game for ASU, going backward to track down a fly ball in the gap to secure the 2-0 victory.
T4 | @TaylorBecerra will take that one back, thanks ??
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 19, 2018
Becerra brings one back into the field for the second out of the inning! pic.twitter.com/iIyXhi3hB8
ASU hits the road this weekend for a conference road matchup at California. Fans can follow the action by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.