TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 16 Sun Devil softball team (16-2) took down both Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State Saturday evening at Farrington Stadium to go undefeated in the 2018 Devil Classic.
"We have a few things we still need to tidy up," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Each game of softball for us is an opportunity to evaluate where we are at. I thought New Mexico State pitched really well and kept us off balance. The tone in the dugout tonight was more business-like and more informational. We were able to still stay loose, but make sure we were taking care of business."
GAME 1: No. 16 Arizona State 8, Coastal Carolina 0
In the first game of the day, sophomore lefty G Juarez shut out the Chanticleers in six innings in the circle. She held the visiting Chanticleers to just one hit in the game and struck out a career high 13 batters. Her previous career high of 12 came just a week ago against Mississippi State on Feb. 22.
The Sun Devils scored one run early for a quiet 1-0 lead after two, courtesy of three ASU runners on base from a hit-by-pitch and a hit. A couple walks in the bottom of the fourth and a hit by sophomore center fielder Kindra Hackbarth brought in senior Nichole Chilson and freshman Ashley Moss for a 3-0 Arizona State lead.
Chilson blasted a three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the fifth for her second homerun of the season. Headed into the bottom of the sixth up 6-0, the Sun Devils bats stayed hot with three singles and a double from freshman first baseman Danielle Gibson to bring in two runs and lead the Sun Devils to a 8-0, run-rule victory.
"I have been relaxed," Chilson said. "We work a lot on getting strikes and I am feeling really confident in the box right now. I have been working some counts and just missing on some. I came in early today and watched film and it felt good to finally hit one over the fence."
GAME 2: No. 16 Arizona State 3, New Mexico State 0
In almost a complete contrast of game one, the second game of ASU's Saturday doubleheader was a scoreless game through five and a half innings with just a combined six hits for both teams. Senior Dale Ryndak handled the first five innings for the Sun Devils in the circle, striking out three batters before handing the game off to Breanna Macha who fanned three more, and stranded a pair in the Sun Devil win.
The ASU bats did come to life in the bottom of the sixth when senior Marisa Stankiewicz blasted a solo-shot to center field that put ASU up, 1-0. Sophomore shortstop Jade Gortarez kept the offense rolling with a two-run homerun to give the Sun Devils the 3-0 advantage headed into the top of the seventh.
Macha, who returned to the circle after entering in relief in the fifth, took care of the Aggies, striking out two more New Mexico State batters, before a pop up to Taylor Becerra at third sealed the the Sun Devil win.
The Sun Devils head into the next week on a six-game winning streak. They'll remain home for two mid-week tilts against South Dakota on Tuesday March 6 and Georgetown on Wednesday March 7. Both games are slated for 6:00 p.m. MST first pitches and will be streamed via pac-12.com/live. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil Softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
"We have a few things we still need to tidy up," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Each game of softball for us is an opportunity to evaluate where we are at. I thought New Mexico State pitched really well and kept us off balance. The tone in the dugout tonight was more business-like and more informational. We were able to still stay loose, but make sure we were taking care of business."
GAME 1: No. 16 Arizona State 8, Coastal Carolina 0
In the first game of the day, sophomore lefty G Juarez shut out the Chanticleers in six innings in the circle. She held the visiting Chanticleers to just one hit in the game and struck out a career high 13 batters. Her previous career high of 12 came just a week ago against Mississippi State on Feb. 22.
The Sun Devils scored one run early for a quiet 1-0 lead after two, courtesy of three ASU runners on base from a hit-by-pitch and a hit. A couple walks in the bottom of the fourth and a hit by sophomore center fielder Kindra Hackbarth brought in senior Nichole Chilson and freshman Ashley Moss for a 3-0 Arizona State lead.
Chilson blasted a three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the fifth for her second homerun of the season. Headed into the bottom of the sixth up 6-0, the Sun Devils bats stayed hot with three singles and a double from freshman first baseman Danielle Gibson to bring in two runs and lead the Sun Devils to a 8-0, run-rule victory.
"I have been relaxed," Chilson said. "We work a lot on getting strikes and I am feeling really confident in the box right now. I have been working some counts and just missing on some. I came in early today and watched film and it felt good to finally hit one over the fence."
D O M I N A N C E pic.twitter.com/CWQ9M14oWe
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 4, 2018
GAME 2: No. 16 Arizona State 3, New Mexico State 0
In almost a complete contrast of game one, the second game of ASU's Saturday doubleheader was a scoreless game through five and a half innings with just a combined six hits for both teams. Senior Dale Ryndak handled the first five innings for the Sun Devils in the circle, striking out three batters before handing the game off to Breanna Macha who fanned three more, and stranded a pair in the Sun Devil win.
The ASU bats did come to life in the bottom of the sixth when senior Marisa Stankiewicz blasted a solo-shot to center field that put ASU up, 1-0. Sophomore shortstop Jade Gortarez kept the offense rolling with a two-run homerun to give the Sun Devils the 3-0 advantage headed into the top of the seventh.
.@marisa_stank gives this one a ride out to straightaway center to put ASU up, 1-0! ????#SunDevilMoxie pic.twitter.com/iwvr8eSTVe
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 4, 2018
Macha, who returned to the circle after entering in relief in the fifth, took care of the Aggies, striking out two more New Mexico State batters, before a pop up to Taylor Becerra at third sealed the the Sun Devil win.
DEVILS WIN, DEVILS WIN ??????@BreannaMacha pitches a perfect top of the seventh to secure an ASU victory! pic.twitter.com/S31FPNwXM0
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 4, 2018
The Sun Devils head into the next week on a six-game winning streak. They'll remain home for two mid-week tilts against South Dakota on Tuesday March 6 and Georgetown on Wednesday March 7. Both games are slated for 6:00 p.m. MST first pitches and will be streamed via pac-12.com/live. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil Softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.