The Sun Devils (16-2, 0-0) enter the week on a six-game win streak, and in third place in the Pac-12 standings. Only undefeated Washington (23-0) and UCLA (19-0) rank above ASU entering the week.
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Tuesday vs. South Dakota: Live Stats | Watch Live
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LEADING OFF...
• Arizona State softball will continue their home-stand this week, hosting South Dakota and Georgetown in a pair of mid-week tilts. The two games comes in the middle of a 13-game home stand for the Sun Devils, stretching from March 2-19. The pair of games also mark games five and six in the Devils' stretch of 10-games in 12-days.
• Following a season opening loss, the Sun Devils have rebounded to win 15 of their last 16 games, with their lone loss coming to defending National Champion Oklahoma in a neutral site contest at the Mary Nutter Classic.
• Senior Nichole Chilson has come on strong in the last few weeks for the Sun Devils. Chilson has accounted for 9.81 runs (based on runs created stat metric) this season, and enters the week with the teams third-highest OPS, at .985.
• Sophomore transfer Maddi Hackbarth is doing what she is supposed to with runners on base. She has already tallied a team-leading 22 RBI this season, a mark that checks in at No. 30 in the nation, and No. 7 in the Pac-12.
• Freshman Danielle Gibson has looked to hit her stride through the first month of play. The Murrieta, Calif., native has gone 17-for-45 at the plate this season, including blasting four home runs. Her four home runs this season ranks second on the team behind M. Hackbarth who leads the way with five long-balls. Her .778 slugging percentage leads the team this season among players who have met the statistics minimums this season. (2 PA/G and 75% of games played)
• Through the first 18 games of the season, the Sun Devil offense has outhit opponents 148-78, leading to a 108-40 ASU advantage in runs scored. Additionally, the Sun Devil offense has combined to post a team batting average of .315, a mark that ranks 31st- nationally.
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 month of the season. Through the first 18 games of the season, opposing batters have been held to a miniscule .178 batting average, and have only scored a handful of runs. Sophomore G Juarez has made a splash in her second season in the circle, already chalking up 70 strikeouts in her 46 innings pitched. Nationally, Juarez's 3.2 hits allowed per seven innings ranks No. 15, while her total strikeouts checks in at No. 36. Dale Ryndak, who has also hit her stride in 2018, ranks No. 19 nationally with her team-leading 0.68 ERA.
FORD EYEING WIN No. 200...
With her team perched on an 16-2 record so far this season, head coach Trisha Ford is eyeing career-win 200. Ford enters this week's slate with a career-record of 190-97-1, moving her just 10-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 47-24 record that translates into a .662 win percentage.
NEW LOOK LINEUP FOR SUN DEVILS IN 2018...
The Sun Devils welcomed three newcomers to their defensive infield this season, filling spots left vacant by seniors Sashel Palacios, Chelsea Gonzales and Margaret Stahm. The new look infield features sophomores Maddi Hackbarth (behind the plate) and Jade Gotarez (at shortstop) while freshman Danielle Gibson has taken the bag at first. The trio are joined by a pair of newcomer outfielders in Kindra Hackbarth and Morgan Howe. The Sun Devil defense looks to be a formidable bunch who have the tools to shut down opposing offenses, a virtue that will be key to being successful in a conference that has so far combined to score 876 runs through the first three weeks of play, leading to a 6.39 average per game, the most of any Power-Five conference.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION...
South Dakota
The Coyotes had a rough start to the season, opening 2018 right here in Tempe at the Kajikawa Classic. South Dakota went 0-6 in the classic, their longest losing streak to kick off the season since they went 0-9 in 2016. After Kajikawa, the Coyotes participated in the Marucci Desert Classic, Louisiana Tech Invitational and the Grand Canyon Classic to amass a 6-15 record so far.
The tides have slightly turned for South Dakota, as they have won four of their last six matchups, including a 10-1 run-rule over GCU and 11-5 route of Princeton.
Last season in head coach Robert Wagner's first year at the helm, the Coyotes led the Summit League in hitting (.306) and went 10-8 to finish fourth in the conference. In postseason play, they then went 1-2 in the Summer League Tournament. South Dakota returns their top five hitters from last year's Summit League-leading offense as well.
Georgetown
Georgetown is off to a 5-12 start so far this season, beginning 2018 in several tournaments including FGCU Kickoff Classic, Gamecock Invitational, Chanticleer Showdown and the District Classic. Currently riding a two-game win streak, the Hoyas' 2018's roster includes four key returners and seven newcomers to the team with only one key player lost.
The Hoyas faced familiar foes in Coastal Carolina, whom they dropped the matchup against, 7-5. ASU faced off against Coastal Carolina twice last weekend in the Tempe Classic, defeating the Chanticleers 4-0 in game one and run-ruling the squad 8-0 in their second matchup.
ON DECK...
Following the midweek contests, the Sun Devils will host No. 21 Minnesota for a weekend series. Holding the best record of the Devils' three opponents this week, the Golden Gophers roll into Tempe holding a 12-7 record. Minnesota got off to a hot start to begin the season, sweeping the UNLV SportCo Kickoff Classic with a 5-0 record. They have also faced some of the top programs in the country including No. 6 Florida State, No. 13 Kentucky, No. 22 Long Beach State and No. 3 UCLA. Minnesota faces off against the Devils' midweek opponent Georgetown on March 10 at the GCU Invitational.
Following a historic 56-5 season last year, the Gophers began the season ranked No. 16, their second consecutive season at No. 16. In 2017, Minnesota recorded their third Big Ten championship in four years, including winning their first Big Ten regular season title since 1991. The Gophers return 14 players from last season, including seven starters, and welcome eight newcomers.