Corvallis, Ore. -- The seventh-ranked Arizona State softball team split their doubleheader against Oregon State Friday afternoon at OSU Softball Complex.
GAME ONE: ASU 10, OSU 1
Sophomore pitcher G Juarez was masterful again in the circle for the Sun Devils, recording her 16th- win of the season in her 14th- complete game appearance on the season. Juarez struck out seven while allowing just one run on four hits.
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early lead, plating three runs in the top of the first inning, courtesy of an RBI single from Morgan Howe, followed by a two-RBI double from Skylar McCarty to send the game to the second with ASU leading, 3-0.
Following a shutdown home-half of the inning from Juarez, ASU added to their lead with a sacrifice fly by Marisa Stankiewicz in the third, to make it a 4-0 ASU lead.
With the Beavers unable to scratch in a run in the bottom of the third, ASU broke the game open with a four-run fourth to extend their lead to 8-0. A one-out walk by Maddi Hackbarth, followed by back-to-back singles from Bella Loomis and Kindra Hackbarth brought the dangerous Jade Gortarez to the plate with bases loaded.
Gortarez would deliver with an RBI single, before Morgan Howe would laced a two-RBI single through the middle to make it a 7-0 ASU lead with one away in the inning. A throwing error by the Beaver defense would plate the fourth run of the inning, making it an 8-0 Sun Devil lead after four.
Arizona State would plate two more in the top of the fifth off RBI singles form DeNae Chatman and K. Hackbarth to give ASU a comfortable 10-0 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth.
The Beavers would attempt a late rally in the final half inning, plating a run on two hits, but the Sun Devil defense would hold to complete the 10-1 run-rule victory.
GAME TWO: ASU 2, OSU 4
Despite an incredible start from senior pitcher Breanna Macha, the Sun Devils were unable to hold off Oregon State early, leading to the Sun Devils' second conference loss of the season.
Macha threw her seventh complete game of the season, allowing just four runs on four hits, while striking out four on the day.
The Beavers got off to a hot start, plating their first run of the game in the bottom of the first, before pulling away in the third with a three-run third.
The Sun Devils would respond in the top of the sixth when freshman Danielle Gibson connected on her 11th home run of the season, to make it a 4-2 game heading to the seventh.
With the game hanginig in the balance, M. Hackbarth drove a one out double down the left field line to bring the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately for ASU, the Beaver defense would huncker down and keep the Sun Devils off the board, securing the win.
Game three of the series will be played Sunday at noon, with no games scheduled for Saturday due to inclement weather in the area. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
GAME ONE: ASU 10, OSU 1
Sophomore pitcher G Juarez was masterful again in the circle for the Sun Devils, recording her 16th- win of the season in her 14th- complete game appearance on the season. Juarez struck out seven while allowing just one run on four hits.
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early lead, plating three runs in the top of the first inning, courtesy of an RBI single from Morgan Howe, followed by a two-RBI double from Skylar McCarty to send the game to the second with ASU leading, 3-0.
Following a shutdown home-half of the inning from Juarez, ASU added to their lead with a sacrifice fly by Marisa Stankiewicz in the third, to make it a 4-0 ASU lead.
With the Beavers unable to scratch in a run in the bottom of the third, ASU broke the game open with a four-run fourth to extend their lead to 8-0. A one-out walk by Maddi Hackbarth, followed by back-to-back singles from Bella Loomis and Kindra Hackbarth brought the dangerous Jade Gortarez to the plate with bases loaded.
Gortarez would deliver with an RBI single, before Morgan Howe would laced a two-RBI single through the middle to make it a 7-0 ASU lead with one away in the inning. A throwing error by the Beaver defense would plate the fourth run of the inning, making it an 8-0 Sun Devil lead after four.
Arizona State would plate two more in the top of the fifth off RBI singles form DeNae Chatman and K. Hackbarth to give ASU a comfortable 10-0 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth.
The Beavers would attempt a late rally in the final half inning, plating a run on two hits, but the Sun Devil defense would hold to complete the 10-1 run-rule victory.
GAME TWO: ASU 2, OSU 4
Despite an incredible start from senior pitcher Breanna Macha, the Sun Devils were unable to hold off Oregon State early, leading to the Sun Devils' second conference loss of the season.
Macha threw her seventh complete game of the season, allowing just four runs on four hits, while striking out four on the day.
The Beavers got off to a hot start, plating their first run of the game in the bottom of the first, before pulling away in the third with a three-run third.
The Sun Devils would respond in the top of the sixth when freshman Danielle Gibson connected on her 11th home run of the season, to make it a 4-2 game heading to the seventh.
With the game hanginig in the balance, M. Hackbarth drove a one out double down the left field line to bring the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately for ASU, the Beaver defense would huncker down and keep the Sun Devils off the board, securing the win.
Game three of the series will be played Sunday at noon, with no games scheduled for Saturday due to inclement weather in the area. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.