Las Cruces, N.M. -- The eighth ranked Arizona State Sun Devils closed out their nonconference slate with a, 5-1, win over the regular season WAC Champions, New Mexico State, Tuesday afternoon.
Senior pitcher Breanna Macha was lights out in the circle for the Sun Devils, allowing just one run in her 14th- start of the season. Macha picked up her 269th- career strikeout, and 39th- career win in Tuesday's outing.
On offense, Morgan Howe paced the Sun Devil batters with a 3-for-4 outing that included an RBI. On the season, Howe has now recorded 53 hits, including 15 for extra bases.
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early lead with a two run top of the second, as Jade Gortarez roped a double to the gap in left that brought in Marisa Stankiewicz. Skylar McCarty would keep the offense rolling with a single to center that brought in Gortarez, and gave ASU a 2-0 lead after two innings of play.
The Aggie offense would answer in the home-half of the fourth with a solo shot to center, but the ASU offense would come to life again in the top of the fifth. Following a leadoff single from McCarty, Kindra Hackbarth would connect on third home run of the season to put ASU out front, 4-1.
The Aggies applied some pressure, putting a pair of runners on with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth, but a crucial double play would end the threat and keep the Sun Devils out front.
A one run top of the seventh would close out the scoring in Las Cruces, with the Sun Devils earning their fourth win in the last six days.
Through the four game road stand, ASU outhit their opponents, 38-21, and outscored their opposition, 28-6. In the circle, ASU posted a 1.62 ERA, and held opposing teams to just a .219 batting average. K. Hackbarth led the Sun Devil offense with eight hits in her 15 at-bats, ending the road trip with a stellar .533 batting average.
The Sun Devils will be back in action on Friday evening when they host Stanford for the final home-series of 2018. First pitch in Friday's contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on TheSunDevils.com. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
Senior pitcher Breanna Macha was lights out in the circle for the Sun Devils, allowing just one run in her 14th- start of the season. Macha picked up her 269th- career strikeout, and 39th- career win in Tuesday's outing.
On offense, Morgan Howe paced the Sun Devil batters with a 3-for-4 outing that included an RBI. On the season, Howe has now recorded 53 hits, including 15 for extra bases.
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early lead with a two run top of the second, as Jade Gortarez roped a double to the gap in left that brought in Marisa Stankiewicz. Skylar McCarty would keep the offense rolling with a single to center that brought in Gortarez, and gave ASU a 2-0 lead after two innings of play.
The Aggie offense would answer in the home-half of the fourth with a solo shot to center, but the ASU offense would come to life again in the top of the fifth. Following a leadoff single from McCarty, Kindra Hackbarth would connect on third home run of the season to put ASU out front, 4-1.
The Aggies applied some pressure, putting a pair of runners on with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth, but a crucial double play would end the threat and keep the Sun Devils out front.
A one run top of the seventh would close out the scoring in Las Cruces, with the Sun Devils earning their fourth win in the last six days.
Through the four game road stand, ASU outhit their opponents, 38-21, and outscored their opposition, 28-6. In the circle, ASU posted a 1.62 ERA, and held opposing teams to just a .219 batting average. K. Hackbarth led the Sun Devil offense with eight hits in her 15 at-bats, ending the road trip with a stellar .533 batting average.
The Sun Devils will be back in action on Friday evening when they host Stanford for the final home-series of 2018. First pitch in Friday's contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on TheSunDevils.com. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.