TEMPE, Ariz. - The sixth-ranked Arizona State softball punched their ticket to the NCAA Super Regionals with a 9-0 run-rule victory over Ole Miss in the Tempe Regional Final Sunday night at Farrington Stadium five innings to advance to Super Regionals next weekend for the first time since 2013.
"I am just so proud of this team," head coach Trisha Ford said of ASU's win. "We came out with a lot of focus. They were on a mission. I thought all facets of our game were rolling. I am just really proud of them. This was the first time that they have been in a Regional Championship game and I thought our fans were electric tonight and I am just glad we get to continue on at home."
Sophomore G Juarez picked up the win for the Sun Devils in the circle, recording three strikeouts and keeping the Rebels scoreless through three innings, before handing the game to senior Breanna Macha who fanned three and closed out the shutout victory.
"I think it is fun," Juarez said of sharing pitching duties with Macha. "We are such polar opposites in the circle. I just came up to her when I found out she was coming in and told her I had her back and that she could do it."
The Sun Devils' bats got hot early, as Kindra Hackbarth and Taylor Becerra hit back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first. A fielder's choice put Morgan Howe on base before Denae Chatman blasted one to left field to give ASU a 3-0 lead with one out. Three more hits and RBIs by Jade Gortarez and Maddi Hackbarth created a 5-0 Sun Devil advantage heading into the second inning.
A few defensive errors by the Rebels in the bottom of the third put Danielle Gibson and Marisa Stankiewicz on base for the Sun Devils and brought Gortarez to the plate. The sophomore recorded another RBI single and a Rebel error scored both runners on base to increase Arizona State's lead to seven. M. Hackbarth was next at-bat and copied Gortarez with her own RBI single to left field to make it 8-0 ASU with no outs. A few fielder's choices and another Rebel error allowed one more Sun Devil run to score and created a 9-0 lead at the end of the third.
"I think our defense put in a lot of work," Gortarez said of the defense effort by the Sun Devils. "Our infield is insane. We get everything done and at this point in the season we are really just talking with each other and coaching up each other. It is just little things that I am being picky about or Marisa (Stankiewicz) and even Taylor (Becerra). We are constantly talking to each other and the outfield. The outfield puts in the most work. Especially balls off the wall, we are always working after practice. Our defense as a whole, we are one of the best in the Pac-12."
With the win in hand, ASU secured their eighth Super Regional in program history. The Sun Devils will host No. 11 South Carolina in the 2018 Super Regional with game times and dates set to be released later tonight. Fans can keep up with all of the action from the 2018 postseason by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
"I am just so proud of this team," head coach Trisha Ford said of ASU's win. "We came out with a lot of focus. They were on a mission. I thought all facets of our game were rolling. I am just really proud of them. This was the first time that they have been in a Regional Championship game and I thought our fans were electric tonight and I am just glad we get to continue on at home."
Sophomore G Juarez picked up the win for the Sun Devils in the circle, recording three strikeouts and keeping the Rebels scoreless through three innings, before handing the game to senior Breanna Macha who fanned three and closed out the shutout victory.
"I think it is fun," Juarez said of sharing pitching duties with Macha. "We are such polar opposites in the circle. I just came up to her when I found out she was coming in and told her I had her back and that she could do it."
The Sun Devils' bats got hot early, as Kindra Hackbarth and Taylor Becerra hit back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first. A fielder's choice put Morgan Howe on base before Denae Chatman blasted one to left field to give ASU a 3-0 lead with one out. Three more hits and RBIs by Jade Gortarez and Maddi Hackbarth created a 5-0 Sun Devil advantage heading into the second inning.
A few defensive errors by the Rebels in the bottom of the third put Danielle Gibson and Marisa Stankiewicz on base for the Sun Devils and brought Gortarez to the plate. The sophomore recorded another RBI single and a Rebel error scored both runners on base to increase Arizona State's lead to seven. M. Hackbarth was next at-bat and copied Gortarez with her own RBI single to left field to make it 8-0 ASU with no outs. A few fielder's choices and another Rebel error allowed one more Sun Devil run to score and created a 9-0 lead at the end of the third.
"I think our defense put in a lot of work," Gortarez said of the defense effort by the Sun Devils. "Our infield is insane. We get everything done and at this point in the season we are really just talking with each other and coaching up each other. It is just little things that I am being picky about or Marisa (Stankiewicz) and even Taylor (Becerra). We are constantly talking to each other and the outfield. The outfield puts in the most work. Especially balls off the wall, we are always working after practice. Our defense as a whole, we are one of the best in the Pac-12."
With the win in hand, ASU secured their eighth Super Regional in program history. The Sun Devils will host No. 11 South Carolina in the 2018 Super Regional with game times and dates set to be released later tonight. Fans can keep up with all of the action from the 2018 postseason by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.