TEMPE, Ariz.-- The eighth-ranked Sun Devil softball team (35-8, 9-5) launched their 47th- home run of the season, and played behind another strong outing from right-hander Breanna Macha, but it wasn't enough as the Sun Devils fell, 4-1, to No. 13 Arizona Saturday afternoon at Farrington Stadium.
"I thought offensively we didn't cut it." head coach Trisha Ford said. "I think we took some things for granted and our plate discipline was not good. (Macha) threw well today. She threw well enough for us to win and that is the frustrating thing. We have got to hit behind her. She threw a heck of a game and she did what she is supposed to do, throwing ground-ball outs and we have just got to be better."
Macha (10-5) threw a complete-game in the loss, giving up just three earned runs on eight hits in her 21st- appearance so far this season. The right-hander struck out four Wildcat hitters and allowed three walks on the day.
"We have a mentality that we will break through and we keep grinding each inning," Macha said of her outing. "We go out there with a mentality that we want to win each inning. It is part of the game that hits are going to come and sometimes they are going to go. We just need to work on staying consistent and getting up there every inning and just battling."
The two teams traded jabs early, but neither side could scratch in a run until the Wildcats connected on a three-run top of the fourth to jump out in front.
The Sun Devils would respond in the bottom of the fourth when Morgan Howe launched a lead-off homer to straightaway center to make it a 3-1 game heading into the fifth.
The Wildcats would cash in on a Sun Devil error in the top of the fifth to pull the score to the final, 4-1.
Arizona State and Arizona will close their three-game series in a rubber match Sunday at 5 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network with Kenzie Fowler and Thad Anderson on the call. Fans can also keep up with all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
"I thought offensively we didn't cut it." head coach Trisha Ford said. "I think we took some things for granted and our plate discipline was not good. (Macha) threw well today. She threw well enough for us to win and that is the frustrating thing. We have got to hit behind her. She threw a heck of a game and she did what she is supposed to do, throwing ground-ball outs and we have just got to be better."
Macha (10-5) threw a complete-game in the loss, giving up just three earned runs on eight hits in her 21st- appearance so far this season. The right-hander struck out four Wildcat hitters and allowed three walks on the day.
"We have a mentality that we will break through and we keep grinding each inning," Macha said of her outing. "We go out there with a mentality that we want to win each inning. It is part of the game that hits are going to come and sometimes they are going to go. We just need to work on staying consistent and getting up there every inning and just battling."
The two teams traded jabs early, but neither side could scratch in a run until the Wildcats connected on a three-run top of the fourth to jump out in front.
The Sun Devils would respond in the bottom of the fourth when Morgan Howe launched a lead-off homer to straightaway center to make it a 3-1 game heading into the fifth.
The Wildcats would cash in on a Sun Devil error in the top of the fifth to pull the score to the final, 4-1.
Arizona State and Arizona will close their three-game series in a rubber match Sunday at 5 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network with Kenzie Fowler and Thad Anderson on the call. Fans can also keep up with all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil softball season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.