TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State softball picked up a pair of run-rule victories Saturday afternoon at Farrington Stadium, downing Kansas, 14-6, before topping Weber State, 21-1 on the second day of the Kajikawa Classic.
"I think we came out with a different kind of attitude and approach today," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Our bats came alive today and it was nice to see them. The team has been working hard and it was nice to see them free it up and take some healthy hacks up there."
In the win against Weber State, the Sun Devils scored the most runs under head coach Trisha Ford. The 21 runs scored also marked the first time ASU has scored 20 runs in a game since defeating Stanford 20-5 in 2015. .
Junior catcher Maddi Hackbarth led the squad on the day with three home runs, including her first grand slam on the season. Against the Jayhawks she went three for four with six RBIs.
Game one: ASU 14, Kansas 6
Kansas started off the scoring in the afternoon as Morgyn Wynne hit a home run off ASU pitcher Cielo Meza to give the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Sun Devils responded in a big way, plating five runs in the bottom of the frame. Senior Morgan Howe got the bats started blasting a triple down the right field line that brought Kindra Hackbarth and Skylar McCarty home to put ASU up, 2-1.
DeNae Chatman kept the offense rolling with an RBI-single, but it would be Maddi Hackbarth who would really break the game open with her first of three-home runs on the day to put ASU up, 5-1.
In the second inning, the Sun Devils extended their lead as Chatman drew a bases loaded walk to put the home-side up, 6-1.
Kansas cut into the lead in the third with a solo-shot, but it would not do much to halt the ASU scoring outburst as the Devils would combine for six runs in the bottom of the frame to make it a 12-2 game headed to the fourth.
Following a two-run top of the fourth, the Sun Devils would answer back with M. Hackbarth's second home run of the day, pulling the score to 14-4.
With the Jayhawks unable to get anything working against Arizona State reliever, Mikayla Santa Cruz, the Sun Devils would coast to their first run-rule victory of the season, 14-6.
Game two: ASU 21, Weber State 1
In their second game of the day, the Sun Devils continued their offensive barrage, lighting up the scoreboard with 11 runs on seven hits in the second inning. Freshman Yannira Acuña initiated the scoring with a three-run home run, her first of her collegiate career.
M. Hackbarth stayed red hot at the plate, connecting on a grand slam that gave ASU a 9-0 lead --putting her at 10 RBIs on the day. The second inning blast was Hackbarth's third career grand slam, and ninth career home run.
"We prepared all week knowing we were going to see a lot of drop balls," Hackbarth said. "Going into the games I was just looking for something down and looking for a good pitch to hit. Luckily I was able to get the barrel on it."
Following the long ball, Jade Gortarez laid down a perfect bunt-single, bringing Acuña up to bat for the second time in the inning. The freshman, and teammate Bella Loomis, hit back- to-back RBI doubles to blow the ASU lead out to 11-0.
The Wildcats answered back in the top of the third with an RBI-triple, but it would not be near enough as the Sun Devil bats continued to role with an 10-run frame in the home-half, bringing the score to the final, 21-1.
At the plate, Acuña would walk away with an eye-popping three-for-three game that included six RBIs.
"I was really just trying to drive the hard tonight," Acuña siad of her outing. "We had a little bit different look today from yesterday's game, but I just wanted to drive the ball because I was struggling yesterday. That was my focus for today's game. Having the team hitting the way they were tonight really helped me relax. I felt like I could be more lose at the plate. It was one of those games where the whole team was hitting, so why not."
ASU will be back in action tomorrow for the final day of the Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils take on California State University Northridge at 2:00 p.m. MST. The game will be broadcasted live on Pac-12 Arizona, and fans can keep up with action all season-long by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
"I think we came out with a different kind of attitude and approach today," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Our bats came alive today and it was nice to see them. The team has been working hard and it was nice to see them free it up and take some healthy hacks up there."
In the win against Weber State, the Sun Devils scored the most runs under head coach Trisha Ford. The 21 runs scored also marked the first time ASU has scored 20 runs in a game since defeating Stanford 20-5 in 2015. .
Junior catcher Maddi Hackbarth led the squad on the day with three home runs, including her first grand slam on the season. Against the Jayhawks she went three for four with six RBIs.
Game one: ASU 14, Kansas 6
Kansas started off the scoring in the afternoon as Morgyn Wynne hit a home run off ASU pitcher Cielo Meza to give the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Sun Devils responded in a big way, plating five runs in the bottom of the frame. Senior Morgan Howe got the bats started blasting a triple down the right field line that brought Kindra Hackbarth and Skylar McCarty home to put ASU up, 2-1.
DeNae Chatman kept the offense rolling with an RBI-single, but it would be Maddi Hackbarth who would really break the game open with her first of three-home runs on the day to put ASU up, 5-1.
In the second inning, the Sun Devils extended their lead as Chatman drew a bases loaded walk to put the home-side up, 6-1.
Kansas cut into the lead in the third with a solo-shot, but it would not do much to halt the ASU scoring outburst as the Devils would combine for six runs in the bottom of the frame to make it a 12-2 game headed to the fourth.
Following a two-run top of the fourth, the Sun Devils would answer back with M. Hackbarth's second home run of the day, pulling the score to 14-4.
With the Jayhawks unable to get anything working against Arizona State reliever, Mikayla Santa Cruz, the Sun Devils would coast to their first run-rule victory of the season, 14-6.
Game two: ASU 21, Weber State 1
In their second game of the day, the Sun Devils continued their offensive barrage, lighting up the scoreboard with 11 runs on seven hits in the second inning. Freshman Yannira Acuña initiated the scoring with a three-run home run, her first of her collegiate career.
M. Hackbarth stayed red hot at the plate, connecting on a grand slam that gave ASU a 9-0 lead --putting her at 10 RBIs on the day. The second inning blast was Hackbarth's third career grand slam, and ninth career home run.
"We prepared all week knowing we were going to see a lot of drop balls," Hackbarth said. "Going into the games I was just looking for something down and looking for a good pitch to hit. Luckily I was able to get the barrel on it."
Following the long ball, Jade Gortarez laid down a perfect bunt-single, bringing Acuña up to bat for the second time in the inning. The freshman, and teammate Bella Loomis, hit back- to-back RBI doubles to blow the ASU lead out to 11-0.
The Wildcats answered back in the top of the third with an RBI-triple, but it would not be near enough as the Sun Devil bats continued to role with an 10-run frame in the home-half, bringing the score to the final, 21-1.
At the plate, Acuña would walk away with an eye-popping three-for-three game that included six RBIs.
"I was really just trying to drive the hard tonight," Acuña siad of her outing. "We had a little bit different look today from yesterday's game, but I just wanted to drive the ball because I was struggling yesterday. That was my focus for today's game. Having the team hitting the way they were tonight really helped me relax. I felt like I could be more lose at the plate. It was one of those games where the whole team was hitting, so why not."
ASU will be back in action tomorrow for the final day of the Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils take on California State University Northridge at 2:00 p.m. MST. The game will be broadcasted live on Pac-12 Arizona, and fans can keep up with action all season-long by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.