TEMPE, Ariz.- No.14 Arizona State softball team defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas, 8-2, Saturday at Farrington Stadium. The win improved ASU to 6-2 on the season, and 2-1 at the Littlewood Classic.
In the circle Samantha Mejia pitched a complete game giving up just two earned runs on six hits. Mejia threw a season-high seven strikeouts.
"That Central Michigan team can swing it, they have put runs up on everyone this weekend," head coach Trisha Ford said. "I thought we just missed on a few pitches in the first inning and they were able to score, but I thought we did a great job of responding in the bottom of the inning to match."
Central Michigan wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. In the top of the first inning, Rachel Viera drove in a run from third base with an RBI single. Outfielder Tala Dean followed up with an RBI double to left to build the Chippewa lead to 2-0.
The Sun Devils would answer back at the plate. With two outs, Morgan Howe turned an easy out into a triple after a Chippewa throwing error. The next batter, DeNae Chatman, blasted a two run equalizer over the left field wall to tie the at two-all.
The long ball was the first of two for Chatman who enjoyed an excellent day at the plate. The sophomore would finish two-for-three with two home runs and four RBI in the outing.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Sun Devils extended their lead. With two strikes, Skylar McCarthy drove a ball down the left field line for an RBI double. With bases loaded later in the inning, Chatman would tack on another run with a sacrifice fly to put ASU up, 4-2.
After two consecutive three-up-three down innings on defense, the Sun Devils continued to build in the bottom of the third.
With a pair of runners in scoring position, Bella Loomis drop down a sacrifice bunt to plate ASU's fifth run of the game. Later in the inning, Kindra Hackbarth would hit a sacrifice fly to right, driving in another run to extend the Sun Devil lead to 6-2.
DeNae Chatman capped off her outstanding offensive performance in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo-shot to left center. The Sun Devils would add another run in the inning when Loomis drove in a run with an RBI single pushing the score to 8-2 in favor of the Sun Devils.
The Chippewas scoring drought continued into the top of the fifth inning. With runners on second and third with just one out, Mejia worked out of a jam with back-to-back strikeouts, followed by a great pick at third by senior Taylor Becerra to lock in another scoreless frame.
Arizona State softball will close out the 14th- annual Littlewood Classic with a double header on Sunday. The Sun Devils will play Utah State at 1:30 MST and wrap up the weekend with a matchup against San Diego at 4:00 p.m.
Fans can follow all of the action from the 2019 season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
In the circle Samantha Mejia pitched a complete game giving up just two earned runs on six hits. Mejia threw a season-high seven strikeouts.
"That Central Michigan team can swing it, they have put runs up on everyone this weekend," head coach Trisha Ford said. "I thought we just missed on a few pitches in the first inning and they were able to score, but I thought we did a great job of responding in the bottom of the inning to match."
Central Michigan wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. In the top of the first inning, Rachel Viera drove in a run from third base with an RBI single. Outfielder Tala Dean followed up with an RBI double to left to build the Chippewa lead to 2-0.
The Sun Devils would answer back at the plate. With two outs, Morgan Howe turned an easy out into a triple after a Chippewa throwing error. The next batter, DeNae Chatman, blasted a two run equalizer over the left field wall to tie the at two-all.
The long ball was the first of two for Chatman who enjoyed an excellent day at the plate. The sophomore would finish two-for-three with two home runs and four RBI in the outing.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Sun Devils extended their lead. With two strikes, Skylar McCarthy drove a ball down the left field line for an RBI double. With bases loaded later in the inning, Chatman would tack on another run with a sacrifice fly to put ASU up, 4-2.
After two consecutive three-up-three down innings on defense, the Sun Devils continued to build in the bottom of the third.
With a pair of runners in scoring position, Bella Loomis drop down a sacrifice bunt to plate ASU's fifth run of the game. Later in the inning, Kindra Hackbarth would hit a sacrifice fly to right, driving in another run to extend the Sun Devil lead to 6-2.
DeNae Chatman capped off her outstanding offensive performance in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo-shot to left center. The Sun Devils would add another run in the inning when Loomis drove in a run with an RBI single pushing the score to 8-2 in favor of the Sun Devils.
The Chippewas scoring drought continued into the top of the fifth inning. With runners on second and third with just one out, Mejia worked out of a jam with back-to-back strikeouts, followed by a great pick at third by senior Taylor Becerra to lock in another scoreless frame.
Arizona State softball will close out the 14th- annual Littlewood Classic with a double header on Sunday. The Sun Devils will play Utah State at 1:30 MST and wrap up the weekend with a matchup against San Diego at 4:00 p.m.
Fans can follow all of the action from the 2019 season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.