TEMPE, Ariz.- The 18th-ranked Sun Devil softball squad picked up a series opening victory with a 13-0 run-rule victory over the Utah Utes Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Farrington Softball Stadium.
In the circle, junior pitcher Samantha Meija struck out four batters, throwing a one-hit complete game as she picked up her 12th win of the season.
"I told Sam that I thought that was the best game she has thrown all year" head coach Trisha Ford said of Mejia's outing. "She was very efficient, she was hitting her spots well and changed speeds when she needed to. She showed great composure on the mound. I think she kept her pace and our defense played well behind her. Offensively I just can't say enough about what Coach (Jeff) Harger has done. Our approach at the plate, and just putting big numbers up. It's the first game of a three-game series so I never feel completely comfortable. We will go in tomorrow knowing it's a new day. That Utah team is going to bounce back, I know they are. I am just really happy with our approach, Maddi had a monster day, just a lot of good things went our way tonight."
Following a scoreless top of the first, it did not take long for ASU to get on the board. Following a lead-off walk from Kindra Hackbarth, a single from Skylar McCarty and another walk to Morgan Howe, Jade Gortarez stepped up with bases-loaded. The infielder would connect on a bases clearing double down the first-base line to give the Sun Devils a 3-0 lead.
Later in the frame, sophomore DeNae Chatman would lift a fly ball down the right line to score Gortarez and make it a 4-0 ASU lead after one inning.
Following a quick top of the second, the Sun Devils offense came back in the home-half of the inning looking to continue to put the pressure on. McCarty got things going as she collected her second single of night, which was followed by a Howe walk. Gortarez continued her hot hitting as she singled down the third-base line to set up bases loaded for Chatman.
Chatman took full advantage of the opportunity hitting a two-run single to push the lead to 6-0. Freshman outfielder Yannira Acuna would add to the damage as she hit a high-chopper over first-base to score another Sun Devil run. With the bases loaded, ASU would add another run via a Bella Loomis walk to make it 8-0 Sun Devils.
Following another quick three-up, three-down top of the third, the Sun Devils offense continued its offensive barrage with a three-run homer off the bat of M. Hackbarth to make it an, 11-0, ASU lead.
"Our coaches do a great job of making sure that we are prepared," Hackbarth said. "All week they worked with us to be ready for the certain pitches that we are going to be facing. This week we knew that we were going to be facing a drop-ball for a strike, and so we just hammered that pitch all week. I felt like I was very prepared for that in tonight's game. I was looking for that pitch in both at-bats and I saw it and went with it."
M. Hackbarth's monster night wasn't over after the fourth inning homer. Just one inning later, the junior connected on her second home run of the night, marking her 12th home run of the season and second multi-home run night of 2019.
The series will continue tomorrow with a 2:30 p.m. PT first pitch. Fans can watch all of the action from Saturday's game by tuning into the ASU Live Stream or by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
In the circle, junior pitcher Samantha Meija struck out four batters, throwing a one-hit complete game as she picked up her 12th win of the season.
"I told Sam that I thought that was the best game she has thrown all year" head coach Trisha Ford said of Mejia's outing. "She was very efficient, she was hitting her spots well and changed speeds when she needed to. She showed great composure on the mound. I think she kept her pace and our defense played well behind her. Offensively I just can't say enough about what Coach (Jeff) Harger has done. Our approach at the plate, and just putting big numbers up. It's the first game of a three-game series so I never feel completely comfortable. We will go in tomorrow knowing it's a new day. That Utah team is going to bounce back, I know they are. I am just really happy with our approach, Maddi had a monster day, just a lot of good things went our way tonight."
Following a scoreless top of the first, it did not take long for ASU to get on the board. Following a lead-off walk from Kindra Hackbarth, a single from Skylar McCarty and another walk to Morgan Howe, Jade Gortarez stepped up with bases-loaded. The infielder would connect on a bases clearing double down the first-base line to give the Sun Devils a 3-0 lead.
Later in the frame, sophomore DeNae Chatman would lift a fly ball down the right line to score Gortarez and make it a 4-0 ASU lead after one inning.
Following a quick top of the second, the Sun Devils offense came back in the home-half of the inning looking to continue to put the pressure on. McCarty got things going as she collected her second single of night, which was followed by a Howe walk. Gortarez continued her hot hitting as she singled down the third-base line to set up bases loaded for Chatman.
Chatman took full advantage of the opportunity hitting a two-run single to push the lead to 6-0. Freshman outfielder Yannira Acuna would add to the damage as she hit a high-chopper over first-base to score another Sun Devil run. With the bases loaded, ASU would add another run via a Bella Loomis walk to make it 8-0 Sun Devils.
Following another quick three-up, three-down top of the third, the Sun Devils offense continued its offensive barrage with a three-run homer off the bat of M. Hackbarth to make it an, 11-0, ASU lead.
"Our coaches do a great job of making sure that we are prepared," Hackbarth said. "All week they worked with us to be ready for the certain pitches that we are going to be facing. This week we knew that we were going to be facing a drop-ball for a strike, and so we just hammered that pitch all week. I felt like I was very prepared for that in tonight's game. I was looking for that pitch in both at-bats and I saw it and went with it."
M. Hackbarth's monster night wasn't over after the fourth inning homer. Just one inning later, the junior connected on her second home run of the night, marking her 12th home run of the season and second multi-home run night of 2019.
The series will continue tomorrow with a 2:30 p.m. PT first pitch. Fans can watch all of the action from Saturday's game by tuning into the ASU Live Stream or by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.