TEMPE, Ariz.- The No. 21 Arizona State softball team (25-13, 5-6) fell to No. 1 UCLA, 9-0, in game two of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at Farrington Stadium.
"I thought we had better at-bats early on," head coach Trisha Ford said of her teams improvement from game one to game two. "We worked a lot more runners on today. We were doing some good things, but from the fourth inning on we kind of fell back into our 'comfort zone' from the last couple of games. We were much better today and we are working through it. We are moving in a much better direction."
The Bruins got out to an early 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the top of the first inning, but freshmen Abby Andersen would limit the damage by escaping a bases-loaded jam with a fly-out to center.
Unable to capitalize on two walks in the bottom half of the inning, the Sun Devil defense turned in a scoreless top of the second to keep ASU in striking distance in the top of the third second.
Junior Maddi Hackbarth would get things rolling for ASU in the bottom of the second, lacing a leadoff-double down the right field line for the team's first hit of the game. Despite reaching third on a sacrifice bunt, the Sun Devils would be unable to cash in, sending the game to the third with UCLA still out front, 1-0.
UCLA would extend their lead to 2-0 in the top half of the third, but redshirt junior Cielo Meza would hold them there, stranding two baserunners and striking out the first two batters she faced out of the bullpen.
Following another quiet half inning from the Sun Devils, Meza continued to deal in the circle, setting down the Bruins in order in the top of the fourth.
Junior Jade Gortarez would do her part to spark a would-be two-out rally for ASU with a double down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Kiara Kennedy reaching base on a hit-by-pitch in the next at bat. Unfortunately, the Sun Devils would fall flat yet again, leaving two runners on base.
The Bruins would add two more runs to their lead in the top of the fourth to make it 5-0 UCLA after the top of the fifth, putting pressure on the Sun Devils to mount a comeback in the final three innings. However, ASU could not seem to find traction at the plate as they would be set down in order in the home half of the frame.
In the top of the sixth, UCLA broke things open with a pair of home runs, pushing the score to 9-0, bring the Sun Devils back to the plate looking to get the bats going.
K. Hackbarth would excite the home crowd by driving a ball to the warning track in the home half of the sixth, but ASU would again be unable to string anything together, pushing the score to the final, 9-0.
ASU will be back in action on Sunday for the final game of the three-game set with the Bruins. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. PT, with Pac-12 Networks set to broadcast the top-25 matchup. Fans can follow all of the action from the game as well as the remainder of the 2019 season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
"I thought we had better at-bats early on," head coach Trisha Ford said of her teams improvement from game one to game two. "We worked a lot more runners on today. We were doing some good things, but from the fourth inning on we kind of fell back into our 'comfort zone' from the last couple of games. We were much better today and we are working through it. We are moving in a much better direction."
The Bruins got out to an early 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the top of the first inning, but freshmen Abby Andersen would limit the damage by escaping a bases-loaded jam with a fly-out to center.
Unable to capitalize on two walks in the bottom half of the inning, the Sun Devil defense turned in a scoreless top of the second to keep ASU in striking distance in the top of the third second.
Junior Maddi Hackbarth would get things rolling for ASU in the bottom of the second, lacing a leadoff-double down the right field line for the team's first hit of the game. Despite reaching third on a sacrifice bunt, the Sun Devils would be unable to cash in, sending the game to the third with UCLA still out front, 1-0.
UCLA would extend their lead to 2-0 in the top half of the third, but redshirt junior Cielo Meza would hold them there, stranding two baserunners and striking out the first two batters she faced out of the bullpen.
Following another quiet half inning from the Sun Devils, Meza continued to deal in the circle, setting down the Bruins in order in the top of the fourth.
Junior Jade Gortarez would do her part to spark a would-be two-out rally for ASU with a double down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Kiara Kennedy reaching base on a hit-by-pitch in the next at bat. Unfortunately, the Sun Devils would fall flat yet again, leaving two runners on base.
The Bruins would add two more runs to their lead in the top of the fourth to make it 5-0 UCLA after the top of the fifth, putting pressure on the Sun Devils to mount a comeback in the final three innings. However, ASU could not seem to find traction at the plate as they would be set down in order in the home half of the frame.
In the top of the sixth, UCLA broke things open with a pair of home runs, pushing the score to 9-0, bring the Sun Devils back to the plate looking to get the bats going.
K. Hackbarth would excite the home crowd by driving a ball to the warning track in the home half of the sixth, but ASU would again be unable to string anything together, pushing the score to the final, 9-0.
ASU will be back in action on Sunday for the final game of the three-game set with the Bruins. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. PT, with Pac-12 Networks set to broadcast the top-25 matchup. Fans can follow all of the action from the game as well as the remainder of the 2019 season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.