Eugene, Ore. – The Arizona State softball team (32-18, 12-11) claimed an important series victory over the Oregon Ducks with an 10-1 win at Jane Sanders Stadium Friday evening.
Much like game one, the pitching for ASU in game two was dominant, holding the 2018 Pac-12 Champion Ducks to just two hits and one run in the victory. Redshirt junior Cielo Meza started the game in the circle, allowing just one run on one hit and four walks in her second appearance on the weekend. Entering in relief in the fifth, Samantha Mejia completely shut the Ducks down in the series clinching win, giving up just one hit in the final two innings of play.
The Sun Devils got their offense started early, plating five-runs on four-hits and two-walks in the top of the first inning, bringing Meza to the circle with a comfortable lead.
The Ducks would not be deterred in their first trip to the plate, working back-to-back walks to put pressure on the Sun Devil defense early. Fortunately for the Maroon and Gold, shortstop Jade Gortarez and DeNae Chatman would combine to come up with a much needed double play, before a fly ball to Morgan Howe would end the frame with ASU still out front, 5-0.
With neither team able to score through the next three innings, it was the Sun Devils who would strike again as Maddi Hackbarth unloaded on a 2-2 pitch, giving it a ride over the wall in left for her 18th home run of the season.
With a 7-2 lead in hand, Meza continued to deal in the circle, but her no-hit bid would be ended when Oregon first baseman Shaye Bowden hit a solo shot to left to cut the ASU lead to 7-1 with nobody out in the fifth.
The Sun Devils would add yet another run in the top of the sixth when Kindra Hackbarth blasted a towering solo-shot over the right field fence, pushing the lead to 8-1 in favor of ASU.
The Sun Devil offense would add two more in the top of the seventh when senior Morgan Howe lined a double off the wall in center field, pushing the score to the final, 10-1.
With the win, ASU picked up their first series win over the Ducks since 2013, and first series victory in Eugene since 2011. The win also guarantees that the Sun Devils will finish the 2019 regular season with at least a .500 record in Pac-12 play for the second consecutive season, and 14th-time in program history.
The series will conclude tomorrow afternoon with first pitch in the series finale scheduled for noon PT. Fans can follow all of the action from the final game of the 2019 regular season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
Much like game one, the pitching for ASU in game two was dominant, holding the 2018 Pac-12 Champion Ducks to just two hits and one run in the victory. Redshirt junior Cielo Meza started the game in the circle, allowing just one run on one hit and four walks in her second appearance on the weekend. Entering in relief in the fifth, Samantha Mejia completely shut the Ducks down in the series clinching win, giving up just one hit in the final two innings of play.
The Sun Devils got their offense started early, plating five-runs on four-hits and two-walks in the top of the first inning, bringing Meza to the circle with a comfortable lead.
The Ducks would not be deterred in their first trip to the plate, working back-to-back walks to put pressure on the Sun Devil defense early. Fortunately for the Maroon and Gold, shortstop Jade Gortarez and DeNae Chatman would combine to come up with a much needed double play, before a fly ball to Morgan Howe would end the frame with ASU still out front, 5-0.
With neither team able to score through the next three innings, it was the Sun Devils who would strike again as Maddi Hackbarth unloaded on a 2-2 pitch, giving it a ride over the wall in left for her 18th home run of the season.
With a 7-2 lead in hand, Meza continued to deal in the circle, but her no-hit bid would be ended when Oregon first baseman Shaye Bowden hit a solo shot to left to cut the ASU lead to 7-1 with nobody out in the fifth.
The Sun Devils would add yet another run in the top of the sixth when Kindra Hackbarth blasted a towering solo-shot over the right field fence, pushing the lead to 8-1 in favor of ASU.
The Sun Devil offense would add two more in the top of the seventh when senior Morgan Howe lined a double off the wall in center field, pushing the score to the final, 10-1.
With the win, ASU picked up their first series win over the Ducks since 2013, and first series victory in Eugene since 2011. The win also guarantees that the Sun Devils will finish the 2019 regular season with at least a .500 record in Pac-12 play for the second consecutive season, and 14th-time in program history.
The series will conclude tomorrow afternoon with first pitch in the series finale scheduled for noon PT. Fans can follow all of the action from the final game of the 2019 regular season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.