TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona State softball team (29-17, 9-10) opened senior weekend with a, 7-2, victory over the California Golden Bears at Farrington Stadium Friday evening.
"I thought tonight was a good example of us being able to learn from situations that we have had throughout the year," head coach Trisha Ford said of the gritty team win. "Offensively we had a lot of good things going on. I think we were really good on the base path tonight and that was fun to watch. I was proud of the way we were able to close the door on a very good Cal team."
In the circle for the Sun Devils, redshirt-junior Cielo Meza struck out six batters, throwing a complete game as she picked up her fourth win of the season.
"Meza was huge for us tonight," Ford said of the right-hander's outing. "Cielo coming out and throwing seven solid innings, I think says a lot. She threw a heck of a game with big pitches in big situations."
The Sun Devils got their offense started early. Following a leadoff single from senior Morgan Howe and walks to Kindra Hackbarth and DeNae Chatham, Maddi Hackbarth would put ASU on the board with a sac-fly to left that made it a 1-0 Sun Devil lead.
Following a quick top half of the second, ASU got back to work. Yannira Acuna would open up the home half of the inning with a single up the middle, but she would not be on base for long as sophomore Bella Loomis would smack an RBI double through the gap in left field, making it a 2-0 Sun Devil lead.
Loomis then stole second to set up Morgan Howe, who delivered a single that brought her in to make it a 3-0 ASU lead. Later in the inning, Kindra Hackbarth would connect on an RBI single to push the Sun Devils ahead, 4-0.
The Golden Bears would answer back to the tune of a two-run third, but Meza and the Sun Devil offense would hold them there.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Sun Devils added three runs in the fifth. Shortstop Jade Gortarez opened the inning with a double, and would be brought in when fellow infielder Kiara Kennedy reached base on a throwing error, making it a 5-2 ASU lead.
Just one batter later, Loomis brought in Kennedy via a sac-fly, extending the lead to 6-2. Following a Howe walk, Skylar McCarty reached base on a Cal error that allowed Howe to cross the plate and close out the scoring in the, 7-2, Arizona State victory.
The Sun Devils showed a lot of aggression on the base path, stealing a season-high of six bases in the win. The six stolen bases topped the team's previous high of five, set against Oregon State on March 17.
The Sun Devils will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for game two of senior weekend with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT. Fans can follow all the action from tomorrow's game, and the remainder of the 2019 season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
"I thought tonight was a good example of us being able to learn from situations that we have had throughout the year," head coach Trisha Ford said of the gritty team win. "Offensively we had a lot of good things going on. I think we were really good on the base path tonight and that was fun to watch. I was proud of the way we were able to close the door on a very good Cal team."
In the circle for the Sun Devils, redshirt-junior Cielo Meza struck out six batters, throwing a complete game as she picked up her fourth win of the season.
"Meza was huge for us tonight," Ford said of the right-hander's outing. "Cielo coming out and throwing seven solid innings, I think says a lot. She threw a heck of a game with big pitches in big situations."
The Sun Devils got their offense started early. Following a leadoff single from senior Morgan Howe and walks to Kindra Hackbarth and DeNae Chatham, Maddi Hackbarth would put ASU on the board with a sac-fly to left that made it a 1-0 Sun Devil lead.
Following a quick top half of the second, ASU got back to work. Yannira Acuna would open up the home half of the inning with a single up the middle, but she would not be on base for long as sophomore Bella Loomis would smack an RBI double through the gap in left field, making it a 2-0 Sun Devil lead.
Loomis then stole second to set up Morgan Howe, who delivered a single that brought her in to make it a 3-0 ASU lead. Later in the inning, Kindra Hackbarth would connect on an RBI single to push the Sun Devils ahead, 4-0.
The Golden Bears would answer back to the tune of a two-run third, but Meza and the Sun Devil offense would hold them there.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Sun Devils added three runs in the fifth. Shortstop Jade Gortarez opened the inning with a double, and would be brought in when fellow infielder Kiara Kennedy reached base on a throwing error, making it a 5-2 ASU lead.
Just one batter later, Loomis brought in Kennedy via a sac-fly, extending the lead to 6-2. Following a Howe walk, Skylar McCarty reached base on a Cal error that allowed Howe to cross the plate and close out the scoring in the, 7-2, Arizona State victory.
The Sun Devils showed a lot of aggression on the base path, stealing a season-high of six bases in the win. The six stolen bases topped the team's previous high of five, set against Oregon State on March 17.
The Sun Devils will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for game two of senior weekend with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT. Fans can follow all the action from tomorrow's game, and the remainder of the 2019 season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.