LEADING OFF...
• Last weekend the Sun Devils defeated Oregon State in two out of the three games against the Beavers. With the series win, ASU is now 78-3 all-time against OSU, including a combined 6-3 against Oregon State since Trisha Ford arrived in Tempe.
• While the 2018 version of Sun Devil softball made their mark in the circle, the 2019 team has made a name for themselves as an offensive juggernaut. Through the first week of Pac-12 play, the Sun Devil offense has combined to post a .339 team batting average, a mark that ranks 11th- nationally, and second in the Pac-12.
• To win games, you have to score runs, a feat that ASU has more than excelled at this season. Entering this week, Arizona State leads the nation with a nation-leading 8.53 runs scored per game average. That scoring pace is made even more incredible when compared to last season's WCWS team that averaged more than three-runs less per game (5.16).
• Individually, junior outfielder Kindra Hackbarth has continued to impress at the plate. Following the opening week of Pac-12 play, K. Hackbarth has recorded a team-leading 41 hits on the year. Her hit-total checks in third in the Pac-12 and ninth nationally.
• The Sun Devils have shown a ton of power at the so far this season. The team's .650 slugging percentage checks in as the highest in the nation. The potent ASU offense leads the Pac-12 in both home runs, and extra base hits. The team also leads the Pac-12 in total bases and runs scored this season.
Keeping it 100....
A hand full of Sun Devils enter the week looking to track down, or having recently eclipsed the century mark in a few statistical categories. For example...
• Senior infielder Taylor Becerra has amassed 94 runs in her ASU career, leaving her just six shy of reaching 100 runs scored.
• Junior infielder Jade Gortarez has carded 82 hits in her two years in the maroon and gold, leaving her just 12-hits shy of reaching 100.
• Junior Outfielder Kindra Hackbarth has crossed the plate 84 times in her two years in Tempe, leaving her with just 16-runs shy of reaching 100.
+ Head coach Trisha Ford has picked up her 100th win as the head coach of ASU with the team's 12-2 run-rule victory over Oregon State Saturday night.
+ Senior outfielder Morgan Howe picked up her 100th- hit this past weekend in ASU's win over South Dakota.
+ Junior outfielder Kindra Hackbarth picked up her 100th- hit two weekends ago in ASU's loss to Wisconsin.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION....
The Utes will arrive in Tempe fresh off a series win over Cal last weekend. With the series win, ASU and Utah check in at number three and four in this week's conference standings. At the plate, the Utes have been led by Julia Noskin who has posted a .393 batting average in her 89 at bats this season. In the circle, Sydney Sandez has led the squad with 67.1 innings pitched while holding opposing batters to a .278 batting average on the year.
LAST TIME WE MET...
Last season, the Sun Devils traveled up to Salt Lake City, looking to get traction after breaking into the top-10 in the polls. ASU did just that, taking game one with a 12-0 run-rule victory. Game two was a very tightly contested match, with game tied at 1-1 after four innings of play, but a three-run fifth and seventh would push ASU to a 7-2 victory. Looking for the sweep, ASU fought tooth and nail with the Utes in the Sunday matchup, with ASU narrowly escaping with a 4-3 win, improving the Sun Devils' Pac-12 record to 12-6. During the sweep of the Utes, Kindra Hackbarth led the Sun Devils at the plate with a 6-for-12 weekend that included a double and a triple. Both Taylor Becerra and Morgan Howe crossed the plate four times, while then freshman DeNae Chatman carded a team-leading six RBI in the three-game set.
SLUGG LYFE...
After building their identity with pitching last season, the pendulum seems to have swung back in 2019 to see the Sun Devils find their success in the batters box. Not only have the Sun Devils combined to record 251 hits, they have also shown an ability to hit for power. The team's 52 home runs on the year leads the Pac-12, and puts the Devils on pace for just under two long balls per game. Apart form their home run game, the team has also combined to record 58 doubles and eight triples. All of this adds up to a .650 slugging percentage, the highest percentage in the country.
GRAND SLAMMIN...
The Sun Devils have combined to hit a total of 52 home runs this season, a mark that give the squad a very good chance of chasing down their 67 home runs hit just a season ago. More impressive than driving the ball out of the park, has been ASU's ability to do so with runners on base. So far this season, the Sun Devils have combined to launch six grand slams, already doubling their three grand slams from a year ago.
WHAT'S NEXT...
Following this weekend's home-stand, the Sun Devils will travel down south to face Arizona, March 29-31. The three-game series against the Wildcats is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start on both Friday and Saturday, before finishing the series with a 4:00 p.m. meeting Sunday. All three games of the series are set to be televised, with games one and two set to be broadcast by the Pac-12 Network, while game three is set for an ESPN-2 telecast.