TEMPE -- On day two of the Littlewood Classic No. 22/23 Arizona State softball forced an 11-inning comeback win over No. 10 Kentucky for the second night in a row. The Sun Devils had a two-game sweep against Detroit Mercy, 15-1, and outscored the Wildcats 7-5 on Saturday night at Farrington Stadium.
The only losses for No. 10 Kentucky were delivered by the Sun Devils.
"We just knew that if we kept that same energy 100% and do what we needed to do," said walk-off hitter Alli Tatnall, "we were going to get it done."
Saturday featured a number of players making their first appearance in the maroon and gold with the Sun Devils currently on a four-game win streak.
"We're never out of a game. So many people contributed to this win," head coach Trisha Ford.
"We know what to do. No one is going to count us out - ever," said freshman Alynah Torres. "We can hit. We were staying in the game, staying focused, and making it simple."
Game 1: ASU 15, Detroit Mercy 1 (5 innings)
ASU was the first on the board in the bottom of the first after Jazmine Hill hit a double to centerfield and eventually stole third and home. At the bottom of the second, Makenna Harper hit a double to left-center and Kindra Hackbarth brought her home with a home run.
The Sun Devils stayed busy at the bottom of the third hitting through the lineup. With eight runs, many due to errors by Detroit Mercy, Maddi Hackbarth started off with a triple. Torres finished the job by bringing home K. Hackbarth and Jazmine Hill. A double to left field from Macy Simmons brought home another two runs in the bottom of the fourth, with four runs on five hits.
Pitcher Samantha Mejia went to work with nine strikeouts in five innings. She held off the Titan's offense with three strikeouts in two innings and gave up only a single run throughout the entire game.
Game 2: ASU 7, Kentucky 5
The first few innings started slowly with neither team on the board. Cielo Meza started a pitchers battle with four strikeouts despite a Wildcat run in the top of the fourth.
At the top of the fifth, Madison Preston stepped in as a relief pitcher and totaled five strikeouts in three innings.
Down one run in the bottom of the seventh, Kiara Kennedy landed on base with an error by the right fielder that allowed her to advance to third and sent pinch runner Olivia Miller home to tie the score. For the first time this season, ASU went to extra innings.
Kentucky came charging into the extra innings game, scoring two runs on a play initiated by a single bunt. A third runner made the trip home after a wild pitch to extend UK's lead 4-1.
With two outs on the board in the bottom of the eighth, Alynah Torres hit a home run that brought home K. Hackbarth and M. Harper to tie the score at 4-4.
Meza returned to the circle at the top of the eighth and held the Wildcats scoreless through the inning. Despite advancing a runner to third on a sacrifice bunt, the Sun Devils couldn't break the tie score.
A sac fly put UK back in the lead, 5-4, at the top of the tenth. At the bottom of the tenth, M. Hackbarth had a deep hit to center field that brought home K. Hackbarth from third to tie again at 5-5.
At the top of the eleventh inning, Meza threw her tricky pitch to end the Wildcats' scoring chances with a batter struck out swinging. A sacrifice bunt by Denae Chatman advanced Jazmine Hill into scoring position at third. Big bat Tatnall ended the game in highlight-reel fashion with a two-run walkoff for the Sun Devil 7-5 win.
Up next:
Arizona State (8-2) continues hosting the Littlewood Classic tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 16. The game against Boise State (6-3) will be at 3 p.m. at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Fans can follow @ASUSoftball on Twitter to keep up all season long.
????#NCAASoftball Photo of the Week@ASUSoftball celebrates Alli Tatnall's walk-off home run in the 11th inning to upset No. 10 Kentucky for the second straight night. pic.twitter.com/CrMofxbPUt
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) February 18, 2020
The only losses for No. 10 Kentucky were delivered by the Sun Devils.
"We just knew that if we kept that same energy 100% and do what we needed to do," said walk-off hitter Alli Tatnall, "we were going to get it done."
Players of the game #OnTheBoat pic.twitter.com/e5HhYYJkiS
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 16, 2020
Saturday featured a number of players making their first appearance in the maroon and gold with the Sun Devils currently on a four-game win streak.
"We're never out of a game. So many people contributed to this win," head coach Trisha Ford.
"We know what to do. No one is going to count us out - ever," said freshman Alynah Torres. "We can hit. We were staying in the game, staying focused, and making it simple."
Game 1: ASU 15, Detroit Mercy 1 (5 innings)
ASU was the first on the board in the bottom of the first after Jazmine Hill hit a double to centerfield and eventually stole third and home. At the bottom of the second, Makenna Harper hit a double to left-center and Kindra Hackbarth brought her home with a home run.
The Sun Devils stayed busy at the bottom of the third hitting through the lineup. With eight runs, many due to errors by Detroit Mercy, Maddi Hackbarth started off with a triple. Torres finished the job by bringing home K. Hackbarth and Jazmine Hill. A double to left field from Macy Simmons brought home another two runs in the bottom of the fourth, with four runs on five hits.
Pitcher Samantha Mejia went to work with nine strikeouts in five innings. She held off the Titan's offense with three strikeouts in two innings and gave up only a single run throughout the entire game.
Devils win ??Bats come alive and the Devils pick up a win to open the second day of the Littlewood Classic #OnTheBoat pic.twitter.com/NmwsBPX54F
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 16, 2020
Game 2: ASU 7, Kentucky 5
The first few innings started slowly with neither team on the board. Cielo Meza started a pitchers battle with four strikeouts despite a Wildcat run in the top of the fourth.
At the top of the fifth, Madison Preston stepped in as a relief pitcher and totaled five strikeouts in three innings.
Down one run in the bottom of the seventh, Kiara Kennedy landed on base with an error by the right fielder that allowed her to advance to third and sent pinch runner Olivia Miller home to tie the score. For the first time this season, ASU went to extra innings.
Kentucky came charging into the extra innings game, scoring two runs on a play initiated by a single bunt. A third runner made the trip home after a wild pitch to extend UK's lead 4-1.
With two outs on the board in the bottom of the eighth, Alynah Torres hit a home run that brought home K. Hackbarth and M. Harper to tie the score at 4-4.
Meza returned to the circle at the top of the eighth and held the Wildcats scoreless through the inning. Despite advancing a runner to third on a sacrifice bunt, the Sun Devils couldn't break the tie score.
A sac fly put UK back in the lead, 5-4, at the top of the tenth. At the bottom of the tenth, M. Hackbarth had a deep hit to center field that brought home K. Hackbarth from third to tie again at 5-5.
At the top of the eleventh inning, Meza threw her tricky pitch to end the Wildcats' scoring chances with a batter struck out swinging. A sacrifice bunt by Denae Chatman advanced Jazmine Hill into scoring position at third. Big bat Tatnall ended the game in highlight-reel fashion with a two-run walkoff for the Sun Devil 7-5 win.
.@alli_tat CALLED GAME!! Her 2-run shot walks it off against #10 Kentucky in the 11th ?? #OnTheBoat pic.twitter.com/MTKHahQvfA
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 16, 2020
Hey @alli_tat you dropped this... ?? pic.twitter.com/zzfy76TxUt
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 16, 2020
Up next:
Arizona State (8-2) continues hosting the Littlewood Classic tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 16. The game against Boise State (6-3) will be at 3 p.m. at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Fans can follow @ASUSoftball on Twitter to keep up all season long.