CATHEDRAL CITY -- The No. 16 Arizona State softball team finished the 2020 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a 3-3 neutral site record after a 4-3 loss to Cal State Fullerton on Sunday afternoon. ASU's big-bat offense kept the Sun Devils on the top of the tournament's home run leader board with 11 in four days of play.
Unlike the last two losses at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, the Sun Devils landed on the board first in Sunday's matchup against Cal State Fullerton. With two outs, Kindra Hackbarth scored on an RBI single to left field from Alynah Torres.
Starting pitcher Madison Preston threw the initial 3.1 innings, serving seven strikeouts in 14 batters faced. Fullerton scored all four of its runs in the top of the fourth with Preston on the mound. Cielo Meza entered as relief with one out and forced two swinging strikeouts to get the Sun Devils back to hitting.
A solo homerun from Maddi Hackbarth in the bottom of the fifth cut the lead in half. M. Hackbarth knocked three over the fence in the last three days in games against Cal State Fullerton, Notre Dame and San Diego.
ASU defense went one-two-three at the top of the sixth with Meza on the mound. Mailey McLemore pinch ran at first for Denae Chatman's right field single. McLemore advanced to second and third base off back-to-back Titan wild pitches. Next, Yanni Acuña walked as a pinch hitter for Halle Harger to fill the corners as Jordyn Vanhook pinch hit for Kiara Kennedy. Vanhook earned an RBI on her sacrifice fly to right field that brought McLemore home.
Up next: Arizona State hosts its third tournament of the season, the Sun Devil Classic, this weekend at the Alberta B. Farrington Stadium. The Classic features games against Maryland, Southern Utah and Wisconsin on Friday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 1. Fans can purchase tickets to the Sun Devil Classic here.
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 23, 2020
Unlike the last two losses at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, the Sun Devils landed on the board first in Sunday's matchup against Cal State Fullerton. With two outs, Kindra Hackbarth scored on an RBI single to left field from Alynah Torres.
Starting pitcher Madison Preston threw the initial 3.1 innings, serving seven strikeouts in 14 batters faced. Fullerton scored all four of its runs in the top of the fourth with Preston on the mound. Cielo Meza entered as relief with one out and forced two swinging strikeouts to get the Sun Devils back to hitting.
1?3? strikeouts between @PrestonMadi and @cielomeza50 through six innings
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 23, 2020
Longtime season ticket holder Joanna Burton is counting 'em all ?? pic.twitter.com/NEpaQLEPfG
A solo homerun from Maddi Hackbarth in the bottom of the fifth cut the lead in half. M. Hackbarth knocked three over the fence in the last three days in games against Cal State Fullerton, Notre Dame and San Diego.
??Maddi HACKbarth??@MaddiHack is on a DIFFERENT level. 3rd Home Run of the weekend ??
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 23, 2020
?? @FloSoftball ?? https://t.co/CdMmjz6wYK pic.twitter.com/edKIY5QkTn
ASU defense went one-two-three at the top of the sixth with Meza on the mound. Mailey McLemore pinch ran at first for Denae Chatman's right field single. McLemore advanced to second and third base off back-to-back Titan wild pitches. Next, Yanni Acuña walked as a pinch hitter for Halle Harger to fill the corners as Jordyn Vanhook pinch hit for Kiara Kennedy. Vanhook earned an RBI on her sacrifice fly to right field that brought McLemore home.
The Sun Devils return to Farrington Stadium on Friday to face Maryland #OnTheBoat pic.twitter.com/jpA5feiac7
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 24, 2020
Up next: Arizona State hosts its third tournament of the season, the Sun Devil Classic, this weekend at the Alberta B. Farrington Stadium. The Classic features games against Maryland, Southern Utah and Wisconsin on Friday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 1. Fans can purchase tickets to the Sun Devil Classic here.