TEMPE -- On day two of the Kajikawa Classic No. 22/23 Arizona State softball split their double header Saturday evening. The Sun Devils began the day with a 9-7 loss against Western Michigan, and then battled back against No. 14 Northwestern with a walk-off home run win by senior Kindra Hackbarth.
Saturday night's win is the first walk-off hit since last season on March 24, 2019 against Utah.
Sun Devil junior Kiara Kennedy and K. Hackbarth both tallied their first home run of this season while freshman Alynah Torres hit her second home run in as many nights.
"After the loss we huddled up as a team and Northwestern hosted regionals last year," said Kindra Hackbarth. "We wanted to show them who should host regionals this year, so we just went in with a dogfight and it worked out for us."
Game 1: ASU 7, Western Michigan 9
Despite making a late push against Western Michigan, the Sun Devils ultimately fell short 9-7.
Western Michigan struck first in the second inning scoring off an error and then on a triple to take a 3-0 lead over the Devils. However, ASU's offense bounced back with a home run from DeNae Chatman to chop the lead to two runs. Three batters later Jazmine Hill doubled to left centerfield which sent a runner home. Kindra Hackbarth followed with another double, this time to right center, bringing home two runners to give the Sun Devils a 4-3 lead.
In three innings the Broncos hit two home runs and put together six runs. The Sun Devils were unable to muster up their bats until the sixth inning when they started to put a dent in the 9-4 Bronco lead.
K. Hackbarth went up to bat with the bases loaded and hit an infield single to bring Kiara Kennedy across the plate. As the loaded bases continued, Bella Loomis advanced to first on an error by Western Michigan's second baseman which allowed Jazmine Hill to score making the game 9-6. Maddi Hackbarth then flied out to right field --- Yannira Acuña got the sign to run home for the seventh and final run.
Game 2: ASU 6 , No. 14 Northwestern 4
On the first pitch of the game, Northwestern hit a home run to put the Wildcats up by one. Starting pitcher Cielo Meza and the defense finished out the rest of the first inning without anymore damage done. In the first round of at-bats the Sun Devils were unsuccessful.
Three batters in the second inning, Northwestern hit an infield single followed by a triple to centerfield to give them a 2-0 lead. ASU responded back in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back home runs. Freshman Alynah Torres hit a towering solo-shot to get the Devils on the board. Kiara Kennedy complimented Torres' home run with a solo-shot herself to tie the game 2-2.
The Wildcats went back to work in the third with a two-run home run to regain the two run lead they had over the Devils. After shutting down the offense in the following frame, Maddi Hackbarth led the Sun Devil offense with a hopping double past the Northwestern shortstop. Alli Tatnall hit a line-hugging double to keep the momentum rolling. Torres then reached on a fielder's choice, but Tatnall was out at second and M. Hackbarth was able to run home to make a 4-3 game.
In the fifth inning, junior transfer Madison Preston relieved Cielo Meza in the circle after giving up a lead-off single. Preston retired the next three Wildcat batters to end the top of the frame. K. Hackbarth popped a single over the third baseman's head to get herself on base. Loomis hit a triple down the right field line to bring in K. Hackbarth for the tying run.
The Sun Devil defense backed up Preston, putting two outs on the board, but with a single past first base, the Wildcats were up by one once again. It was a quiet bottom of the frame for the Devils' offense.
Preston shut down three batters to give the offense another chance. With Acuña on first base from a single, K. Hackbarth stepped into the batter's box and with two strikes under her belt she blasted one past the right field fence for a walk-off home run to finish the game.
After coming back from behind, Preston walked away from Saturday night's game as the winning pitcher for the second-straight night.
Up Next
ASU is back in action tomorrow, Sunday, February 9 for day three of the Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils will play one game against Seattle at 2:00 p.m. MST and will be broadcasted on the Pac-12 Network. Fans can follow @ASUSoftball on Twitter to keep up all season long with Sun Devil Softball.
Saturday night's win is the first walk-off hit since last season on March 24, 2019 against Utah.
WALK IT OFF #AllAmerican ??
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 9, 2020
Down goes No. 14?? pic.twitter.com/at4PCpZEjn
Sun Devil junior Kiara Kennedy and K. Hackbarth both tallied their first home run of this season while freshman Alynah Torres hit her second home run in as many nights.
"After the loss we huddled up as a team and Northwestern hosted regionals last year," said Kindra Hackbarth. "We wanted to show them who should host regionals this year, so we just went in with a dogfight and it worked out for us."
Game 1: ASU 7, Western Michigan 9
Despite making a late push against Western Michigan, the Sun Devils ultimately fell short 9-7.
Western Michigan struck first in the second inning scoring off an error and then on a triple to take a 3-0 lead over the Devils. However, ASU's offense bounced back with a home run from DeNae Chatman to chop the lead to two runs. Three batters later Jazmine Hill doubled to left centerfield which sent a runner home. Kindra Hackbarth followed with another double, this time to right center, bringing home two runners to give the Sun Devils a 4-3 lead.
In three innings the Broncos hit two home runs and put together six runs. The Sun Devils were unable to muster up their bats until the sixth inning when they started to put a dent in the 9-4 Bronco lead.
K. Hackbarth went up to bat with the bases loaded and hit an infield single to bring Kiara Kennedy across the plate. As the loaded bases continued, Bella Loomis advanced to first on an error by Western Michigan's second baseman which allowed Jazmine Hill to score making the game 9-6. Maddi Hackbarth then flied out to right field --- Yannira Acuña got the sign to run home for the seventh and final run.
Game 2: ASU 6 , No. 14 Northwestern 4
On the first pitch of the game, Northwestern hit a home run to put the Wildcats up by one. Starting pitcher Cielo Meza and the defense finished out the rest of the first inning without anymore damage done. In the first round of at-bats the Sun Devils were unsuccessful.
Three batters in the second inning, Northwestern hit an infield single followed by a triple to centerfield to give them a 2-0 lead. ASU responded back in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back home runs. Freshman Alynah Torres hit a towering solo-shot to get the Devils on the board. Kiara Kennedy complimented Torres' home run with a solo-shot herself to tie the game 2-2.
The Wildcats went back to work in the third with a two-run home run to regain the two run lead they had over the Devils. After shutting down the offense in the following frame, Maddi Hackbarth led the Sun Devil offense with a hopping double past the Northwestern shortstop. Alli Tatnall hit a line-hugging double to keep the momentum rolling. Torres then reached on a fielder's choice, but Tatnall was out at second and M. Hackbarth was able to run home to make a 4-3 game.
In the fifth inning, junior transfer Madison Preston relieved Cielo Meza in the circle after giving up a lead-off single. Preston retired the next three Wildcat batters to end the top of the frame. K. Hackbarth popped a single over the third baseman's head to get herself on base. Loomis hit a triple down the right field line to bring in K. Hackbarth for the tying run.
The Sun Devil defense backed up Preston, putting two outs on the board, but with a single past first base, the Wildcats were up by one once again. It was a quiet bottom of the frame for the Devils' offense.
Preston shut down three batters to give the offense another chance. With Acuña on first base from a single, K. Hackbarth stepped into the batter's box and with two strikes under her belt she blasted one past the right field fence for a walk-off home run to finish the game.
?? Just @kindiboo things ????? pic.twitter.com/I5PXSDrGgW
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 9, 2020
After coming back from behind, Preston walked away from Saturday night's game as the winning pitcher for the second-straight night.
Up Next
ASU is back in action tomorrow, Sunday, February 9 for day three of the Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils will play one game against Seattle at 2:00 p.m. MST and will be broadcasted on the Pac-12 Network. Fans can follow @ASUSoftball on Twitter to keep up all season long with Sun Devil Softball.