TEMPE -- In the second day of tournament play at the Sun Devil Classic, the No. 17 Arizona State softball team split their doubleheader Saturday evening at Farrington Stadium. The Sun Devils started the day with a 12-0 shutout against Southern Utah but fell 10-1 to Wisconsin.
"We have the makeup to do some things that are really good but we've got to play together," said Head Coach Trisha Ford, "We can't take games off. This game is hard but our team is close and I know they're going to bring it all together."
Game 1: ASU 12, Southern Utah 0
The first two innings were scoreless with Macy Simmons and Lindsay Lopez making their first career starts as Sun Devils. At the top of the first three, Simmons had caught two foul outs behind the plate and Lopez recorded a single hit allowed with zero earned runs.
The Sun Devils were the first on the scoreboard with eight runs at the bottom of the third inning. Kiara Kennedy and Makenna Harper started things off with two doubles in a row. A sacrifice fly from Maddi Hackbarth put the first tick on the board as Kennedy was batted in. Jazmine Hill hit a triple and ended up scoring on an error by the Thunderbird catcher. Hill's hit collected earned runs by Bella Loomis and Harper, extending the Sun Devil lead 4-1. After a single to right field from Simmons to bring home DeNae Chatman and Lopez, Kennedy hit a home run to left field - her second of the weekend - to double ASU's lead, 8-0.
ASU had four runs at the bottom of the fourth inning. Kindra Hackbarth had a leadoff home run - also her second of the Sun Devil Classic - followed by Maddi Hackbarth with a three-run home run, totaling her sixth of the season.
At the top of the fifth, Samantha Mejia entered the circle and Mailey McLemore went to first base for Jordyn Vanhook. ASU's plate performance was supplemented by a strong defensive showing in a shutout of the Thunderbirds.
Game 2: ASU 1, Wisconsin 10
The game started off at a rapid pace with two strikeouts from Madison Preston and three runs from Wisconsin at the top of the first. Preston found her groove in the top of the second inning, forcing the Badgers three-and-out - including two swinging strikeouts. After a two-run home run from the Badgers, Preston delivered another strikeout, for her sixth through three innings.
With bases loaded at the top of the fourth, Cielo Meza stepped in to relieve Preston but Wisconsin had a grand slam that contributed to their five-run inning. The Sun Devils worked to hold off the Badgers offense at the top of the fifth and Meza finished things off with a strikeout.
At the bottom of the fifth, Maddi Hackbarth sent a lead-off single to left center followed by a double to left field from Alli Tatnall. Makenna Harper took the plate with two outs and hit a deep right field single that brought home pinch runner Olivia Miller for ASU's sole run of the game.
Up next:
Arizona State (15-6) continues as host of the Sun Devil Classic tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 1. The Sun Devils' final game of the tournament against Maryland (8-9) is at 12:00 p.m. at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
"We have the makeup to do some things that are really good but we've got to play together," said Head Coach Trisha Ford, "We can't take games off. This game is hard but our team is close and I know they're going to bring it all together."
Game 1: ASU 12, Southern Utah 0
The first two innings were scoreless with Macy Simmons and Lindsay Lopez making their first career starts as Sun Devils. At the top of the first three, Simmons had caught two foul outs behind the plate and Lopez recorded a single hit allowed with zero earned runs.
An impressive first career start for @lindsay_lopez18 ?? pic.twitter.com/HsU3l9MLUj
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 29, 2020
The Sun Devils were the first on the scoreboard with eight runs at the bottom of the third inning. Kiara Kennedy and Makenna Harper started things off with two doubles in a row. A sacrifice fly from Maddi Hackbarth put the first tick on the board as Kennedy was batted in. Jazmine Hill hit a triple and ended up scoring on an error by the Thunderbird catcher. Hill's hit collected earned runs by Bella Loomis and Harper, extending the Sun Devil lead 4-1. After a single to right field from Simmons to bring home DeNae Chatman and Lopez, Kennedy hit a home run to left field - her second of the weekend - to double ASU's lead, 8-0.
B3 | OH! She on a roll this weekend??@keeeks03 makes this game 8-0 after a blast to the scoreboard! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/s3epKcyr89
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 29, 2020
ASU had four runs at the bottom of the fourth inning. Kindra Hackbarth had a leadoff home run - also her second of the Sun Devil Classic - followed by Maddi Hackbarth with a three-run home run, totaling her sixth of the season.
Ohhhhh she's a BEAUTY @maddihack ?? pic.twitter.com/qnS4y47LXr
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 29, 2020
At the top of the fifth, Samantha Mejia entered the circle and Mailey McLemore went to first base for Jordyn Vanhook. ASU's plate performance was supplemented by a strong defensive showing in a shutout of the Thunderbirds.
Game 2: ASU 1, Wisconsin 10
The game started off at a rapid pace with two strikeouts from Madison Preston and three runs from Wisconsin at the top of the first. Preston found her groove in the top of the second inning, forcing the Badgers three-and-out - including two swinging strikeouts. After a two-run home run from the Badgers, Preston delivered another strikeout, for her sixth through three innings.
With bases loaded at the top of the fourth, Cielo Meza stepped in to relieve Preston but Wisconsin had a grand slam that contributed to their five-run inning. The Sun Devils worked to hold off the Badgers offense at the top of the fifth and Meza finished things off with a strikeout.
At the bottom of the fifth, Maddi Hackbarth sent a lead-off single to left center followed by a double to left field from Alli Tatnall. Makenna Harper took the plate with two outs and hit a deep right field single that brought home pinch runner Olivia Miller for ASU's sole run of the game.
Devs split the series with Wisconsin Final: 10-1 pic.twitter.com/ytaKfI1hdo
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 1, 2020
Up next:
Arizona State (15-6) continues as host of the Sun Devil Classic tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 1. The Sun Devils' final game of the tournament against Maryland (8-9) is at 12:00 p.m. at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.