Tempe, Ariz.- On the third day of the Littlewood Classic, No. 21 Sun Devil Softball continued their hot streak in the first game of the doubleheader against Illinois State (0-8), with six runs in the second inning and adding two more in the third and three more in the fourth to win 12-2 in five innings. In the second game of the doubleheader against Minnesota (6-4), Arizona State (6-3) came up short in the second matchup with the Gophers during the Classic on Saturday night, 7-5.
Against the Redbirds, Marissa Schuld pitched a complete game and got her second win of the season, striking out eight batters and with zero walks. Schuld did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth inning. The last time a pitcher only allowed two hits was last March against Northern Illinois.
Sophomore Allison Royalty got the start in the circle for the second game, where she walked just two batters when Mac Morgan came in to relieve her in the circle in the third inning. Lindsay Lopez went in the top of the fifth inning where she pitched the rest of the game for the Sun Devils and had four strikeouts.
Game 1: ASU 12, ISU 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game 2: UMN 7, ASU 5
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Up Next: The Sun Devils close out the Littlewood Classic on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against UTEP. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream.
QUOTES:
Head coach Trisha Ford
On moving forward to final game of Littlewood Classic
"I think we need to come ready to pitch, we'll bounce back, I know that but we just got to put all three together. We got a chance at the end of that game, that's all you can ask for. We've already prepared for our next game, so for us it's to get some sleep tonight, refocus and stick to our game plan."
On Marissa Schuld
"My heart's happy to see her being able to compete. That kid's gone through a lot, so I think she's going to help us tremendously in the circle and she offensively can hit the ball, she's got a great swing. This is just her getting back into it."
Marissa Schuld
On today's performance and getting to play more games
"l think both games are definitely learning experiences for us all. And we'll learn from it as a team and me individually. I'm definitely more comfortable and I'm excited to be back. This is what I've been working for my whole life, so I'm excited."
Against the Redbirds, Marissa Schuld pitched a complete game and got her second win of the season, striking out eight batters and with zero walks. Schuld did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth inning. The last time a pitcher only allowed two hits was last March against Northern Illinois.
Sophomore Allison Royalty got the start in the circle for the second game, where she walked just two batters when Mac Morgan came in to relieve her in the circle in the third inning. Lindsay Lopez went in the top of the fifth inning where she pitched the rest of the game for the Sun Devils and had four strikeouts.
Game 1: ASU 12, ISU 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Sun Devils started the game by getting their first four base runners on base due to walks, this eventually scored their first run of the game. After one inning of play, ASU led 1-0.
- Six runs were scored in the second inning from hits by Makenna Harper and a double by Jazmine Hill bringing in two runners. Then Cydney Sanders cleared the bases with a three run home-run to extend the Sun Devil lead to five runs. ASU had a demanding 6-0 lead over the Redbirds.
- Hill continued the hot bats for the Sun Devils with a single, followed by Acuna getting on base, letting Sanders and Alynah Torrez to both bring in two runs a piece to give ASU a 9-0 lead after three innings.
- ASU scored three more runs in the fourth inning after Hill continued her hot streak bringing in two more Sun Devils, as Emily Cazares brought in one more runner to bring the Sun Devil lead 12-0. The Sun Devils had another night reaching double figures in hits as they had 10 in the game while allowing two hits from ISU.
Game 2: UMN 7, ASU 5
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Minnesota struck first in the top of the first as the Gophers had a single to right field, bringing in a run. The Gophers had their second run of the game on a leadoff home run to center field to make it 2-0 for Minnesota in the top of the second inning.
- Jazmyn Rollin, who had her first home run as a Sun Devil in the first game with the Gophers on Thursday, homered to left center to put ASU on the board in the bottom of the second. Bella Loomis reached on an error by the pitcher, scoring Makenna Harper in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game, 2-2. A single from Sanders with two down brought in Loomis and Jessica Puk to give the Sun Devils the lead, 4-2.
- On a single to third base in the top of the third inning, the Gophers scored to be within one of the Sun Devils, 4-3.
- A single to left field by the Gophers in the fourth inning scored two runs and a third was scored from a single to right field to make it 6-4 for Minnesota.
- Kristiana Watson hit a home run to left field to bring ASU back within one of the Gophers, 6-5, in the bottom of the sixth inning.
- Minnesota had a solo home run to right field in the top of the final inning to bring it back ahead by two runs where it would hold on in the bottom of the seventh to get the win.
Up Next: The Sun Devils close out the Littlewood Classic on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against UTEP. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream.
QUOTES:
Head coach Trisha Ford
On moving forward to final game of Littlewood Classic
"I think we need to come ready to pitch, we'll bounce back, I know that but we just got to put all three together. We got a chance at the end of that game, that's all you can ask for. We've already prepared for our next game, so for us it's to get some sleep tonight, refocus and stick to our game plan."
On Marissa Schuld
"My heart's happy to see her being able to compete. That kid's gone through a lot, so I think she's going to help us tremendously in the circle and she offensively can hit the ball, she's got a great swing. This is just her getting back into it."
Marissa Schuld
On today's performance and getting to play more games
"l think both games are definitely learning experiences for us all. And we'll learn from it as a team and me individually. I'm definitely more comfortable and I'm excited to be back. This is what I've been working for my whole life, so I'm excited."