Sun Devil Softball Sweeps Pac-12 Weekly Awards

SAN FRANCISCO – Sun Devil Softball set ripples through the softball waters this past weekend with their Territorial Cup Series sweep in Tucson which led to making their mark in the conference this week by sweeping the Pac-12 Weekly Awards. Cydney Sanders was named Freshman Player of the Week, Yannira Acuña was named Pac-12 Player of the Week and Marissa Schuld stole the show with the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
 
Schuld's perfect game on Sunday afternoon landed her a mark on the map and etched her in Arizona State history as the eighth overall perfect game, along with her 0.00 ERA on the weekend.
 
Acuña and Sanders combined for 12 hits, five doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI with their total of 19 at-bats. Both had solo homers during their Tucson home run derby.
 
The trio has contributed to helping the Sun Devils win 14-straight games and their 13th time in program history defeating the Wildcats. 
 
This is the first time since the addition of the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week that Arizona State players have claimed the trio of Pac-12 Softball Awards.
 
"The series sweep over Arizona was a total team effort by everyone on this roster," head coach Trisha Ford said. "It's always nice to see our athletes receive the recognition that they have earned. To sweep all three awards is the result of how hard these young ladies have worked." 
 
The last time ASU won the Pac-12 Player and Pitcher of the Week was on April 2, 2018 with Marisa Stankiewicz and G Juarez. The last Player of the Week was awarded last season to Maddi Hackbarth on May 30, 2021 and Lindsay Lopez won Freshman of the Week on April 19, 2021.
 
The Sun Devils are the first team in the Pac-12 to win all three awards in one week since March 10, 2020 when UCLA claimed the accolades.
 
Marissa Schuld
Scottsdale, Arizona - Social @marissaschuld17 - Right-Handed Pitcher
 
Schuld, a Scottsdale native, threw her first career perfect game on Sunday afternoon against Arizona where she faced 15 batters in 5.0 IP and walked zero and struck out two. This is the first perfect game for the maroon and gold since 2017.
 
"One of the most difficult things to accomplish in this sport is to throw a perfect game," stated Ford. "To see Marissa dominate against a program like Arizona was impressive. It's very rewarding to see her have the success she has had this season especially after having to sit out all of last year."
 
That wouldn't be all for the pitcher as Friday night, Schuld collected her second save of the season, making her tied for first in the Pac-12 with a pair of UCLA pitchers.
 
She has the fifth overall lowest ERA of the Pac-12 with 1.13.
 
In 55.2 innings this season, Schuld has thrown 77 strikeouts, four walks and two saves with a 8-2 record. She has only allowed four home runs and 34 hits from her opponents.
 
In 15 appearances, she has held her overall ERA to 1.13. 
 
Weekend Statistics Against Arizona -
0.00 ERA, 1-0, 2 app, 1 gs, 1 cg, 1 sv, 8.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 2B, b/avg .040, 0.25 WHIP
 
Yanni Acuña 
Tucson, Arizona - Social @yanniraacuna - Right Fielder
 
Acuña is currently ranked fourth in the NCAA with a 1.013 slugging percentage and third with a 0.606 on base percentage.
 
To accompany her NCAA ranking status, she is first in the Pac-12 with a .494 batting average. 
 
"Yanni has been on a tear these last few weeks. Her consistency has been impressive, especially in big situations," Ford said.
 
During Acuña's senior season campaign, she has 39 hits, 29 RBIs, 12 doubles, one triple and nine home runs along with 16 drawn walks. She also has a slugging percentage of 1.013. 
 
Her fielding is also prectine with 20 putouts, one assist and 1.000 fielding percent.
 
Weekend Statistics Against Arizona - 
.750 avg., 3-3 gp/gs, 8 AB, 6 runs, 6 hits, 3 DB, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 12 TB, 1.500% SLG, .833% OB, 3 HP, 1 BB
2 PO, 1.000% FLD
 
Cydney Sanders
San Marcos, California - @SandersCydney - 1st Baseman
 
Sanders, a true freshman, has won her first weekly award of her career. She is fifth in the NCAA with a 0.594 on base percentage, just two spots below her teammate Acuña.
 
The California native has batted .464 on the season which places her fourth overall in the Pac-12 and has batted in 33 runs for the Sun Devils, earning Sanders third in that category.
 
"You don't see too many freshmen like Cydney Sanders, her presence and approach is more of an upperclassman than a true freshman," Ford stated. "She has been a crucial part to our offense since the day she arrived."
 
Closing in on upperclassman Acuña, Sanders is hitting second on the team with a .467 avg. in 75 at-bats with 30 runs, 35 hits, 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. Her slugging is 1.000%. 
 
At first base, she has had 169 putouts and a .961 fielding percentage.
 
Weekend Statistics Against Arizona -
.545 avg., 3-3 gp/gs, 11 AB, 4 runs, 6 hits, 2 DB, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 14 TB, 1.273% SLG, .583%
18 PO, 1.000% FLD
 
The Sun Devils currently rank second in the Pac-12 as they are 6-0 after their series against Oregon State and Arizona.
 
Schuld, Acuña and Sanders along with the rest of the Sun Devil team will be back in action next weekend, April 8-10 in Eugene taking on the Oregon Ducks.