Softball Shuts Out NM State in Run Rule

Tempe, Ariz– Sun Devil Softball continued the weekend at Farrington with another run-rule shutout with No. 23 Arizona State softball (15-5) defeated the New Mexico State Aggies (5-12) with a score of 10-0 in five innings.

The Sun Devils hot bats continued as Senior Yannira Acuña went a perfect two-for-two which included a two-run home run, her third home run of the weekend. Junior Jazmine Hill hit a home run to extend the lead, and Makenna Harper hit her first home run on the season with a bases clearing grand slam.

The ball stood NO CHANCE with this HARPER HOMER! ????

B4: ASU 1??0?? – NM State 0??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/S3O2JW9CRR

— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 11, 2022

Sophomore Marissa Schuld started in the circle for the Sun Devils she pitched four innings with six strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs. Sophomore Allison Royalty came in for relief in the top of the fifth inning where she struck out two to close the game for the Sun Devils.
 

Ended the 2nd with two-home runs! Including this moonshot by @Jazmine_h77!

E2: ASU 6?? – NM State 0??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/P3NH6Xn2UB

— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 11, 2022

How It happened:

• Junior Alynah Torres led off the bottom of the first with a double into right field. She advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Acuña singled into center to bring in Torres and give ASU the early 1-0 lead. With no outs and one on base true freshman Cydney Sanders hit a double into right center to put two runners in scoring position. Emily Cazares stepped up to the plate next where she singled into right field, scoring Acuña and advancing to second on the throw to home. The Sun Devils took a 2-0 lead into the second inning.
• Jessica Puk started the ASU half of the second inning with a walk. Puk then stole second base to place one runner in scoring position for the Sun Devils. Torres took to bat next where she singled into center to bring in Puk extending the lead to 3-0. With one on base Acuña stayed hot with a two-run homer into right center giving ASU the 5-0 advantage. The home runs kept coming as Jazmine Hill hit a solo shot into left field tacking on one more to make it 6-0 ASU. 
• Jazmyn Rollin walked to start the bottom of the third. She advanced to second on a wild pitch then stole third base. However, she was stranded on third to end the inning. The Sun Devils took the 6-0 lead into the fourth.
• Torres singled into center field to lead of the Sun Devils in the bottom of the fourth. Yanni Acuña then walked followed by a Sanders single to load the bases for ASU. Makenna Harper who replaced Hill to play left field was up to bat next. Harper hit a grand slam into center field to extend the Sun Devil lead to 10-0.
• Schuld pitched four scoreless innings, earning her fourth win of the season.

Senior Makenna Harper:
On her thoughts during her grand slam at-bat:
"I thought I should make it a hard out. Score at least one run, do something productive in the box." 

Head Coach Trisha Ford:
On challenging her team before conference play:
"I think this weekend what we are really focused on is coming out and playing our game." 
 

Home runs ?? @SunDevilBeachVB@yanniraacuna is making besties with the new facility ??

B2: ASU 6?? – NM state 0??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/U35wmDRpMQ

— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 11, 2022

Up Next:
Tomorrow on the third day of the Sun Devil Classic, Arizona State will have a doubleheader against Rutgers at 2:30 p.m. MST. In game two the Sun Devils will have a matchup with New Mexico State at 5:00 p.m. MST. All of the games for the Sun Devils this weekend can be viewed on the ASU Live Stream.

Fans can keep up with all the news and action of ASU Softball this weekend and the rest of the season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter and Facebook and @SunDevilSB on Instagram


Game Schedule:
March 12-
ASU vs. Rutgers @ 2:30 p.m. (Live Stats)
ASU vs. New Mexico State @ 5:00 p.m. (Live Stats)
 
March 13-
ASU vs. Ball State @ 12:30 p.m. (Live Stats)

Game Notes Facts:

• The Sun Devils faced the Cougars of BYU twice during the regular season when BYU traveled to Tempe and ASU picked up two wins as the Sun Devils lead the all-time series 16-1 where the first matchup came in 1974.
• This will be the second time in program history that ASU has taken on UMKC. In the first matchup between the programs in 2008, the Sun Devils won 15-2 by run-rule.
• The Sun Devils look to take a lead in the all-time series against Ball State as they are currently at a 1-1 tie where ASU won a 10-0 shutout over BSU back in 1998.
• ASU has a 3-0 lead over Rutgers in the all-time series where it defeated Rutgers 19-0 in a game back in 2010.
• In a series dating 50 years, ASU holds an all-time series lead over New Mexico State 41-7.
• Not only does Cydney Sanders lead her team in batting averages, but she also is eighth in the country for her average. She accumulated six hits over the weekend with two of those being home runs.
• Marissa Schuld continues to tally up strikeouts as she's had 42 throughout the season while pitching 29.1 innings and allowing just two walks.
• Yani Acuña's 15 RBIs on the season is good for 23rd in the country and her batting average is currently ninth in the country.