TEMPE – Late inning heroics by second baseman Jazmyn Rollin fuels Arizona State's upset win over No. 8 Washington, 3-1, at Farrington Stadium on Saturday night. Rollin doubled in the go-ahead run to break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Kenzie Brown closed out the win by stranding the bases loaded in the top of the seventh for her ninth with of the season. Brown worked the final four innings without allowing a hit. She relived Kylee Magee, who opened with three hitless innings before leaving, having allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts.
ASU (19-11, 3-5) managed just four hits, with three coming during the decisive sixth-inning run. The Sun Devils' pitching staff countered by holding Washington (26-7, 7-4) to just two hits – both in the fourth inning – while striking out four.
Yanni Acuña doubled in the first and singled in the sixth for two of the team's hits. She also scored two runs. Alexa Milius and Rollin provided the other two hits for the Sun Devils.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Sun Devils look to earn its first conference series win of the season in tomorrow's rubber match with Washington. First pitch is scheduled for noon and the game can be seen on ASU Live Stream.
QUOTES
Arizona State Softball Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On tonights victory:
"I'm really excited for the kids. They're more shocked than we are. We've talked a lot about how your belief system has to be rock solid. We try to tell them that you can hang with these teams, you have to play clean defense. We have to make smart adjustments as the game goes on and the pitching staff gets better every single week it's been amazing to watch. I'm really happy for them and I'm hoping it's going to be a turning point, we have an opportunity to win a series against a top-10 team tomorrow and if we put all three assets of the game together, we can do it."
On Kenzie Brown & Kylee Magee:
"Kenzie (Brown) is an exceptional athlete, she's dynamic on the mound, rise-drop, change-up. We haven't seen it much yet because we've spent so much time trying to get her right and able to compete and be the workhorse on the mound. She's a heck of a hitter and runs the bases like a dream. We're back to the belief system, if Kenzie can start to see herself like everyone else sees her, and keep attacking the strike zone, man she is outstanding, and she's going to get better and better and better. Kylee (Magee) did a really nice job tonight, She is another kid that came to us purely as a rise-baller with a good change up. It's pretty cool when you got three-kids that can legitimately throw one vertical pitch. I couldn't be more pleased with the pitching staff, we'll see how we attack them tomorrow."
On tonight's win being a sense of relief evening up the series:
"Definitely, it's a bit of relief, but I hope all their feeling is confidence and good vibes and they're really feeling like their capable of preforming day-in and day-out in that manner. Weekend-in and weekend-out because if they do that, we're going to have a shot. We have to get those bats hot come the Pac-12 tournament. If we preform like that we're going to make a regional and have to walk into a regional and cause some havoc."
On the amount of substantial competition in the Pac-12:
"Most certainly this year than more-so than ever. We have a little bit more of a spread, UCLA is out in front but you have a couple of teams hovering toward the bottom. But really those teams are having excellent years. How fun that my first year in the Pac-12, everyone is beating up on everyone else. It's definitely a good challenge, I think I'll get a quick education."
Arizona State Pitcher Kenzie Brown
On picking up a win against a top-10 conference opponent:
"I didn't want to overthink it, I was mostly thinking about what I want to eat after. I just trusted my team and trusted Coach Manley and I just was cruising."
On keeping composure during the top of the seventh inning:
"I was just trying to not let the moment get too big because we were still ahead two runs and I really trusted my defense behind me."
On pitching in a big moment:
"I actually got emotional whenever the crowd started going that last batter, I'm just so thankful that the coaching staff here trusted me and my defense trusts me and I'm starting to trust myself."
Arizona State Infielder Jazmyn Rollin
On having momentum going into tomorrow's game:
"All of the hard work we have been putting in is coming together, we're always one hit away, one error away, we're always just one thing away. Today we showed that fighting and grinding it out and figuring it out and just finding a way to put a win together."
On keys for the team going into tomorrow:
"Attack, we're just telling our pitchers to attack the zone and allow our defense to work like we mentioned. We haven't had any errors, mentality of just attacking every time. Recently we've been on our heels playing scared, right now we're just attacking and going for it. We have nothing to lose at this point."
On message to younger teammates as a fifth year senior:
"I think a huge part of it is honestly taking a breath and understanding your teammates are behind you. Right now we have a lot of veterans trying to do it alone because we have such a young team, so allowing everybody to work around you. It's feeding into the next person, going to the next person since we're having a huge team affair right now instead of just one player by one player, we're allowing everyone to work and just attack. It's always go for you and the person next to you."
Kenzie Brown closed out the win by stranding the bases loaded in the top of the seventh for her ninth with of the season. Brown worked the final four innings without allowing a hit. She relived Kylee Magee, who opened with three hitless innings before leaving, having allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts.
ASU (19-11, 3-5) managed just four hits, with three coming during the decisive sixth-inning run. The Sun Devils' pitching staff countered by holding Washington (26-7, 7-4) to just two hits – both in the fourth inning – while striking out four.
Yanni Acuña doubled in the first and singled in the sixth for two of the team's hits. She also scored two runs. Alexa Milius and Rollin provided the other two hits for the Sun Devils.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Leading off the opening frame, Acuña belted a double into the gap in left center and then scored when an Milius infield chopper was thrown away for a Washington error.
- Magee held the Huskies hitless through the first three innings, but the fourth started with back-to-back hits. Brown then came on in relief and got out of a bases loaded and one-out jam by allowing just a sacrifice fly that tied the game.
- Both teams continued to come up empty at the plate until Acuña and Milius each singled to start the sixth inning. Rollin followed with a double to right center that scored Acuña and she took third as Milius was thrown out at the plate.
- Makenna Harper provided an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to score Rollin and five the Sun Devils a 3-1 lead heading to the seventh.
- Washington used a pair of walks and a hit by pitch to lead the bases before Brown struck out Madison Huskey to seal the win.
- Acuña managed to obtain the 150th hit of her Sun Devil career with that first-inning double. Dating back to the start of last season, Acuña has 100 hits in the last 84 games, with 62 RBIs.
- Acuña's single to start the sixth inning gave her the 47th multi-hit game of her career.
- The go-ahead double from Rollin was her second double of the season and first extra-bast hit since homering on March 18 against Minnesota.
- Rollin has now picked up an RBI in each of the first two games of the series.
- Harper managed the sixth sacrifice fly of her career, and first of the season in the sixth inning. The RBI was her first since March 4 against Michigan State.
- Jordyn VanHook drew a pair of walks for the second straight game. She entered the weekend having drawn two walks in a game just once in her career.
- This is the third straight appearance by Brown in which she hasn't allowed a run and the fourth in her past five outings. During this five appearances she has compiled 17 strikeouts in 14 innings.
The Sun Devils look to earn its first conference series win of the season in tomorrow's rubber match with Washington. First pitch is scheduled for noon and the game can be seen on ASU Live Stream.
QUOTES
Arizona State Softball Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On tonights victory:
"I'm really excited for the kids. They're more shocked than we are. We've talked a lot about how your belief system has to be rock solid. We try to tell them that you can hang with these teams, you have to play clean defense. We have to make smart adjustments as the game goes on and the pitching staff gets better every single week it's been amazing to watch. I'm really happy for them and I'm hoping it's going to be a turning point, we have an opportunity to win a series against a top-10 team tomorrow and if we put all three assets of the game together, we can do it."
On Kenzie Brown & Kylee Magee:
"Kenzie (Brown) is an exceptional athlete, she's dynamic on the mound, rise-drop, change-up. We haven't seen it much yet because we've spent so much time trying to get her right and able to compete and be the workhorse on the mound. She's a heck of a hitter and runs the bases like a dream. We're back to the belief system, if Kenzie can start to see herself like everyone else sees her, and keep attacking the strike zone, man she is outstanding, and she's going to get better and better and better. Kylee (Magee) did a really nice job tonight, She is another kid that came to us purely as a rise-baller with a good change up. It's pretty cool when you got three-kids that can legitimately throw one vertical pitch. I couldn't be more pleased with the pitching staff, we'll see how we attack them tomorrow."
On tonight's win being a sense of relief evening up the series:
"Definitely, it's a bit of relief, but I hope all their feeling is confidence and good vibes and they're really feeling like their capable of preforming day-in and day-out in that manner. Weekend-in and weekend-out because if they do that, we're going to have a shot. We have to get those bats hot come the Pac-12 tournament. If we preform like that we're going to make a regional and have to walk into a regional and cause some havoc."
On the amount of substantial competition in the Pac-12:
"Most certainly this year than more-so than ever. We have a little bit more of a spread, UCLA is out in front but you have a couple of teams hovering toward the bottom. But really those teams are having excellent years. How fun that my first year in the Pac-12, everyone is beating up on everyone else. It's definitely a good challenge, I think I'll get a quick education."
Arizona State Pitcher Kenzie Brown
On picking up a win against a top-10 conference opponent:
"I didn't want to overthink it, I was mostly thinking about what I want to eat after. I just trusted my team and trusted Coach Manley and I just was cruising."
On keeping composure during the top of the seventh inning:
"I was just trying to not let the moment get too big because we were still ahead two runs and I really trusted my defense behind me."
On pitching in a big moment:
"I actually got emotional whenever the crowd started going that last batter, I'm just so thankful that the coaching staff here trusted me and my defense trusts me and I'm starting to trust myself."
Arizona State Infielder Jazmyn Rollin
On having momentum going into tomorrow's game:
"All of the hard work we have been putting in is coming together, we're always one hit away, one error away, we're always just one thing away. Today we showed that fighting and grinding it out and figuring it out and just finding a way to put a win together."
On keys for the team going into tomorrow:
"Attack, we're just telling our pitchers to attack the zone and allow our defense to work like we mentioned. We haven't had any errors, mentality of just attacking every time. Recently we've been on our heels playing scared, right now we're just attacking and going for it. We have nothing to lose at this point."
On message to younger teammates as a fifth year senior:
"I think a huge part of it is honestly taking a breath and understanding your teammates are behind you. Right now we have a lot of veterans trying to do it alone because we have such a young team, so allowing everybody to work around you. It's feeding into the next person, going to the next person since we're having a huge team affair right now instead of just one player by one player, we're allowing everyone to work and just attack. It's always go for you and the person next to you."