Sun Devils Steal Game One in Doubleheader Split at Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – No. 25 Sun Devil softball dropped its series at Utah after the teams split a doubleheader on Saturday. Arizona State came out fast to take game one 10-8 but fell behind early and ran out of time in a 10-8 game two loss.

Kylee Magee picked up her third win of the season in the day's opener after holding Utah to three runs on five hits in four innings. The offense came through with 11 hits – including five for extra bases – to produce 10 runs and the third game this season in double figures. ASU swiped nine bases in the win, including a program record five by Yanni Acuña.

A seven-run second inning by Utah proved to be enough of a cushion to lead to a split of the day's games. Home runs from Shannon Cunningham and Hill would pull ASU within two, but it would be enough in the end.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Arizona State 10, Utah 8

• ASU got on the board first with a solo home run from Jordyn VanHook in the top of the second inning.
• After Utah tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, Acuña came around to score on a Utah error in the third.
• Savannah Price tripled with one out in the fourth inning and scored on a single from Kalyn McCarthy.
• Acuña followed with a double to score McCarthy and scored on a wild pitch after stealing third. Makenna Harper doubled, and then Alexa Milius drove in another run with a fielder's choice to make it 6-1.
• Utah cut into the Sun Devil lead with three runs in the fifth inning, and the score remained 6-4 through six.
• Acuña picked up her third hit and second RBI with a single in the seventh. She then stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Jazmyn Rollin walked to set up a double steal with Acuña for an 8-4 lead.
• Jazmine Hill then homered to left to extend the margin to 10-4.
• Utah rallied with four in the bottom of the seventh but stranded a pair of runners to end the game.

Game 2: Utah 10, Arizona State 8

• Utah took advantage of four walks and a hit-by-pitch to score seven times in the bottom of the second.
• Alexa Milius got the Sun Devils on the board with a two-run single with the bases loaded in the third inning. 
• Trailing 8-4 in the fifth inning, Jazmine Hill doubled down the line and scored on a two-run homer from Shannon Cunningham that made it 8-4.
• Hill cut into the deficit even more with a two-run home run to center field with one out in the Sun Devil sixth.

NOTABLES

• Arizona State finished game one with nine stolen bases. That is the most in a game by a Sun Devil team since they had 11 against Howard on March 2, 2012.
• The five extra-base hits by the Sun Devils in game one are the most in a game since they had six against Houston on March 5.
• Acuña's RBI single in the seventh inning of game one was the 100th RBI of her career.
• Acuña's five stolen bases in the first game are the most by a Sun Devil in a game since at least 2012, when records are currently available. She also matched the season-high by any player in the country this season.
• McCarthy made her first career start in game one and recorded her first career hit and RBI with a single in the fourth inning.
• VanHook's home run was her Pac-12-leading 15th of the season and first since March 12 against Arizona.
• The game-one home run by Hill was her first since hitting a grand slam against Michigan State on March 4. She then homered again in the second game to give her consecutive games with a homer for the first time this season.
• Price recorded her first triple of the season and second of her career. Her last was March 6, 2022, versus Texas A&M.
• Cunningham hit her first career home run in the second game and the first pinch-hit home run of the season by a Sun Devil.

UP NEXT
The Sun Devils return to Farrington Stadium on Tuesday for a non-conference contest with Grand Canyon at 6 p.m. Fans can watch on Pac-12 Network.