TEMPE – Sun Devil softball swept its two games at the Sun Devil Classic on Friday night, including a thrilling comeback to down on a 2-run walk-off home run from Sara Kinch to defeat Ohio State 12-10 in 10 innings in the nightcap. That followed a 4-2 win over Seton Hall in ASU's first game of the day.
Game 1: Arizona State 4, Seton Hall 2
ASU overcame an early 1-0 deficit with three runs in the fifth inning against the Pirates. Jada Lewis doubled home the tying run before an RBI single from Yannixa Acuña and a run-scoring triple from Alesia Denby.
Seton Hall countered with a run in their half of the sixth, but it was Samantha Swan's infield single in the ASU sixth that scored Kayla Lissy and provided the final margin.
Lissy had two hits in the game, including her third triple of the season, with all coming in the previous four games. It was also her third multi-hit game and second straight.
Mac Osborne was the beneficiary in the circle and earned her fourth win by holding Seton Hall to a pair of runs over five innings with six strikeouts. Deborah Jones closed out her first save of the season by striking out three over two scoreless innings.
Game 2: Arizona State 12, Ohio State 10 (10 innings)
The nightcap didn't get off to the best start for the Sun Devils as Ohio State scored twice in the first and two more in the second. The Buckeyes would extend their lead to 6-0 after hitting their third home run of the game in the top of the fifth.
The momentum began to flip in the bottom of the fifth with a single by Makenzie Macfarlane and a walk to Lewis. Swan then stepped off the bench and delivered a 3-run home run to left to spark the Club Farrington crowd. Acuña and Tanya Windle each singled later in the frame and Acuna eventually scored the fourth run on a wild pitch.
Still trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh, Shannon Cunningham singled to leadoff the frame. Another Windle hit put her on second, with pinch-runner Audrey LeClair at third. Kelsey Hall hit a ball to the wall for a sacrifice fly that moved up both runners. After Denby was intentionally walked, Lissy came through with an infield single to tie the game at 6-6 and send the game to extras.
That is where both teams gave the fans their money's worth. Ohio State went in front with a run in their half of the eighth, only to see Libby Walsh tie the game for the Sun Devils in the bottom of the inning.
The Buckeyes again went in front with two runs in the ninth inning to set Hall up for a two-run single to tie the game once again at 9-9. Ohio State scratched across a run in the 10th inning only to see Walsh come through with another game-tying single. Then, Kinch provided the exclamation point with a towering shot over the left field wall to give ASU the victory.
ASU's defense made plays all over the field in the game to keep them in the game. Hall made a catch at the wall in dead center to prevent extra runs from scoring. Walsh came up with a diving stop to keep the ball in the infield in the eighth, which led to Ohio State scoring just once in the inning. Then, Lissy started a 5-4-3 double play in the ninth quarter that got ASU out of a jam.
Osborne again came through in the circle for the Sun Devils. She gave up just three hits and struck out five in 5.1 innings of relief to notch her second of the day and fifth of the year.
Windle finished with three hits, while Macfarlane and Walsh had two apiece. Hall and Swan drove in three runs to give with the two from Walsh and Kinch. The Sun Devils tallied 13 hits as a team, with 11 coming from the fifth inning on.
NOTABLES
The Sun Devils will continue play at the Sun Devil Classic on Saturday with a pair of games. They begin by facing Utah Valley and 4 p.m. before taking on Idaho State at 6:30 p.m. Both games can be seen on the ASU Live Stream.
QUOTABLES
Arizona State Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On her overall thoughts on tonight's two games
"We battled through both of them. They were really different games and I'm really proud of the kids. They're committed to the program and the process. They've worked really hard not just to be better at their craft but also to really make Sun Devil Nation proud. I honestly mean that. They took last night pretty hard, but to have that kind of fight and that kind of response over two drastically different days. I'm really proud of them."
On the fans and energy at Club Farrington tonight
"Club Farrington is awesome. We certainly earned the win from the stands tonight. They were going, and the kids were getting into it. The place kind of got electric. That's honestly a big part of why I came to coach here. Club Farrington is renowned in our sport. It's a big deal. We kind of sparked that to life a little bit and now that's the expectation for the crowd."
Arizona State outfielder Tanya Windle
On what changed in the team's mindset halfway through their game against Ohio State
"It was just our energy the entire game. It was such an amazing game. Our energy and our intensity and our drive, that game was just absolutely insane, and we just kept going. We didn't stop, and that's what we need to take into every game. Definitely, it was just our energy that got us through for sure."
On the team chemistry
"It's such a great team atmosphere that we have going on here. It's great, it's awesome, and we're hyping each other up. That chemistry is just amazing. I'm so glad to be a Sun Devil!"
Arizona State Pinch-Hitter Samantha Swan
On how much joy she has to be able to contribute so much to this team so early on:
"A lot. I feel really supported on this team, and I feel like every girl on the team always has my back. It's really just a team game."
On her mindset going in to pinch hit
"Just help the team, and pass the bat. I was looking for a base hit or a walk, anything that would get me on base to help the team and it just turned into a home run."
Arizona State Catcher Sara Kinch
On her game-winning home run and her mindset at the plate
"Same thing as every other at-bat, just stay calm, focus on my breathing and just think base hit. Anything that helps the team, just need to pass the bat, pass the bat, pass the bat. That's all we're trying to do, and it worked out."
On the crowd tonight
"I think having the home atmosphere and having everyone supporting you – literally the whole half of the stands – cheering for you up to bat, nothing is better than that. It just gets the dugout going, and it makes you feel great."
.@sarakinch25 with an absolute BOMB to left field to win the game!!!#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/yXVoWHHbAy
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 24, 2024
Game 1: Arizona State 4, Seton Hall 2
ASU overcame an early 1-0 deficit with three runs in the fifth inning against the Pirates. Jada Lewis doubled home the tying run before an RBI single from Yannixa Acuña and a run-scoring triple from Alesia Denby.
Seton Hall countered with a run in their half of the sixth, but it was Samantha Swan's infield single in the ASU sixth that scored Kayla Lissy and provided the final margin.
Lissy had two hits in the game, including her third triple of the season, with all coming in the previous four games. It was also her third multi-hit game and second straight.
Mac Osborne was the beneficiary in the circle and earned her fourth win by holding Seton Hall to a pair of runs over five innings with six strikeouts. Deborah Jones closed out her first save of the season by striking out three over two scoreless innings.
Game 2: Arizona State 12, Ohio State 10 (10 innings)
The nightcap didn't get off to the best start for the Sun Devils as Ohio State scored twice in the first and two more in the second. The Buckeyes would extend their lead to 6-0 after hitting their third home run of the game in the top of the fifth.
The momentum began to flip in the bottom of the fifth with a single by Makenzie Macfarlane and a walk to Lewis. Swan then stepped off the bench and delivered a 3-run home run to left to spark the Club Farrington crowd. Acuña and Tanya Windle each singled later in the frame and Acuna eventually scored the fourth run on a wild pitch.
Still trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh, Shannon Cunningham singled to leadoff the frame. Another Windle hit put her on second, with pinch-runner Audrey LeClair at third. Kelsey Hall hit a ball to the wall for a sacrifice fly that moved up both runners. After Denby was intentionally walked, Lissy came through with an infield single to tie the game at 6-6 and send the game to extras.
That is where both teams gave the fans their money's worth. Ohio State went in front with a run in their half of the eighth, only to see Libby Walsh tie the game for the Sun Devils in the bottom of the inning.
The Buckeyes again went in front with two runs in the ninth inning to set Hall up for a two-run single to tie the game once again at 9-9. Ohio State scratched across a run in the 10th inning only to see Walsh come through with another game-tying single. Then, Kinch provided the exclamation point with a towering shot over the left field wall to give ASU the victory.
ASU's defense made plays all over the field in the game to keep them in the game. Hall made a catch at the wall in dead center to prevent extra runs from scoring. Walsh came up with a diving stop to keep the ball in the infield in the eighth, which led to Ohio State scoring just once in the inning. Then, Lissy started a 5-4-3 double play in the ninth quarter that got ASU out of a jam.
Osborne again came through in the circle for the Sun Devils. She gave up just three hits and struck out five in 5.1 innings of relief to notch her second of the day and fifth of the year.
Windle finished with three hits, while Macfarlane and Walsh had two apiece. Hall and Swan drove in three runs to give with the two from Walsh and Kinch. The Sun Devils tallied 13 hits as a team, with 11 coming from the fifth inning on.
NOTABLES
- The walk-off home run from Kinch was the first since Emily Cazares against UCLA on May 8, 2022.
- It was also her third home run of the season and 20th for her career.
- Windle's three-hit game with the sixth of her career and the second one this season.
- This is the 15th time that Hall has recorded at least three RBIs in a game during her career.
- Swan homered for the second time in three games, with both coming as a pinch-hitter.
- Swan has driven in at least one run in each of her past five appearances.
- Her five-game hitting streak is the longest active streak on the team and tied for the longest by a Sun Devil this season.
- The extra-inning game was the first this season for the Sun Devils after they went 2-1 in extras last season.
- It was the first game to go 10-plus innings since playing 11 innings against Northwestern in the NCAA Super Regionals on May 27, 2022.
The Sun Devils will continue play at the Sun Devil Classic on Saturday with a pair of games. They begin by facing Utah Valley and 4 p.m. before taking on Idaho State at 6:30 p.m. Both games can be seen on the ASU Live Stream.
QUOTABLES
Arizona State Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On her overall thoughts on tonight's two games
"We battled through both of them. They were really different games and I'm really proud of the kids. They're committed to the program and the process. They've worked really hard not just to be better at their craft but also to really make Sun Devil Nation proud. I honestly mean that. They took last night pretty hard, but to have that kind of fight and that kind of response over two drastically different days. I'm really proud of them."
On the fans and energy at Club Farrington tonight
"Club Farrington is awesome. We certainly earned the win from the stands tonight. They were going, and the kids were getting into it. The place kind of got electric. That's honestly a big part of why I came to coach here. Club Farrington is renowned in our sport. It's a big deal. We kind of sparked that to life a little bit and now that's the expectation for the crowd."
Arizona State outfielder Tanya Windle
On what changed in the team's mindset halfway through their game against Ohio State
"It was just our energy the entire game. It was such an amazing game. Our energy and our intensity and our drive, that game was just absolutely insane, and we just kept going. We didn't stop, and that's what we need to take into every game. Definitely, it was just our energy that got us through for sure."
On the team chemistry
"It's such a great team atmosphere that we have going on here. It's great, it's awesome, and we're hyping each other up. That chemistry is just amazing. I'm so glad to be a Sun Devil!"
Arizona State Pinch-Hitter Samantha Swan
On how much joy she has to be able to contribute so much to this team so early on:
"A lot. I feel really supported on this team, and I feel like every girl on the team always has my back. It's really just a team game."
On her mindset going in to pinch hit
"Just help the team, and pass the bat. I was looking for a base hit or a walk, anything that would get me on base to help the team and it just turned into a home run."
Arizona State Catcher Sara Kinch
On her game-winning home run and her mindset at the plate
"Same thing as every other at-bat, just stay calm, focus on my breathing and just think base hit. Anything that helps the team, just need to pass the bat, pass the bat, pass the bat. That's all we're trying to do, and it worked out."
On the crowd tonight
"I think having the home atmosphere and having everyone supporting you – literally the whole half of the stands – cheering for you up to bat, nothing is better than that. It just gets the dugout going, and it makes you feel great."