TEMPE – Sun Devil softball split their doubleheader on Saturday, earning their third and consecutive victory before dropping the tournament finale in the ASU Invitational. The Sun Devils came back from a four-run deficit to beat North Florida 6-5 and fell short against Omaha 3-1.
The three weekend classic victories improved ASU's record to 14-7 through their season-opening 21-game homestand. The Sun Devils head into Pac-12 play next weekend, having won 9 of their last 12 games.
Game 1: Arizona State 6, North Florida 5
Trailing North Florida 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning, the Sun Devils cut the Osprey's lead in half after first baseman Shannon Cunningham hit a two-run home run to right-center field with one out. It was her third home run in five games and seventh RBI in that stretch. In the prior at-bat, third baseman Kalya Lissy hit a bunt single, the Sun Devils' first hit of the game, and stole second base.
In the third inning, designated player Jordyn VanHook hit her first home run of the season to erase the Sun Devils' three-run deficit. Her two-out, three-run blast to right-center tied the game 5-5. VanHook stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second base thanks to back-to-back singles from left fielder Yannixa Acuña and center fielder Kelsey Hall.
A two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth gave the Sun Devils their first lead of the game. With two outs and no runners on, second baseman Libby Walsh reached first base on a fielding error. Right fielder Audrey LeClair smacked an RBI double to left field to score Walsh and put ASU ahead 6-5. The two-bagger was her second hit of the game, which also included a leadoff single in the third inning.
At the plate, the Sun Devils were led by VanHook, who went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and three RBIs. Lissy also tallied two hits (both singles), going 2-for-3 and scoring a run. Cunningham was second on the team with two RBIs, going 1-for-3 with a home run.
On the circle, right-hander Deborah Jones collected her third win of the season (3-1) after entering the game with no outs in the top of the fourth inning. Jones pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk and collecting two strikeouts. Righty Kylee Magee replaced her in the top of the seventh after conceding a leadoff walk.
Magee earned her team-high second save of the season in dramatic fashion. Down to their final out with a runner on second, North Florida hit a grounder up the middle. Walsh made a diving stop behind second base to keep the ball in the infield and rifled a throw to home. The Ospreys runner slid across home plate as catcher Mackenzie McFarlane applied the tag. The call was initially ruled safe, but after a replay review, North Florida was ruled out on the play to end the game.
Game 2: Omaha 3, Arizona State 1
Omaha scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the second inning from three hits, including a two-out triple and single. Pitcher Mac Osborne kept the Sun Devils in the game, tossing three consecutive hitless innings after the Maverick's early offensive outburst.
With two outs and no runners on base in the bottom of the third, Hall struck out swinging but reached first on a wild pitch to extend the inning. The Sun Devils capitalized on the extra at-bat. Right fielder Tanya Windle smoked her first triple of the season down the left field line to score Hall and cut the deficit to 2-1.
After the Mavericks put two runs on the board in the second inning, pitcher Mac Osborne threw three consecutive hitless innings. Omaha's bats came alive in the top of the sixth, hitting back-to-back doubles to extend their advantage to two runs. Right-hander Deborah Jones, the winner of the first game of the doubleheader, replaced Magee on the mound and prevented any further damage. ASU escaped the inning, conceding only the lone score despite Omaha putting runners on the corners with one out.
ASU had their chances late in the game but stranded three runners on base in the fifth and sixth innings. Leclair had a pinch-hit leadoff walk and stole second base to open the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Sun Devils were unable to bring her home. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Lissy singled to right field to keep the inning alive. Cunningham drilled the first pitch she saw down the right field line for a single, advancing Lissy to third. For the second consecutive inning, a runner was left in scoring position.
NOTABLES
Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett
On the team's defensive performance
"Kelsey had that beautiful catch coming in center field. Certainly, in that moment, I was happy for her. Because this time last year, she was a DP [designated player]."
On pitcher Deborah Jones' performance
"DJ [Deborah Jones ]certainly has the luxury of working with Coach Manly the longest. She pitches to a plan really, really well. She can go up, she can go down, and she can move at three speeds. So, super happy for her."
Arizona State outfielder Tanya Windle
On coming back against North Florida
"Honestly, it was just our energy that got us through that game. Our bats just came alive in the sixth inning. I think that's what really got us going. Super proud of these girls and everything that we did with our energy. It's huge."
Arizona State pitcher Deborah Jones
On entering the game in a relief role in both games
"I would say that they [the defense] helped me a lot. It's kind of a mutual feeling. I feel like when I have their back, they have mine. Me and the pitching staff, we really rely on our defense. It's really good going into games knowing that they have your back."
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will travel to Seattle to play their first road and conference series of the season against Pac-12 rival Washington (16-2). The three-game slate at Husky Softball Stadium kicks off on Friday at 7 p.m. MST. Fans can view all games on the Washington Live Stream.
The three weekend classic victories improved ASU's record to 14-7 through their season-opening 21-game homestand. The Sun Devils head into Pac-12 play next weekend, having won 9 of their last 12 games.
Game 1: Arizona State 6, North Florida 5
Trailing North Florida 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning, the Sun Devils cut the Osprey's lead in half after first baseman Shannon Cunningham hit a two-run home run to right-center field with one out. It was her third home run in five games and seventh RBI in that stretch. In the prior at-bat, third baseman Kalya Lissy hit a bunt single, the Sun Devils' first hit of the game, and stole second base.
In the third inning, designated player Jordyn VanHook hit her first home run of the season to erase the Sun Devils' three-run deficit. Her two-out, three-run blast to right-center tied the game 5-5. VanHook stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second base thanks to back-to-back singles from left fielder Yannixa Acuña and center fielder Kelsey Hall.
A two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth gave the Sun Devils their first lead of the game. With two outs and no runners on, second baseman Libby Walsh reached first base on a fielding error. Right fielder Audrey LeClair smacked an RBI double to left field to score Walsh and put ASU ahead 6-5. The two-bagger was her second hit of the game, which also included a leadoff single in the third inning.
At the plate, the Sun Devils were led by VanHook, who went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and three RBIs. Lissy also tallied two hits (both singles), going 2-for-3 and scoring a run. Cunningham was second on the team with two RBIs, going 1-for-3 with a home run.
On the circle, right-hander Deborah Jones collected her third win of the season (3-1) after entering the game with no outs in the top of the fourth inning. Jones pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk and collecting two strikeouts. Righty Kylee Magee replaced her in the top of the seventh after conceding a leadoff walk.
Magee earned her team-high second save of the season in dramatic fashion. Down to their final out with a runner on second, North Florida hit a grounder up the middle. Walsh made a diving stop behind second base to keep the ball in the infield and rifled a throw to home. The Ospreys runner slid across home plate as catcher Mackenzie McFarlane applied the tag. The call was initially ruled safe, but after a replay review, North Florida was ruled out on the play to end the game.
Game 2: Omaha 3, Arizona State 1
Omaha scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the second inning from three hits, including a two-out triple and single. Pitcher Mac Osborne kept the Sun Devils in the game, tossing three consecutive hitless innings after the Maverick's early offensive outburst.
With two outs and no runners on base in the bottom of the third, Hall struck out swinging but reached first on a wild pitch to extend the inning. The Sun Devils capitalized on the extra at-bat. Right fielder Tanya Windle smoked her first triple of the season down the left field line to score Hall and cut the deficit to 2-1.
After the Mavericks put two runs on the board in the second inning, pitcher Mac Osborne threw three consecutive hitless innings. Omaha's bats came alive in the top of the sixth, hitting back-to-back doubles to extend their advantage to two runs. Right-hander Deborah Jones, the winner of the first game of the doubleheader, replaced Magee on the mound and prevented any further damage. ASU escaped the inning, conceding only the lone score despite Omaha putting runners on the corners with one out.
ASU had their chances late in the game but stranded three runners on base in the fifth and sixth innings. Leclair had a pinch-hit leadoff walk and stole second base to open the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Sun Devils were unable to bring her home. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Lissy singled to right field to keep the inning alive. Cunningham drilled the first pitch she saw down the right field line for a single, advancing Lissy to third. For the second consecutive inning, a runner was left in scoring position.
NOTABLES
- With a hit in both games, Lissy extended her hitting streak to 10 games. That is the second-longest streak of her career behind a 13-game run for Ball State in 2021.
- Cunningham also had a hit in both games to give her an eight-game hitting streak.
- VanHook's home run in game one was the 25th of her career.
- Magee earned the save against North Florida to give her saves in consecutive games. Entering the weekend, she had no career saves and just one relief appearance.
Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett
On the team's defensive performance
"Kelsey had that beautiful catch coming in center field. Certainly, in that moment, I was happy for her. Because this time last year, she was a DP [designated player]."
On pitcher Deborah Jones' performance
"DJ [Deborah Jones ]certainly has the luxury of working with Coach Manly the longest. She pitches to a plan really, really well. She can go up, she can go down, and she can move at three speeds. So, super happy for her."
Arizona State outfielder Tanya Windle
On coming back against North Florida
"Honestly, it was just our energy that got us through that game. Our bats just came alive in the sixth inning. I think that's what really got us going. Super proud of these girls and everything that we did with our energy. It's huge."
Arizona State pitcher Deborah Jones
On entering the game in a relief role in both games
"I would say that they [the defense] helped me a lot. It's kind of a mutual feeling. I feel like when I have their back, they have mine. Me and the pitching staff, we really rely on our defense. It's really good going into games knowing that they have your back."
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will travel to Seattle to play their first road and conference series of the season against Pac-12 rival Washington (16-2). The three-game slate at Husky Softball Stadium kicks off on Friday at 7 p.m. MST. Fans can view all games on the Washington Live Stream.