TEMPE – On a night that featured a bee delay of over two hours, Sun Devil softball nearly overcame a 10-run deficit before falling 10-9 to Utah in the second game of the weekend series at Farrington Stadium.
The night got off to an interesting start as Utah (24-17, 6-11 Pac-12) scored three quick runs in the top of the first before a swarm of bees took over the field and created a hive on the netting behind home plate. That caused a delay of two hours and four minutes before the action resumed.
Once play resumed, Utah continued to build its lead with two runs in the third and another in the fourth. The Utes' lead reached 10-0 with four runs in the top of the fifth inning, putting Arizona State (18-20, 2-12 Pac-12) on the brink of a run-rule loss.
Things flipped in the bottom of the inning, with a leadoff single from Shannon Cunningham and a two-run home run from Libby Walsh two batters later. After Audrey LeClair singled and Kelsey Hall walked, Jordyn VanHook hit a pinch-hit three-run home run to make it 10-5. Alesia Denby added an RBI single later in the frame to trim the deficit to four.
Meika Lauppe held Utah scoreless in the sixth inning to set up more runs for the Sun Devils. Walsh was hit by a pitch and reached third on a single from LeClair and a Utah throwing error. Hall then singled home Walsh, and LeClair scored on a sac fly by Kayla Lissy. Tanya Windle followed a hit from Kinch with a single that scored a run to make it 10-9 after six.
The Utes again went scoreless, in part due to LeClair throwing a runner out at second from left field for her third outfield assist in the game. The bottom of the seventh saw two groundouts from ASU to start before they loaded the bases with a Walsh single and two walks. That would be the end of the rally, however, as Lissy struck out to end the night.
Walsh finished the night 2-for-2 with the home run and two RBIs. LeClair singled twice and added a triple for her second three-hit game of the season. Kinch also had a two-hit game, including her sixth double of the season.
Lauppe worked four innings of relief, allowing four unearned runs on seven hits.
The finale of the series will be played on Sunday, with the first pitch slated for noon.
NOTABLE
The night got off to an interesting start as Utah (24-17, 6-11 Pac-12) scored three quick runs in the top of the first before a swarm of bees took over the field and created a hive on the netting behind home plate. That caused a delay of two hours and four minutes before the action resumed.
Once play resumed, Utah continued to build its lead with two runs in the third and another in the fourth. The Utes' lead reached 10-0 with four runs in the top of the fifth inning, putting Arizona State (18-20, 2-12 Pac-12) on the brink of a run-rule loss.
Things flipped in the bottom of the inning, with a leadoff single from Shannon Cunningham and a two-run home run from Libby Walsh two batters later. After Audrey LeClair singled and Kelsey Hall walked, Jordyn VanHook hit a pinch-hit three-run home run to make it 10-5. Alesia Denby added an RBI single later in the frame to trim the deficit to four.
Devs fighting ?? @libbywalsh2023 hits one to dead center to put us on the board! pic.twitter.com/lmiGy3TxqT
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) April 14, 2024
Meika Lauppe held Utah scoreless in the sixth inning to set up more runs for the Sun Devils. Walsh was hit by a pitch and reached third on a single from LeClair and a Utah throwing error. Hall then singled home Walsh, and LeClair scored on a sac fly by Kayla Lissy. Tanya Windle followed a hit from Kinch with a single that scored a run to make it 10-9 after six.
The Utes again went scoreless, in part due to LeClair throwing a runner out at second from left field for her third outfield assist in the game. The bottom of the seventh saw two groundouts from ASU to start before they loaded the bases with a Walsh single and two walks. That would be the end of the rally, however, as Lissy struck out to end the night.
Walsh finished the night 2-for-2 with the home run and two RBIs. LeClair singled twice and added a triple for her second three-hit game of the season. Kinch also had a two-hit game, including her sixth double of the season.
Lauppe worked four innings of relief, allowing four unearned runs on seven hits.
The finale of the series will be played on Sunday, with the first pitch slated for noon.
NOTABLE
- The two-hit game from Walsh was her fifth of the season and first since March 1.
- Walsh and VanHook each recorded their sixth multi-RBI games of the season, which is tied for second on the team.
- LeClair's triple was the 15th of the season for the Sun Devils while ranks tied for 10th most for a season in program history.