TEMPE – Sun Devil softball was unable to keep with with No. 7 UCLA in the regular season finale at Farrington Stadium on Sunday afternoon, conceding 14 hits in an 8-4 defeat.
Arizona State's (19-30, 3-21 Pac-12) starter Deborah Jones threw six innings and struck out a season-high seven batters on the day. Alesia Denby homers for the third straight game and Tanya Windle had a pair of hits, including a two-run double.
UCLA (34-10, 17-4 Pac-12) managed to strike first with a pair of runs in the second inning behind three doubles. In the top of the fourth, UCLA managed four straight hits with two-outs, extending their lead to 4-0. However, Denby put the Sun Devils on the board with a solo home run to make to 4-1 in the bottom of the frame. It' was her 22th of the season and it brought her RBI tally to 33 this spring which marks a career high.
In the top of the sixth, the Maya Brady capped a four-hit day for the Bruins with a two-run home run to open a 6-1 advantage.
Audrey LeClair singled to start te ASU sixth – her 100th career hit – and she came around to score with a stolen base and a UCLA error. With only one out, Denby worked a walk and Kayla Lissy laid a perfect bunt to put runners on first and second where Windle hit a scorching double to score both runners, putting ASU down 6-4 going into the seventh inning.
The Bruins added two insurance runs in the seventh, taking a 8-4 lead. Makenzie Macfarlane was able to spot a double in the seventh inning but was stranded to end the game.
The Sun Devils are set to begin the postseason at the Pac-12 Softball Tournament on Wednesday when they face Oregon State in the first round.
Arizona State's (19-30, 3-21 Pac-12) starter Deborah Jones threw six innings and struck out a season-high seven batters on the day. Alesia Denby homers for the third straight game and Tanya Windle had a pair of hits, including a two-run double.
UCLA (34-10, 17-4 Pac-12) managed to strike first with a pair of runs in the second inning behind three doubles. In the top of the fourth, UCLA managed four straight hits with two-outs, extending their lead to 4-0. However, Denby put the Sun Devils on the board with a solo home run to make to 4-1 in the bottom of the frame. It' was her 22th of the season and it brought her RBI tally to 33 this spring which marks a career high.
ITS GONE!!@alesiadenbyyy rips a homerun to put the Devils on the board #ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/MfpyAq7DKS
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) May 5, 2024
In the top of the sixth, the Maya Brady capped a four-hit day for the Bruins with a two-run home run to open a 6-1 advantage.
Audrey LeClair singled to start te ASU sixth – her 100th career hit – and she came around to score with a stolen base and a UCLA error. With only one out, Denby worked a walk and Kayla Lissy laid a perfect bunt to put runners on first and second where Windle hit a scorching double to score both runners, putting ASU down 6-4 going into the seventh inning.
The Bruins added two insurance runs in the seventh, taking a 8-4 lead. Makenzie Macfarlane was able to spot a double in the seventh inning but was stranded to end the game.
The Sun Devils are set to begin the postseason at the Pac-12 Softball Tournament on Wednesday when they face Oregon State in the first round.