TEMPE – Sun Devil softball returned to Farrington Stadium on Tuesday night and secured an 8-2 win over Grand Canyon in front of a season-high 1,478 fans.
Arizona State (16-9) jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead with four runs in each of the first two innings. The team knocked 10 hits overall, including a pair of doubles, as they won a second consecutive contest.
Tanya Windle finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while Audrey LeClair was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Windle had one of the team's two doubles, and each player recorded a stolen base.
Deborah Jones held Grand Canyon (20-6) to seven hits with three strikeouts, securing her fourth win of the season. Jones went the distance for her first complete game – and longest outing – as a Sun Devil.
Windle doubled with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the first to open a 3-0 lead. She then scored on an RBI single from Alesia Denby to cap the first-inning scoring.
After Jones stranded a GCU runner in scoring position in the top of the second, the Sun Devils loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the frame. Jordyn VanHook knocked in the fifth run with a groundout before Yannixa Acuña doubled in two runs for a 7-0 advantage. Windle then singled home Acuña to cap the scoring for ASU.
GCU scored on a solo home run from Ramsay Lopez in the fourth, and the Lopes added a second run on a sacrifice fly from Lopez in the fifth. Jones would retire eight of the final nine GCU batters to end the game.
NOTABLES
Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On having momentum going into this weekend after defeating Washington and tonight's win
"Certainly, it's a fun clubhouse to be in right now. I'm very proud of the girls. They struggled through some early moments in the season, but they continued to believe, work, and grind."
On the performance from Deborah Jones in the circle
"I'm just so proud of her. That's why I brought her here. She threw for me when she was an 18-year-old at Ball State, and from afar, I got to watch her grow and learn and compete. My heart is happy for Deborah, and she's pitching how we knew she was capable of. She's rolling and has some confidence and some belief and momentum."
Audrey LeClair
On the growth in her confidence
"I think confidence is just built on my coaches and teammates believing in me, taking advantage of the opportunities, whether it's a pinch-running situation, a pinch-hit situation, or a lead-off spot. I think I'm there just to grind and be aggressive. I just want to make sure that I instill more confidence in my teammates and receive their confidence as well."
On what she learned at Michigan and what she's applying at Arizona State
"I honestly think my experience at Michigan taught me that the season is a very long season. How you start is not how you finish; you grind it out and make sure that you keep that confidence in yourself. Do not sink into a hole if you're going through a slump or if you don't get on base, but just know that it's a long season, you can turn it around really quickly. As long as you stay confident in yourself and stay confident in your team, you're going to get on the right path."
Tanya Windle
On getting the Sun Devils going with an 0-2 count in the first inning
"I'm looking to be more aggressive in an 0-2 count or 1-2 count, you name it. With two strikes on me, I think I'm in my prime because I know I'm gonna hit something, I'm just looking to be more aggressive."
On the two-out rallies
"I knew I had to step it up with two outs. I think it is realizing that the pressure isn't on me; it's on them to get me as their last out. I mean, they walked Yaya on four straight balls. I took that as like a stab in the chest because they know who I am, and they know sometimes I'll crumble, but not today."
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will return to Pac-12 play this weekend when Oregon State visits Farrington Stadium for a three-game series. Game one starts on Friday at 6 p.m. MST.
Arizona State (16-9) jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead with four runs in each of the first two innings. The team knocked 10 hits overall, including a pair of doubles, as they won a second consecutive contest.
Tanya Windle finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while Audrey LeClair was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Windle had one of the team's two doubles, and each player recorded a stolen base.
Deborah Jones held Grand Canyon (20-6) to seven hits with three strikeouts, securing her fourth win of the season. Jones went the distance for her first complete game – and longest outing – as a Sun Devil.
Windle doubled with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the first to open a 3-0 lead. She then scored on an RBI single from Alesia Denby to cap the first-inning scoring.
After Jones stranded a GCU runner in scoring position in the top of the second, the Sun Devils loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the frame. Jordyn VanHook knocked in the fifth run with a groundout before Yannixa Acuña doubled in two runs for a 7-0 advantage. Windle then singled home Acuña to cap the scoring for ASU.
GCU scored on a solo home run from Ramsay Lopez in the fourth, and the Lopes added a second run on a sacrifice fly from Lopez in the fifth. Jones would retire eight of the final nine GCU batters to end the game.
NOTABLES
- This was the second straight game for Windle with three hits and four RBIs.
- LeClair's three hits are a season-high, and it's just her second three-hit game in her career.
- LeClair has four multi-hit games this season, with all coming in the last eight games.
- The complete game from Jones was her first since May 7, 2022, against Akron for Ball State.
Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On having momentum going into this weekend after defeating Washington and tonight's win
"Certainly, it's a fun clubhouse to be in right now. I'm very proud of the girls. They struggled through some early moments in the season, but they continued to believe, work, and grind."
On the performance from Deborah Jones in the circle
"I'm just so proud of her. That's why I brought her here. She threw for me when she was an 18-year-old at Ball State, and from afar, I got to watch her grow and learn and compete. My heart is happy for Deborah, and she's pitching how we knew she was capable of. She's rolling and has some confidence and some belief and momentum."
Audrey LeClair
On the growth in her confidence
"I think confidence is just built on my coaches and teammates believing in me, taking advantage of the opportunities, whether it's a pinch-running situation, a pinch-hit situation, or a lead-off spot. I think I'm there just to grind and be aggressive. I just want to make sure that I instill more confidence in my teammates and receive their confidence as well."
On what she learned at Michigan and what she's applying at Arizona State
"I honestly think my experience at Michigan taught me that the season is a very long season. How you start is not how you finish; you grind it out and make sure that you keep that confidence in yourself. Do not sink into a hole if you're going through a slump or if you don't get on base, but just know that it's a long season, you can turn it around really quickly. As long as you stay confident in yourself and stay confident in your team, you're going to get on the right path."
Tanya Windle
On getting the Sun Devils going with an 0-2 count in the first inning
"I'm looking to be more aggressive in an 0-2 count or 1-2 count, you name it. With two strikes on me, I think I'm in my prime because I know I'm gonna hit something, I'm just looking to be more aggressive."
On the two-out rallies
"I knew I had to step it up with two outs. I think it is realizing that the pressure isn't on me; it's on them to get me as their last out. I mean, they walked Yaya on four straight balls. I took that as like a stab in the chest because they know who I am, and they know sometimes I'll crumble, but not today."
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will return to Pac-12 play this weekend when Oregon State visits Farrington Stadium for a three-game series. Game one starts on Friday at 6 p.m. MST.