April 17, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. – Home runs and lack of offensive support doomed the Sun Devils again Saturday night as the No. 6 ASU Softball team was held to only two hits while leaving seven on base as the 16th-ranked Cal Bears took an 8-0 (6) win. Sam Parlich took the loss to fall to 7-4 while the Sun Devils drop to 35-8 overall and 4-4 in conference play. The Cal Bears wrap the night with a 32-11 record and 3-5 Pac-10 record.
Setting up for round two with Cal was Sam Parlich who started for the Maroon & Gold, entering the game with a 7-3 record looking to shut down the vociferous Cal bats from the night before. The plan didn’t go exactly as they’d hoped as the Bears had some more chicanery up their sleeves with Lindsey Zigenhirt bringing the pain again in her first at bat as she launched a three-run shot to right in the first.
The Sun Devils just didn’t seem to be themselves though as the offense looked flaccid again through the first two innings while the Golden Bears posted up two more solo shots to claw to a seemingly chimerical 5-0 lead.
Coming in to relieve Sam Parlich in the circle for ASU was Megan Elliott, who pitched flawlessly through the next couple innings in hopes that she could give her offense the opportunity to come back. It wasn’t to be though as the Sun Devils left seven on base on the night.
The Bears put the nail in the coffin on the Sun Devils in the sixth inning as they collected two quick singles from the Reid sister’s who were brought home from pitcher Valerie Arioto who crushed a ball to left center to cement the 8-0 lead and wrap the game early.
For video highlights and interviews please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLk3OPG7Sec
The Sun Devils will have one last shot at the Cal Bears tomorrow as they gear up for a noon-time first pitch in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.