(Tempe, AZ) En route to their 11th Super Regional bid in program history and the first since 2018, No. 8 seed Arizona State (42-9) took down San Diego State (39-16) in the final game of the Tempe Regional on Sunday at Farrington Stadium.
Down one run in the bottom of the first with Yanni Acuña on first, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Cydney Sanders went yard for the 21st time of the season, which is a new program record for home runs in a single season.
San Diego State regained its lead off a two-run homer in the top of the second, but a three-run home run from Jaz Hill helped the Sun Devils regain their lead as she had seven RBIs on the weekend and her 14th home run of the season.
“They’re strong, we really harp hard on intent in the box,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “We go out there to do damage and I think it’s just a mentality and it’s how we train.”
Bella Loomis put down a bunt and reached second on an error by Jazmyn Rollin and Jessi Puk to give ASU a 7-3 lead with no outs in the bottom of the fourth. Acuña had a sac fly to bring in Loomis to increase the Sun Devils’ lead to five runs.
Mac Morgan got her second start of the weekend and pitched her second complete game of the weekend. She picked up her team-leading 18th win of the season and had no walks throughout seven innings.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils will host the No.9-seed Northwestern Wildcats next weekend in the Tempe Super Regional May 26-29 with a trip to Oklahoma City on the line.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
ASU 8, San Diego State 4
The Aztecs struck first in the top of the first inning off a home run down the right field line to grab the early lead. Acuña had a one-out single in the bottom of the first frame to get things going for the Sun Devils and next up to bat was Sanders who hit a two-run homer to left center to give ASU a 2-1 lead.
SDSU regained its lead in the top of the second off a two-run home run to center field to take back the lead. ASU went down in order to go into the third inning.
In the bottom of the third, Acuña singled to right field to get on base with two out and got to second from a walk by Sanders. Jaz Hill was next to bat and she homered to left field to reclaim the lead for the Sun Devils. Emily Cazares reached base on a single and made it to second on a stolen base, but was left stranded.
Rollin came in as a pinch hitter to leadoff ASU’s half of the fourth inning and was hit by a pitch. Puk was next up to bat and was also hit by a pitch and Loomis reached second on an error, which scored Rollin and Puk. Acuña had a sacrifice fly to score Loomis to have the Sun Devils leading 8-3.
The Aztecs got one run off a single up the middle to be within four runs in the top of the sixth.
Both teams were scoreless through the bottom of the sixth and the top of the seventh to help the Sun Devils punch their ticket to the Super Regionals.
QUOTES
Head coach Trisha Ford
On Jazmyn Rollin coming in as a pinch hitter
“She came to me and she’s like, ‘I’m good coach, I can go,’ and so it’s win or go home today. So she’s leaving it on the field and that play was magnificent.”
On Jaz Hill’s improvement and growth throughout career
“She’s grown up a lot, I’d say she’s done a good job. She’s always been an emotional player, but I feel like she does a much better job now. I think now she has the ability to kind of take that excitement because she wants to perform for her team.”
On Morgan going the full seven innings in the future
I think for Mac it’s her growth, it’s a kid that came to us that threw every summer from May until August every single game, she’s a horse and its why we recruited her here. We have four very capable pitchers and those are the pieces that can help us mix-and-match when we need too.”
On other Pac-12 schools making Super Regionals:
“I think the Pac-12 is the Pac-12 and I believe that we have the best pitching hands down, we’re maybe not as visible as other conferences but we’re here fighting every single day and facing Mazon (from Oregon State) that kid is tough I she mean does it on both sides of the plate with a two-run home run (against Tennessee) and Stanford’s Vawter, we know her and I’m happy as I spent 9 years at Stanford it has a special place, but its gratifying to be on this stage and show everyone what we’ve been doing all year long, I would say ‘welcome to the party!’ I guess is what I would say, and obviously Arizona is an iconic program, we’ve been battle tested, and there is no down weekend. Everyone has a pitcher in the Pac-12 so our conference is tough and we’ll continue to be the quiet assassins.”
Junior centerfielder Jaz Hill
On coming back after being down in third inning
“San Diego State’s a great offensive team and they just kept punching back. So our biggest thing is just keep pushing and just keep putting up more reps.”
Freshman first baseman Cydney Sanders
On hitting home runs in front of crowd at Farrington
“It’s pretty uplifting, it makes you excited. And for the team, it’s super exciting like you hear like the roar of the crowd and your ears are ringing. I love it.”
TEMPE REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, May 20, 2022
Game 1 – 5:00pm – San Diego State 10, LSU 5
Game 2 – 7:30pm – ASU 5, Cal State Fullerton 2
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Game 3 – 2:00 p.m.- ASU 11, San Diego State 8
Game 4 – 4:30 p.m.- Cal State Fullerton 3, LSU 2
Game 5 – 7:00 p.m.- San Diego State 8, Cal State Fullerton 5
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Game 6 – 3:00 p.m.- ASU 8, San Diego State 4
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics
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