GAME 1: Arizona State 15, Michigan State 2
In game one, the bats came out with violence putting up five runs each in the first three innings. Nine different Sun Devils registered hits – including eight starters – while four were able to relish two or more hits. Jazmine Hill led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 that was a triple shy of the cycle and included a grand slam and seven RBIs. Kylee Magee, Kenzie Brown and Deborah Jones combined to hold the Spartans to a pair of runs on eight hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Alexa Milius notched the first hit for the Sun Devils in the opening frame, then with two outs VanHook split the field with a single. Makenna Harper and Marissa Schuldwere then walked which brought in Milius to score the games first run. Hill then caught the gap in the outfield to clear the bases with a three-RBI double to give ASU a 4-0 lead. Continuing the rally, Sara Kinch lined a double to score Hill to complete the five-run frame.
After two runs scored on a Michigan State error that left VanHook at third with one out in the second, Harper had an RBI single to open an 8-0 lead. With the bases loaded later in the inning, Kinch knocked in a pair of runs with a single down the line.
Michigan State scored twice in their half of the third and had the bases loaded with no outs when Brown relieved Magee in the circle. She immediately induced a lineout double play and notched a strikeout to end the inning with the bases still loaded.
Grand Slam by Jazmine Hill Photo – Twitter
The Sun Devils led 11-2 after a Harper groundout scored Milius following her leadoff single. ASU loaded the bases with one out when Hill unleashed a grand slam to left, giving ASU a 15-2 lead.
Jones worked a pair of scoreless innings from their as the Sun Devils secured their fifth run-rule victory of the season.
GAME 2: Arizona State 8, Boise State 0
Shortly after achieving a run-rule victory over the Spartans, the Sun Devils followed it up with another run-rule victory against Boise State. Mac Osborne dominated the Broncos in the circle allowing a bunt single and setting a career-high with nine strikeouts. The offense came around in the bottom of the fourth with home runs from Gianna Boccagno, Yanni Acuña and VanHook, along with the walkoff double by Schuld.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Acuña opened the Sun Devil first with a single up the middle and then scored on a towering home run to right from Jazmyn Rollin two batters later.
Jasmyn Rollin Home Run Photo – Twitter
Boise State used a bunt single and an error to get two on with one out in the third before Osborne struck out back-to-back batters to end the frame with another zero.
With the offense being held down at the plate, Osborne picked up another strikeout in the fourth before striking out the side in the fifth.
Boccagno ignited the Sun Devils at the plate with a homer to left to open the bottom of the fifth. Acuña then homered to center two batters later and suddenly the lead was 4-0.
Consecutive singles from Milius and Rollin left runners at the corners when VanHook sent her 12th home run of the year deep into the Tempe sky.
Harper then walked and Hill picked up an infield single to setup the walk-off double from Schuld down the right field lines.
QUOTES:
Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On pitching staff’s performance tonight:
“They get better every time they go out there. They’re young, but they have moments and we had a day of brilliance. They pounded the zone, they all have really good stuff, good moving pitches plus change up. So days we can locate, we’re going to be tough. So we just have to continue to try and get them in a head space that they feel like they’re the aggressor and attacking and creating contact with the zone and we do that and we’re gonna be alright on the mound.”
Jazmine Hill
On what her approach was like during the first game (7 RBIs, cleared bases twice):
“Obviously, I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately, so my biggest thing was to just trust myself and see the ball, just trust my abilities.”
On what her mental key is when trying to break out of a slump:
“I think, just with my support system – my parents, the coaches, everyone around me, just helping me out and figuring out what’s wrong and helping me make adjustments.”
On how the team feels after today’s games:
“One hundred percent. I just think the biggest thing is just remembering this feeling – we had a very calm mindset, we weren’t pressing or anything, so just to remember this and keep pushing forward.”
On how the team’s offensive performance helps the pitching staff:
“I think Mac, and then Kenzie, all of our pitchers today did an amazing job, so knowing that we’re helping them out offensively, I think just takes the weight off their shoulders defensively.”
UP NEXT:
The Sun Devils face Houston tomorrow at noon to finish off the Sun Devil Classic. The game will be available to watch on ASU Live Stream 2.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Fisher
Click on Logo
