(Tempe, AZ) The Sun Devils’ bats were silenced as they drop the opening game against the No. 8 Washington Huskies, 4-2.
Washington (26-5) opened the scoring in the first inning off an infield single. The Sun Devils (18-11) countered with a first-run inning when Jordyn VanHook singled the opposite way to tie things at one. The Devils took the lead in the third when Jazmyn Rollinsingled up the middle to score Savannah Price.
The Huskies retook the lead in the fourth after an error by the Sun Devils. Washington added another in the following inning via a home run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
All with two outs, Washington managed a pair of singles to tally their first run of the contest. A lead-off walk by Yanni Acuña helped the Sun Devils equalize the game with a hit by Vanhook after the opening frame.
Mac Osborne managed to escape a bases loaded jam by striking out two huskies to keep the game tied.
For the third consecutive inning the Sun Devils managed a lead-off walk operated by Price who later stole her fifth base of the year, then was brought in by a Rollin single that went up the middle after the third inning to take a 2-1 advantage.
Washington managed to take back the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth and followed it up with a solo home run in the fifth frame to take a 4-2 lead. Kenzie Brownentered the circle and managed to work out of a bases loaded jam.
The Sun Devils threatened in the sixth inning but couldn’t muster any runs, stranding two on first and second.
NOTABLES
Acuña recorded her seventh and eighth walk in the last five games. It’s the most walks in any five-game stretch in her college career. In fact, it was the fourth game in the last five where she’s obtained a lead-off walk.
Price managed to swipe her fifth stolen base of the season.
Rollin’s third inning single was her 26th hit this season, surpassing her total of 25 last season.
Marissa Schuld worked two scoreless innings in relief with one strikeout. It is her 11th scoreless appearance this season.
QUOTES
Arizona State Softball Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On the pitching staff’s resiliency tonight:
“The pitching staff did a nice job. Mac (Osborne) battled out of some super tough situations and she gave us a shot to win…(Baylee) Klingler is an outstanding player. Team USA, returning Pac-12 Player of the year, she’s legit, she’s really good. I thought we had a good plan and we had some really nice responses against her.”
On the message to the team to uplift them:
“They just have to keep fighting. If they allow the foundation of beliefs to crumble then it’s over. The rest of the season is done. We always try to pull things back to life and you will never out kick your own coverage. If you don’t believe you’re capable, you are 1,000% not going to be capable. So that’s the choice you’re presented with. You get to get some rest and get up the next day. And we’ll get back to film. We put some balls right back into the screen if it’s millimeter higher and they get through, a couple of those balls could be a couple jacks and we win the ballgame. So the message the last couple of weeks, it’s been tough. The Pac-12 is an amazing conference. And of course, this is the year there’s tons of parity. It’s all super tight games, and everyone’s kind of beating up on everyone else. And that’s really it. Like you just have to continue to fight and battle and know that when we eventually put all the facets of the game together, we’re going to be a really tough team to beat. And it’s about posting, it’s about are you prepared to walk into the Pac-12 Tournament? Then hopefully we make a run and we’re ready for whatever challenge after we can get there.”
On the adjustments to finish this series strong:
“We’re going to see (Kelley) Lynch tomorrow. She’s got a really nice low rise ball ?, she can work both sides of the plate, but really, collectively, we have to make sure that we can get through this off of the ball. When we can lay off that low stuff kind of has uptick like that, right? That’s what makes Kenzie Brown so successful. Lindsay Lopez, same thing, that curve has got a little bit of uptick to it. If you can’t find a way to get through the top of the ball with really brilliant moving pitches, it’s gonna be hard to win in this league. We spent all fall working on laying off the high rise. Could we get through the low rise? And can we get a change-up right and getting an adequate education? Full speed, I think quickly in the Pac-12. So that’s all we can do. They have the tools in the toolbox. They’ve been trained to do it and now we’ve got to find a way to stay present. Keep our minds clear, breathing under control, and better adjusting as the season goes on.”
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils look to even the series against Washington in game two tomorrow at 5:00 PM. The game will be televised on the ASU Live Stream.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Fisher
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