Softball’s Popescue No-Hits USM In 8-0 Victory

TEMPE, Ariz.—Arizona State softball’s Mackenzie Popescue threw her third career no-hitter as ASU defeated Southern Miss, 8-0, in five innings on Friday night at Farrington Stadium.

With the win, ASU improves to 40-7 on the year while the Golden Eagles fall to 22-26 on the year. Popescue is now 19-1, while USM’s Samantha Robles took the loss and sits at 6-12 on the season.

Popescue last tossed a no-hitter in 2013 as ASU took down North Dakota, 8-0, in five innings on March 1.

The Sun Devils plated three runs in the opening frame, starting when center fielder Alix Johnson led off the inning with a single, and was eventually scored by third baseman Haley Steele’s double to center field. ASU ended the inning with a pair of runs crossing the plate on a Southern Miss error.

ASU went scoreless in the second frame before Steele hit a home run down the left field line to put the Sun Devils up 4-0.

Popescue was perfect through the first three innings, before she got into a jam on the fourth, which saw a pair of Golden Eagle runners in scoring position. Popescue manufactured an unassisted grounder to first base and a flyout to center field to get out of the frame.

After a quiet bottom of the fourth, the Amber Freeman led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, and Steele joined her on base via a walk. Both were scored as left fielder Elizabeth Caporuscio doubled to left center, giving ASU a 6-0 advantage.

Caporuscio was scored on Southern Miss’ fourth error of the game, while first baseman Jennifer Soria reached on a fielder’s choice and took second on the play. Soria then stole third before she scored ASU’s game-winning run on a Golden Eagle error.

ASU’s three-game series with Southern Miss continues with their annual Pink Game on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT.