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Dub with Doubles: Softball Beats Seattle 9-1

by thesundevils.com
Feb 12, 2021

TEMPE, ARIZ.-- Doubles, doubles, and more doubles! The Sun Devils continued to produce offensively in their opening weekend hosting the Kajikawa Classic with nine hits, including five doubles and a solo shot to the moon from senior catcher Maddi Hackbarth to beat the Seattle Redhawks 9-1 and stay undefeated on the season. 

Defensively, Arizona State (3-0-0) held Seattle (0-2-0) to one run on four hits behind true freshman Allison Royalty, who earned the first collegiate start of her young career after she pitched three solid innings of relief on Thursday in the Sun Devils' opening day. 

"I feel great. I'm excited, I've just been waiting for this opportunity for a while now, and I've looked forward to it," Royalty said. 

Royalty notched eight strikeouts in her first career start. Coach Ford credited Royalty's abilities to compete for the starting role to her preparation.

"She's just different," Ford said. "She is somebody that is self-taught and somebody that knows what it means to work and how to get herself ready. She has a very deep understanding of her mechanics and where she wants to put the ball."

As for the team's performance, Coach Ford liked what she saw from the team tonight, "I thought we came out a little bit more relaxed tonight, and did a much better job of hitting out pitches and not chasing. I think we took advantage of some miscues, and I just thought we played a little bit more like ASU softball."

UP NEXT: The Sun Devils will play in the final day of the Kajikawa Classic where they will face Utah in a non-conference game on Saturday, Feb 13 at 6:00 PM MST. After the tournament, ASU will co host a tournament with GCU back at Farrington Stadium. Fans are not permitted at any ASU events per the Pac-12 Conference Policy. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • A few Sun Devil batters endured hits by pitch which set up a double-heavy first inning for M. Hackbarth and Jazmine Hill. The duo doubled deep shots to right field with two runners on base, which put the Sun Devils up 4-0 to end the first inning.  
  • The Super Senior does it again! A solo home run shot to left field from M. Hackbarth put the Sun Devils up 5-0 in the second inning. Senior Denae Chatman hit with two runners on, and followed with a double to left to put the Sun Devils ahead 7-0. Another double (yes, really) for the Sun Devils, from Brittany Holland brought in Makenna Harper and Chatman to extend the lead to 9-0. 
  • Royalty recorded four K's through three innings, as the Redhawks collected their first run off of a sac-fly, but Royalty made quick work to end the top half of the third. Maddi Hackbarth doubled in the third inning for her third hit of the night, but ASU was unable to capitalize and stranded her at second to end the third inning. 
  • The Sun Devils threatened the Redhawks further with Brittany Holland and Yanni Acuna at first and second base, respectively, but a line drive from Kindra Hackbarth to the Redhawks first baseman to end the inning. 
  • The Sun Devils eight-run lead was enough to run rule the Redhawks in five innings, as Allison Royalty ended the night with eight K's in five IP. 

FACTS TO KNOW:

  • Transfer Brittany Holland made her debut in the maroon and gold, and went two-for-two at the plate with two RBI's. 
  • M. Hackbarth went three-for-three with three RBI's. Including a HUGE home run
  • Royalty threw eight strikeouts and no walks. She now boasts a 0.91 ERA this season and a 2-0 record in as many appearances. The freshman's 11 strikeouts on the season ties senior Cielo Meza for most strikeouts by a member of the pitching staff in 2021. 
  • The Sun Devils combined for five doubles in five innings - the program record is seven doubles achieved on Feb. 21, 2015 against Indiana State

 

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