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Lopez Leads Softball to Series Win

by thesundevils.com
Apr 3, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY -- Oops, we did it again. Sophomore left-hander Lindsay Lopez led the No. 14 Sun Devil Softball team (21-9, 4-5) to its second-straight series win in conference play over Utah (12-15, 1-8) on Saturday afternoon at Dumke Family Softball Stadium. Lopez and the Arizona State defense combined to hold the Utes scoreless through six innings while Maddi Hackbarth did her thing - hit home runs against Utah.

The Sun Devils have won 10 of the last 11 meetings against Utah. Hackbarth's solo shot in the fourth inning is her 14th on the season and 10th against Utah since she joined the Sun Devil squad in 2018. 

ASU is on a clinching streak after collecting the win against Washington last weekend and the two dubs versus the Utes over the Easter weekend. The Sun Devils look to continue its current trajectory while hosting Stanford this upcoming weekend in Tempe. 
 

Makenna Harper continued her hot streak in enemy territory. The junior jumped to the second spot in the batting order for Saturday's game after consistently hitting in the eight spot all season. She notched a game-high two RBIs off a single to deep right field in ASU's 3-1 win. 
 

Lopez completed the full seven innings with four strikeouts, zero walks, and one earned run. The win is her eighth of the season and tenth of her collegiate career.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The ASU and Utah pitching staff battle ensued for a solid four innings. Lindsay Lopez made her 12th start this season, forcing Utah to three flyouts and four ground outs through the first three innings pitched. 
  • With two outs in the top of the third, Kindra Hackbarth hit a triple - her third of the season - but ASU left her stranded. 
  • Maddi Hackbarth hit her 14th home run of the season in the fourth, a solo shot to right center. Maddi has gone yard 10 times against the Utes since joining the Sun Devil squad in 2018. 
  • VanHook hit a leadoff single to start the fifth and advanced to second thanks to a sac bunt by Halle Harger. Loomis singled to left field, and VanHook took third to put runners on the corners with Kindra Hackbarth at the plate. Utah made a pitching change. 
  • Makenna Harper hit a two-RBI single to deep right field that allowed both Loomis and VanHook to score, Sun Devils up 3-0. 
  • The Utes walked Maddi Hackbarth and subsequently retired their first relief pitcher, opting for second relief to secure the final out. 
  • Utah put up its biggest threat in the fifth inning, connecting on three hits against Lopez. The sophomore battled from the circle - throwing two swinging strikeouts - and forced Utah to strand two runners on the corners. 
  • The Sun Devils managed to load the bases in the sixth, but Utah's pitcher escaped the jam to keep the score 3-0.
  • Lopez went one-two-three in the second, fourth, sixth innings. Utah snuck by to get one run in the seventh inning, concluding the game with a 3-1 final score. 

UP NEXT: The Sun Devils scheduled a quick turnaround and host GCU on Tuesday, April 6, at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium. Later in the week, ASU returns to conference play as hosts of Stanford on April 9-11. 

 

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