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Series Clinched, No Pity in #13 Softball Slugfest

by thesundevils.com
Apr 17, 2021

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Home Run U went to work in a Saturday night big bat showcase as No. 13 Sun Devil Softball (27-11, 8-6) clinched the series over No. 8 Arizona (27-7, 6-4). Alynah Torres led the slugfest with two home runs in ASU's 8-1 win. The series win is the first for ASU over UA since 2015 and the first in the Trisha Ford Era. 

Fifth-year Maddi Hackbarth ignited the offense in the first inning, going yard for two RBIs in her 18th home run of the season. Maddi's hitting partner, Torres, matched the energy, hitting dingers in the third and fifth. She finished the game with four RBIs and her season long ball log reached double digits with 11 in 38 game starts.

Makenna Harper, a daughter of a house divided, wanted in on the action too. She hit her own two-run home run in the fifth to bring the score to 8-1. 

In the circle, Allison Royalty and Lindsay Lopez executed their dynamic duo finesse. The underclassmen held Arizona to one run - the fewest the Wildcats have scored in 16 games since facing then-No. 6 Washington on March 19. The pair each threw three strikeouts while Lopez failed to issue a single walk through 3.1 innings pitched. The sophomore boasts the fewest walks on the ASU pitching staff with only 20 in 24 appearances. 

Saturday night's series clinch was the first on home turf since 2014. The last time ASU won the series was at Arizona in 2015. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE: ASU 8, UARIZONA 1

  • In the first inning Allison Royalty controlled the ASU defense, leaving two Wildcats stranded. The freshman notched two swinging strikeouts to bring her Sun Devils to the plate.
  • Kindra Hackbarth was the first Sun Devil on base with a single to left center field. She was eventually brought home by sister Maddi Hackbarth who homered to right field, giving ASU an early 2-0 lead.
  • At the top of the second, the Sun Devil defense made a quick at-bat for the Wildcats holding them to no runs and stranding one. ASU stayed quiet, stranding two and went into the top of the third with a two-run lead. 
  • A  grounder to Bella Loomis on third led to a double play that sent two Wildcat runners back to the dugout. A single up the middle led to a runner in off the throw, giving UA their first point on the board. Royalty ended UA's at-bat with a swinging strikeout.
  • Alynah Torres stayed patient through a 10-pitch at-bat and sent one over the left field wall for two RBI and extended the Sun Devils lead to 4-1. 
  • ASU started the top of the fourth with two quick outs off a fielder's choice to put pressure on the Wildcats. Lindsey Lopez stepped in the circle to relieve Royalty after three innings. 
  • The Sun Devils held UA to no runs at the top of the fifth. Maddi Hackbarth took a leadoff walk that brought Torres up to bat. One wasn't enough for the sophomore, so Torres hit another home run to put the Sun Devils up 6-1 at the bottom of the fifth with no outs. 
  • Makenna Harper kept the momentum going with a bomb over the right field wall for two RBI.
  • At the top of the sixth Lopez and the ASU defense came out hot and sent the first three Wildcats straight back to the dugout. The Sun Devils stayed quiet and stranded three to end the sixth and keep the lead 8-1. Lopez faced four batters in the fourth, but the win was secured. 

GAME TWO: ASU 1, UARIZONA 15

  • Cielo Meza made her 11th start in the circle for game two against the Wildcats. UA got on the board early with two runs in the first.
  • ASU was blanked in the first inning, bringing Meza and the defense out of the dugout. The fifth-year threw strikeouts in a quick three-up, three-down inning.
  • In the fifth inning pinch hitter Mailey McLemore mustered a single to left field followed by VanHook landing on base by a fielder's choice after McLemore was tagged out at second.
  • After a six pitch at-bat, senior Alli Tatnall blasted the ball into the right centerfield gap for a quick triple to rally Makenna Harper home.

UP NEXT

The pair will finalize their Pac-12 conference series game on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Sunday's fun in the sun will be available to watch via the Pac-12 Network.

FACTS TO KNOW 

  • Alynah Torres has gone yard twice in a single game twice this season. The sophomore shortstop notched two dingers against New Mexico on Feb. 26, 2021. 
  • Three Sun Devils have hit two home runs in a single game this season: Maddi and Kindra Hackbarth, and Alynah Torres. Like Alynah, Maddi has also accomplished the feat twice. 
  • Lindsay Lopez threw her 70th season strikeout in game one. Allison Royalty threw her 95th career strikeout in the same game. 

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