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#10 Softball Drops Rubber Match, Regular Season Finale

by thesundevils.com
May 9, 2021

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Despite holding the lead for six-straight innings, the Arizona State softball team (32-14, 12-9) fell, 5-3, in the rubber match and regular season finale against Oregon State on Sunday afternoon. Denae Chatman and Yannira Acuna both hit solo home runs, their ninth and sixth of the season, respectively. 

Kindra and Maddi Hackbarth pushed the Sun Devils to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Maddi's RBI single brought Kindra home for the first run on the board. Chatman launched her homer in the top of the sixth, giving more wiggle room to the Sun Devil lead. 

OSU fought back, scoring two runs in the sixth, yet Acuna gave ASU what felt like the game-winning run with a moon shot to right field, pushing the score to 3-2. The Beavers eventually plugged the hole and protected the dam to win 5-3 in the seventh inning. 

Allison Royalty pitched the entire game in her 19th career start. The true freshman threw 6.2 innings and four strikeouts in 31 batters faced. She made appearances in all three conference games, including pitching two complete games, against OSU this weekend. On the season, Royalty boasts 121 strikeouts in 124.1 innings pitched. 

UP NEXT: The team goes into a bye week this upcoming weekend before Selection Sunday announces Regional and Super Regional host sites and postseason teams on May 16. The NCAA Tournament begins on Friday, May 21. 

ASU 3, OREGON STATE 5
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Arizona State went to work early in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon. Kindra Hackbarth knocked a leadoff single and eventually stole second while Jazmine Hill was at-bat. 
  • Kindra's twin, Maddi Hackbarth, was third in the lineup and hit her own single down the right field line that allowed Kindra to score. ASU ended the inning up 1-0. 
  • Allison Royalty started in the circle and faced four batters before collecting her first strikeout of the day to bring her team back to the plate. 
  • Denae Chatman hit a solo home run in the top of the second to extend ASU's lead to 2-0. 
  • Royalty made quick work in the second and third innings, going three up, three down, in both. 
  • ASU notched three singles in the third, but couldn't capitalize as they left two stranded on base. 
  • OSU threatened in the fifth, hitting three singles, but Royalty neutralized the OSU efforts with two swinging strikeouts. 
  • The Beavers made good on their threats in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs to tie the game. 
  • Yannira Acuna answered right back in the top of the seventh with a solo moon shot to deep right field, swinging the lead in ASU's direction once again. 
  • With two outs, OSU collected a three-run homer to secure the walkoff, 5-3 win over ASU. 

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