Two Run Rules in Two Nights by #21 Sun Devils

TEMPE, Ariz.- On the second day of the Littlewood Classic the No. 21 Arizona State Sun Devil softball team kept their hot streak alive as ASU (5-2) defeated Portland State (5-2) by a score of 9-1. This is the second game in a row where the Sun Devils ended the game early by run rule. 

Freshman Mac Morgan got the start and the win for the Sun Devils. Morgan did not allow a hit until the fourth inning of the game. Allison Royalty entered in relief for Morgan in the fourth inning, striking out three out of the six batters she faced. Both pitchers only gave up a combined one hit and one run on a night where the bats were the main show.

The Sun Devil bats stayed hot after last night's win. ASU had 10 hits on the game and two home runs, one by Kristiana Watson and a two-run walk-off by Jazmine Hill, and a triple and single by Yanni Acuña. 

ASU 9, PSU 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Sun Devils started strong scoring four runs in the first inning. The first run came in by a triple hit by Acuña and the other three came by a three-run home run by Watson, her second of the season. After one inning the ASU led 4-0.

• Three more runs were added to the ASU lead in the second inning off of hits by Hill and Acuña. Heading into the third inning the Sun Devils had a commanding 7-0 lead over the Vikings.

• Hill ended the game for the Sun Devils on a walk-off home run to end the, scoring Marissa Schuld who doubled prior. The ballgame ended in five innings with a final score of 9-1.

Up Next: The Sun Devils will look to continue their momentum into day 3 of the Littlewood Classic with a doubleheader. Facing off against Illinois State at 4:30 p.m. followed by a matchup against Minnesota at 7 p.m. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream.

QUOTES

On what worked today:

We were working people in different spots, it's early in the season, and wanted to give people some opportunities. I thought Mac threw very well and was commanding the zone and I thought that she did a great job. We brought Royalty in and It was getting close to the end of the game being over so I wanted to make sure that Royalty got in some innings. I think Jaz Hill had a tremendous game and we got a lot of good stuff and hit the ball well.

On Acuña's importance to the lineup:

Yanni had improved so much and I feel like she is someone who feels so comfortable in the box and has done a great job from a mental standpoint. She's dynamic physically and it was just for her to get some more innings and at-bats for her to stay consistent. I think she's done a tremendous job hitting in the two-hole. She's been great and she's maturing as a hitter, I'm hoping that it will continue.

On Cydney Sanders Performance

I thought Cydney took her walks when she needed to take her walks. I think as a freshman she really wants to hit but she did a great job of seeing the pitch and sticking to her plan. 

Jazmine Hill 

On team's approach

The biggest thing I preach to the team to is take every game one game at a time. Worry about this game first and then the next one and so forth.  I think that mentality helps us stay aggressive.
 

Kristiana Watson

On team's mentality

I think our plan is to attack early and hit something hard to get runners on and produce from there. Right now we're just taking it one game at a time. We try to keep our energy up  from the very start because when we start out that way with high energy and momentum, then we can really keep it going throughout the game.