Washington Rally Falls Short
SEATTLE – The No. 10 Huskies concluded their regular season Saturday afternoon at Husky Softball Stadium with a 5-2 loss to No. 4 Arizona State in the final game of a three-game set.
In her final regular season game as a Husky, Gabbie Plain took her place in the circle and pitched into the seventh inning. She recorded eight strikeouts of the No. 4 Sun Devils.
After trading zeroes for the first two innings, Arizona State (39-9, 20-4) broke through in the third. They plated four runs, all via the long ball, including a three-run home run by Cydney Sanders. Jazmine Hill followed with a solo shot of her own.
Sanders tacked on a run in the fifth with another home run, but the Huskies responded in kind. Olivia Johnson homered to dead center field to draw Washington (35-15, 14-10) within four runs. Johnson's 11th homer of the season also ended Sun Devil pitcher Mac Morgan's effort at a perfect game.
Plain was lifted with one out in the seventh inning and replaced by fellow graduating senior Pat Moore, who recorded the final two outs of the inning. Both were honored following the game for their contributions to the program.
The Huskies' bats came to life in the bottom of the seventh. Two hit batters and two singles plated a run, as SilentRain Espinoza recorded her fifth RBI of the season on a single up the middle. Washington brought the winning run to the plate before a popup ended the rally.
The Huskies now look to tomorrow's Selection Show to determine their placement in the NCAA Tournament at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.
For more information on the UW Softball team, follow @UWSoftball on Twitter and Instagram.
SCORING
3rd: ASU three-run home run to left field
3rd: ASU solo home run to left-center field
5th: ASU solo home run to center field
5th: Olivia Johnson home run to center field
7th: SilentRain Espinoza single up the middle, Pat Moore scored, Baylee Klingler to second
NOTES
Jenn Cummings was hit by her 16th pitch of the season to extend her on base streak to six games.
Jadelyn Allchin has reached safely in five straight games.
Olivia Johnson hit her 11th home run of the season. Johnson has reached has hit safely in three consecutive games.