University of Washington
26-5, 0
Arizona State
20-9, 0
One Big Inning Gives Arizona State 9-7 Win Over Washington
March 15, 2015 | Softball
SEATTLE – Washington (26-5, 1-1) tallied nine hits including three home runs in the second Pac-12 game of the season, but dropped a 9-7 decision to Arizona State (20-9, 1-1) at Husky Softball Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies and Sun Devils each recorded nine hits in the ball game, but timely hits – including a grand slam in the first inning – gave ASU the advantage. Despite falling behind 6-0 in the opening frame, the Huskies battled back, as always, putting the tying run into scoring position and bringing the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.
The Huskies battled throughout the game, pulling to within two runs in the second, fourth and seventh innings. The six run deficit was quickly trimmed to just two runs after sophomore Ali Aguilar belted a solo home run in the first – her eighth of the season. Washington then plated three runs in the second after freshman Taylor Van Zee hit a bases clearing double to make it a 6-4 game. Junior Dani Braun ignited the rally, hitting a lead off double, junior Jennie McNeill then reached on a bunt-single and senior Kylee Lahners drew a walk.
ASU tacked on a run in the top of the fourth, leading off with a single and advancing to second on a fielding error. A bunt-single put runners on the corners and a sacrifice fly put ASU on top, 7-4.
Washington responded in the bottom of the fourth as Lahners launched her eighth home run of the season and second of the series to bring the Huskies back within two runs, 7-5.
After a scoreless fifth inning, ASU placed runners on the corners with one out in the top of the sixth, a double scored two more runs and gave the Sun Devils a 9-5 lead. The Huskies got one back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to Jennie McNeil's first career home run, a two-out solo shot to bring the Huskies within three runs, 9-6 to set up for a dramatic final inning.
Lahners opened the seventh by drawing her second walk of the game and Van Zee reached on an error. Aguilar recorded her third hit of the game, a single to plate pinch runner Kelly Burdick and bring the Huskies back within two runs, 9-7. Junior Courtney Gano then grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners for Stangel who popped up to the catcher. Heads up base running by Gano placed runners at second and third with two-outs but a strikeout ended the game and the Huskies dropped their first Pac-12 game of the season, 9-7.
Sophomore Casey Stangel (7-2) took the loss for the Huskies and Dale Ryndak (9-3) earned the victory for the Sun Devils. Junior Hailey Bator tossed 6 1/3 innings for Washington and settled down after the first inning, holding ASU's potent offense to just three runs for the remainder of the game.
Aguilar went 3-for-4 in the contest and Van Zee recorded a team-leading three RBI to lead the Dawgs at the plate.
Washington and Arizona State will play the final game of the three-game series tomorrow, March 15 at 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ryndak, Dale (9-3)
L: Stangel, Casey (7-2)
S: Macha, Breanna (3)
Batting:
2B: Rodriguez, Sierra 1 ; Freeman, Amber 1 ; Kemp, Bethany 1
HR: Kemp, Bethany 1 ; Girard, Nikki 1
RBI: Caporuscio,Elizabeth 1 ; Freeman, Amber 2 ; Steele, Haley 1 ; Kemp, Bethany 4 ; Girard, Nikki 1
SF: Caporuscio,Elizabeth 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rodriguez, Sierra 1 ; Caporuscio,Elizabeth 1 ; Spiel, Abby 1 ; Freeman, Amber 1 ; Palacios, Sashel 1 ; Steele, Haley 1 ; Kemp, Bethany 1 ; Girard, Nikki 1 ; Soria, Jennifer 1
Batting:
2B: Van Zee, Taylor 1 ; Braun, Dani 1
HR: Lahners, Kylee 1 ; Aguilar, Ali 1 ; McNeill, Jennie 1
RBI: Lahners, Kylee 1 ; Van Zee, Taylor 3 ; Aguilar, Ali 2 ; McNeill, Jennie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lahners, Kylee 2 ; Burdick, Kelly 1 ; Aguilar, Ali 1 ; Braun, Dani 1 ; McNeill, Jennie 2
