ASU Softball: Sun Devils Use Power Bats in Win
The ASU softball team needed only two innings to score 10 runs as they beat the Stanford Cardinal 10-0 in a five inning run-rule game Thursday evening.
Early walks were the difference in this one as Arizona State was walked three times in the first inning and twice in the second. Whenever a power lineup like ASU gets players on base for free, it usually doesn’t equal great results. Stanford got to experience that first hand.
A power lineup wouldn’t have a game without power hitting. Both Chelsea Gonzales and Margaret Stahm homered in the game, which brought in four runs in the second inning. Gonzales now has nine home runs on the season.
Breanna Macha got the start for the Sun Devils and, once again, she was stellar. She pitched the complete five innings and only gave up three hits. An area of concern for Macha is that she did walk five Cardinals, against better teams that will come back to hurt her.
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This was a great game for Arizona State. After a week off it is always a worry that the team will play sluggish after such a long time without a game. Luckily for ASU, they were slated to play the worst team in the Pac-12 which allowed for more room for error.
ASU didn’t need it as they showed that the time off did nothing but possibly make them more focused as they enter the final stretch of the season. A strong finish will be necessary if the Sun Devils want a chance at hosting a regional.
Arizona State will be back in action of Friday as they continue their three-game series against the Stanford Cardinal. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PST and while a starter hasn’t been named yet, it is presumed that Dale Ryndak will get the nod.