ASU Softball: Sun Devils Set For Pac-12 Home Opener Against Oregon State

Arizona State (31-3, 2-1 Pac-12) chalked up a 2-1 series win at No. 12 UCLA last weekend. During Sunday’s deciding 5-4 victory against the Bruins, freshman Nikki Girard hit a two-run homer in the third inning, and the Sun Devils put up three more runs in the fourth on RBI hits by Alix Johnson, Amber Freeman and Girard. In Saturday’s contest, junior right-hander Mackenzie Popescue limited UCLA to three runs and six hits in seven innings. Popescue (14-0) struck out five in her sixth complete game of the season.

Oregon State (23-6, 0-0 Pac-12) is coming off mid-week games at UC Davis and Bakersfield. The Beavers will see their first conference action of the season at Farrington Stadium in Tempe.

Arizona State holds an all-time 72-20 record over OSU dating back to 1977. The two teams last meet in 2011. The Sun Devils have won seven of the last 11 games. Head coach Clint Meyers’ squad is 15-6 against the Beavers.

ASU currently stands at third in the Pac-12 with a 2-1 record in conference play. Nationally, the Sun Devils are third as a team in batting average, .361, second in win/loss percentage, .912, and 14th in ERA, 1.62.