ASU Softball: Sun Devils Host California As Pac-12 Race Heats Up

All three games of the series will be televised, starting Friday (7 p.m.) on ESPNU. Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.) will be on the Pac-12 Network.

Arizona State enters the weekend matchup with a 39-7 overall mark, and a 10-5 record in the Pac-12. California is 35-9 and 9-6 in the conference. The Sun Devils have been winners in the last two meetings between the teams. Last season it came down to ASU and California for the Pac-12 title.

ASU head coach Clint Myers has plenty of motivation against Cal: The Golden Bears are the only team in the Pac-12 that Myers does not have a winning record against—trailing by just one game.

Arizona State lost its first Pac-12 Conference series of the season with a 6-5 loss to Utah in game one of a twin-bill last Sunday. The double-header was necessary due to inclement weather in the Salt Lake City area. Sam Parlich helped the Sun Devils avoid a series sweep with a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to secure the 6-4 win in the finale.

ASU fell 5-4 in eight innings to the Utes in the first game of the series—the team’s first loss of the year in extras. Bethany Kemp paced the Sun Devil offense with three RBI on two home runs. Reliever Mackenzie Popescue (16-2) recorded the loss after taking over as reliever in the bottom of the seventh.