ASU Softball: Kessler Near-Perfect to Extend Season

ASU Softball was able to extend their season with 1-0 walk-off victory over LIU Brooklyn.

Third baseman Taylor Becerra hit a two-out single to produce the game’s only run.

ASU will play in another elimination game vs. McNeese State tonight.

Kelsey Kessler, after struggling Friday vs. McNeese State, got back on track in a big way as she took a perfect game into the seventh inning.

Her perfect game ended on a leadoff single by OF Whitney West.

Kessler finished throwing a complete game shutout, allowing just the one hit and striking out three Blackbirds.

Kessler did a much better job controlling her pitches.

She was very erratic vs. McNeese State, resulting in a lot of baserunners. She threw 46 strikes on 67 pitches, which resulted in a lot of fly balls.

Her strike percentage today was 68.6%, an improvement from 53.5% in Friday’s loss vs the Cowgirls.

With the low pitch count, it gives Kessler a chance to pitch tonight.

Her performance should give her and the Sun Devils confidence heading into another elimination game.

While Kessler bounced back, the Sun Devil bats have yet to awaken in Baton Rouge.

Arizona State had only five hits vs. LIU Brooklyn, with SS Chelsea Gonzales and 2B Nikki Girard combining for four hits.

The bats will need to come alive heading into the rematch with McNeese State, who features the Southland Conference’s best offense.

The Cowgirls were patient vs. Kessler and it allowed them to be selective in the pitches they hit.

On the other hand, ASU was very aggressive vs. McNeese State pitcher Emily Vincent.

Vincent took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, as ASU was only able to generate runs through walks and errors.

It’s important for the Sun Devils to display patience tonight and not be overly-aggressive.

Vincent threw eight pitches in relief earlier today, so having that familiarity of seeing her once will be big for the Sun Devils.