Devils in Detail
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ASU Softball: Bats Stay Quiet As Season Ends

By Sam Ficarro

Nov 8, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky enters the stadium prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky enters the stadium prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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ASU Softball’s roller-coaster season came to an end Sunday after a 2-0 loss against LSU in the Baton Rouge regional final.

LSU opened the scoring in the second inning  when Sun Devils pitcher Kelsey Kessler made a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.

The Tigers added an insurance run in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout from first baseman Sahvanna Jaquish.

Kessler started every game of the tournament, but was unable to go the distance against the Tigers as she was pulled in the fifth inning.

Kessler finished her day with four innings pitched, allowing five hits, two runs, five walks and two strikeouts.

Fatigue appeared to have played a major role for Kessler as she threw a total of 407 pitches over the three days of the regional.

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Arizona State was unable to capitalize with runners on base, but controversy played a part in the sixth inning when the Sun Devils had the bases loaded.

Second baseman Nikki Girard hit a fly ball to right field, when outfielder Abby Spiel tagged up to go home.

After beating the throw, LSU catcher Kellsi Kloss applied the tag but Spiel was ruled out for not touching the plate. The replay later showed that Spiel was safe.

In the seventh inning, ASU was not able to put together a rally after catcher Katee Aguirre led off the final frame with a single.

Defensively, the Sun Devils continued to display their impressive style of fielding, highlighted by a stellar catch from center fielder Jennifer Soria.

With the game still in reach, Soria tracked down a deep fly ball and made a full-extension, jumping catch to rob Tigers second baseman Constance Quinn of a home run.

Pitcher Dale Ryndak had another impressive showing in relief duty after throwing 6.1 innings against McNeese State. The sophomore threw three shutout innings in relief while only allowing one hit.

Over the course of their postseason play, the Sun Devil bats could not get going, leaving a shaky pitching staff to carry them.

ASU now heads into the offseason, where questions loom over the futures of Co-Interim Head Coaches Robert Wagner and Letty Olivarez as well as how to replace seven seniors.

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