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ASU Softball: Sun Devils Host Littlewood Classic

By Hunter Robinson

Oct 15, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky during the fourth quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. The Buffaloes defeated theSun Devils 40-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky during the fourth quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. The Buffaloes defeated theSun Devils 40-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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After starting the season a perfect 7-0 in the Kajikawa Classic, the ASU softball team is back in action this weekend hosting the Littlewood Classic.

ASU softball started out the season the best possible way, winning all of their games in dominant fashion. Spectacular pitching from both Dale Ryndak and Beanna Macha was the highlight of the Kajikawa Classic.

Less than a week after their last game, the sun devils are hosting another tournament in the Littlewood Classic. The Littlewood Classic will see the Sun Devils play five games over a three-day period, two games on Friday, two on Saturday, and one on Sunday. For ASU, their opponents will be tougher this time around compared to what they faced last weekend. Arizona State will play both Wichita State and Missouri, two postseason teams from last season.

ASU’s full weekend schedule will see them face Wichita State and Illinois State on Friday, a second game against Illinois state and a matchup against Missouri on Saturday, and a single game against South Dakota on Sunday.

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The Littlewood Classic will be the perfect test for ASU. They will face a mix of postseason-caliber teams and easy competition that will allow the Sun Devils to figure out more about this year’s team. While all eyes will be on the pitching circle to see if Ryndak and Macha can recreate their performances from last weekend, the hitting lineup needs to be the focus.

Pitching will do what pitching is going to do, there will be some good games and some bad games, but with more formidable competition coming to Tempe it will be interesting to see how the lineup does against some schools with real pitching ability.

Players like Chelsea Gonzales and Sashel Palacios will be fine, they just have the ability to make contact with the ball no matter who they are against, the rest of the lineup will be the question. While most players aren’t in their first collegiate season, the offensive ability of the Sun Devils is the lifeline of this program. If a pitcher has a bad inning, they need to have faith that their offense will help get them out of the hole they created.

If the Sun Devils are able to have another good weekend, then don’t be surprised if Arizona State receives some votes for the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll. ASU being ranked heading into the Pac-12 season could go a long way to proving themselves that they are capable of competing in the loaded Pac-12.

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First pitch of the Littlewood Classic is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Friday morning with South Dakota and Missouri squaring off. ASU softball doesn’t play until later in the day, first pitch of their game against Wichita State is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. with their first game against Illinois State scheduled to begin after the conclusion of the Wichita State game. All of Arizona State’s games can be streamed online thanks to the Pac-12 Network.

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