The ASU softball team used five team home runs to propel them to an 11-0 run-rule victory over Oregon State.
After run-ruling the Beavers the night before, ASU softball did it once again thanks to a Sashel Palacios walk-off grandslam.
“Having coach behind my back and knowing the team believes in me is huge,” Palacios said after the game, “I’m seeing the ball really well right now and I think it’s a credit to all the hard work we are doing in practice and this is the most I’ve ever felt prepared before a series.”
The Sun Devils scored in bursts Sunday night, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first, two runs in the bottom of the third, one run in the fourth, and four runs in the fifth. Ten of ASU’s eleven runs came courtesy of the long ball.
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It was Chelsea Gonzales who got things started for the Sun Devils, lauching a three-run homer in the bottom of the first. Palacios followed Gonzales with a solo shot during the very next at-bat, extending the lead to 4-0 early.
Margaret Stahm would continue the firepower for Arizona State as she knocked one over the fence in the bottom of the third to push the lead to 5-0. This time it was Marisa Stankowitz who followed the homerun with a homerun of her own. Her fourth of the season, and ASU’s fourth of the game.
Palacios would add another RBI in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a double that would extend the lead to 7-0.
It was then in the bottom of the eighth, bases loaded with two outs, that Palacios would cap of the night by hitting a walk-off grand slam. Palacios ended the day 3-4 with six RBIs and two homeruns.
While the offense was clicking tonight, it was freshman pitcher Giselle Juarez who solidified the victory for ASU.
In a complete-game effort, Juarez allowed only four hits, four strikeouts and two walks. Juarez is now 4-3 on the season.
“I thought did a good job today,” head coach Trisha Ford said postgame, “Sometimes I forget that she is a freshman.”
Next: ASU Baseball Loses Series to USC
The Sun Devils will be back in action Monday as they wrap up their series against the Oregon State Beavers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MST and the game can be seen live on the Pac-12 Network.