ASU Softball: Why You Should Start Paying Attention

Sep 18, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky looks on during the first half against the New Mexico Lobos at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky looks on during the first half against the New Mexico Lobos at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

ASU softball, under first year head coach Trisha Ford, is sporting a 23-9 record and is ranked No. 21 in the country. This team deserves your attention.

The ASU softball team is having a very good season after struggling last season with the head coaching carousel.

After finishing last season with a 32-26 (6-17) record, the Sun Devils were determined to right the ship this season under new head coach Trisha Ford.

Arizona State has done just that and more this season sporting a 23-9 (2-4) record heading into a weekend that will see them square off against No. 3 Oregon.

The Sun Devils have received production from everybody on the team starting with the pitching staff of Breanna Macha, Dale Ryndak, Giselle Juarez and Alyssa Loza.

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Combined the four pitchers have a 1.31 ERA, 17 complete games, 8 shutouts, 164 strikeouts and just 39 walks.

They have set the tone for ASU in each game and has set up the Sun Devils hitters to succeed.

Arizona State currently boasts a team batting average of .286, 34 home runs, 153 RBIs and an OPS of .868.

The Sun Devils have four players batting at least .320 with shortstop Chelsea Gonzales and catcher Sashel Palacios leading the way.

Gonzales leads the team in batting average, home runs and RBIs batting .398, hitting 8 home runs and driving in 33 runs.

Palacios is the other runs producer having a .326 batting average to go along with 7 home runs and 28 RBIs.

Behind the strong pitching and hitting, Arizona State is also one of the best fielding teams in the conference with a .971 fielding percentage committing only 26 errors this season.

The Sun Devils have been tested by some of the best teams in the country and have either lost by a close margin or have won.

ASU has faced the likes of Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Michigan twice, Baylor and Texas not to mention the competitive Pac-12 conference, which featured seven teams in the latest USA Softball/ESPN Poll.

Next: ASU Softball: Sun Devils Run-Rule Beavers for Second Straight Game

The ASU softball team is definitely a team to be paying close attention as they head in deep into conference play as this team has the makeup of a strong team that could do damage in the NCAA Tournament.