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ASU Softball: The Real Test Starts Now

By Hunter Robinson

Oct 15, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky poses for a photo during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky poses for a photo during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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After sweeping the Stanford Cardinal this past weekend, the ASU softball team now begins their real test as they will face the top two teams in the Pac-12 back-to-back.

ASU softball will be playing host to the Utah Utes this weekend, the No. 2 team in the Pac-12 and the No. 10 team in the nation. After that, the Sun Devils will be down in Tucson to face the Arizona Wildcats, the No. 1 team in the Pac-12 and the No. 3 team in the nation. Two good series may see Arizona State propelled into the top of the Pac-12.

Head coach Trisha Ford’s motto this whole season has been to take it one game at a time. That will be a motto they will need to make sure they are living by these next two weeks. If one game doesn’t go your way, forget about it and move on.

The Sun Devils have a chance to do something that only a few teams get the chance to do. Playing against the top two teams in your conference back-to-back may seem like a gauntlet, which it is, but if you are able to get hot then you put yourself in position to finish strong.

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Unfortunately for ASU, there is also a scenario where they don’t win a single game in the next two weeks and they are unable to fully recover and they limp into the postseason. While this is a worst-case scenario, it is very real when you are playing against two top-15 teams in secession.

With a pitching staff that has the ability to throw gems and an offense that has the firepower to go through the whole lineup in a single inning, Arizona State is a dangerous team. The issue this season has been that in big games one part of the puzzle doesn’t show up, something that will need to change if the Sun Devils want a chance at shocking the top two teams in the conference the next two weeks.

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