ASU Softball: Home Runs Power Devils Past Tar Heels

After a shaky top of the first inning, ASU softball hit four home runs defeating North Carolina 9-3 to advance to the 1-0 Game Saturday.

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

ASU softball adopted that motto in the NCAA Tournament opener versus North Carolina as the Sun Devils overcame a 3-0 first inning deficit to defeat the Tar Heels 9-3.

Arizona State sent Breanna Macha to the circle Saturday throwing an eventful first inning.

North Carolina took advantage of Arizona State’s sloppy infield defense plus a dry infield creating big hops leading to hits into the outfield.

The Tar Heels wasted no time as six of the first seven batters of the game reached base leading to three North Carolina runs.

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After back-to-back singles to begin the game, an error by shortstop Chelsea Gonzales scored the game’s first run.

North Carolina would score their next two runs on an RBI single from catcher Katie Bailiff and a bases loaded walk by pitcher Brittany Pickett.

The big moment of the game was Macha limiting the damage to just three runs getting back-to-back strikeouts to retire the side.

It was far from an ideal start for Arizona State but like what they have done all season, they battled back.

Arizona State responded with five runs in the home-half of the inning on a 2-run home run from Chelsea Gonzales followed by a 3-run home run from Margaret Stahm giving the Sun Devils a 5-3 lead.

North Carolina pulled Pickett from the game after facing only six batters recording only out allowing five earned runs on four hits and a walk.

After a 42-minute rain delay, Gonzales extended the lead to 6-3 in the second inning hitting her second home run of the game, a solo shot to left field.

Then in the third inning, right fielder Brynley Steele, hit just her second home run of the season blasting a 2-run shot to dead center making it 8-3 Sun Devils.

A bases loaded walk in the fifth inning by catcher Sashel Palacios made it 9-3 Sun Devils securing a vital win to begin the Oxford Regional.

Macha was superb after the first inning holding North Carolina to only three base-runners coming on a single, walk and hit by pitch throwing a complete game allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits to go with three walks and five strikeouts.

The Tar Heels sent four pitchers to the circle tonight as they will play in an elimination game Saturday.

Next: ASU Softball: Scouting Devils’ Competition in Oxford Regional

Arizona State will play in the 1-0 Game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PST versus the winner of No. 12 Ole Miss versus Southern Illinois. The game can be seen online on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.