Under first year head coach Trisha Ford, ASU softball exceeded expectations. The hope that the team could continue that streak ended Saturday as the Sun Devils lost both of their games in Oxford.
Coming into the day, ASU softball just needed to win one game to move on to the regional championship game.
In the first game, against Ole Miss, Dale Ryndak was on for Arizona State.
Ryndak pitched a complete game and made an Ole Miss team that run-ruled Southern Illinois the day prior, look like a very beatable team.
The problem for ASU is that the bats couldn’t come alive, and they ultimately dropped that game 2-0. Because of the regional format, ASU then had to face the winner of UNC-Southern Illinois later in the day.
UNC would end up beating Southern Illinois, setting up a Tar Heels vs. Sun Devils winner-advances-to-regional-championship game.
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Freshman pitcher Giselle Juarez was given the start and delivered only allowing two runs in her four innings pitched.
Breanna Macha would take over for the Sun Devils and allow another run to score to bring UNC’s scoring total up to three.
The issue for Arizona State on the day were the bats. During their first game against UNC, making contact and getting the ball in play wasn’t an issue for the Sun Devils as they won that game 9-3.
Through both games on Saturday the bats weren’t swinging with the same pop they had the day before.
ASU had a chance at the end of their second game against UNC. With the score 3-2, Fa Leilua hit a ball to shallow left field that the shortstop was able to get under thus ending the season for Arizona State.
Looking back at this season, there were a lot of ups and downs. The pitching was greatly improved compared to last season, but this team had the ability to beat anyone on any given night if the pitching and hitting matched up. They very rarely did.
For the two seniors that will be leaving the team, Chelsea Gonzales and Sashel Palacios, they were two players that will go down as all-time greats. They single-handedly kept the Sun Devils in games throughout their four years with the program thanks to their power bats.
Next: ASU Baseball Loses to UofA
It will be a long plane ride home for the ASU softball team. A plane ride that is sure to be full of tears and full of somber faces. But they can hold their heads high knowing that for the first time in a few season the softball program seems to have a sense of direction and a bright future.