ASU Softball: Dominant pitching helps Sun Devils top Indiana

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Oregon Ducks T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon won 80-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Oregon Ducks T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon won 80-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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ASU softball picked up their fourth straight win defeating Indiana 2-1 behind dominant pitching from Breanna Macha and G Juarez.

In ASU’s second to last game in the Kajikawa Classic, the Devils squeezed out a close win against Indiana 2-1. ASU extends their winning streak to four after their opening day game to Tennessee on Thursday.

This game was truly a defensive-minded game. Both teams combined for only eight hits. Things were stagnant in the first few innings.

Through two innings only two players reached base. The bottom of the third is where things became interesting as center fielder Morgan Howe ripped a line drive up into center field for her fourth RBI of this young season.

The Fresno State transfer continued to carry the offense in the fifth. After sophomore Jade Gortarez advanced to third on a wild pitch, Howe hit a deep fly ball for an RBI double.

Things got interesting in the sixth when Macha gave up an opposite field dinger to Indiana’s freshman left fielder Makayla Ferrari for her first her home run of the season.

ASU manager Trisha Ford didn’t want to take any chances after the sixth inning put in G Juarez to close things out. Juarez took care of things easily as she struck out all three batters she faced for her second save of the year.

Macha was brilliant today after struggling in her outing against Nebraska Friday. She only allowed two hits through six innings with five strikeouts. The senior is now 2-0 on the year.

Indiana now falls to 0-5 having scored only 10 runs in five games at the Kajikawa Classic.

Next: ASU Softball: Juarez’s gem leads Devils to win over Notre Dame

Arizona State will be playing their second game in their doubleheader against St. Mary’s. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MT and it can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona.