ASU softball defeated St. Mary’s 8-4 behind a big day from Morgan Howe as the Sun Devils ended the Kajikawa Classic with a 5-1 record.
Against Indiana, it was all about pitching. Against St. Mary’s, it was all about hitting. The Sun Devils came out victorious over the Gaels 8-4.
After junior Morgan Howe shined against Indiana earlier in the day, scoring ASU’s only two runs, she kept the momentum going against Saint Mary’s. The Fresno State transfer went 3-for-3 with three RBIs including a two-run home run in the fourth.
Howe finished the doubleheader batting 5-for-6 with five RBIs and five runs. Her season average has now risen to .600 with three homers and an amazing slugging percentage of 1.150.
Howe talked after the game about how today it was her time to shine.
“I told myself to hit the ball hard and make something happen,” the center fielder said. “I think the game is called upon anybody at any given time, and today, I was called upon.”
.@morgannnriley's 2-run homer to extend @ASUSoftball's lead earns the @OpusBank #12Best moment. pic.twitter.com/LFZZ7qPItP
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 12, 2018
Right-handed senior Dale Ryndak made her second made her second start of the year.
During her outing, Ryndak allowed three runs but only one was earned after Howe misplaced a simple grounder allowing St. Mary’s to score three in the second inning.
After that, manager Trisha Ford decided to replace Ryndak with sophomore Alyssa Loza. Loza finished the game, pitching four innings and only allowing one run.
Catcher Maddi Hackbarth wants to continue working with Loza to get a better feel for her on the plate.
“I think that she did a very good job moving the ball,” Hackbarth said. “I think that going forward we can work on her curveball, make it more of a strike. Moving forward, I just need to keep working with her.”
Ford believed that Ryndak “didn’t have her ace stuff” and Loza “needed some innings.”
Ford played for St. Mary’s and is the only player in their softball program’s history to have their number tired. She also coached the Gaels for two seasons.
“St. Mary’s is always special,” Ford said talking about her alma mater. “It will always have a special place in my heart.”
With the Kajikawa Classic officially at a close, Ford continued to talk about how fortunate she is to host a tournament like this at a time where most of the country is under snow.
“It’s why you come to ASU,” Ford stated. “You can be home for five weeks instead of being away for five weeks before conference play.”
Next: ASU Basketball: Sun Devils fail to avoid L.A. sweep falling to UCLA
Arizona State is now on a five-game winning streak after losing to Tennessee on opening night. The Sun Devils won’t be playing until Friday when they will be North Dakota in the Littlewood Classic at Farrington Stadium in Tempe.
All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.