After an exciting ending on Saturday, ASU softball took care of things quickly on both sides of the field defeating the University of San Diego 7-0 and improving their record to 9-1.
Since her shaky pitching performance against Tennessee, G Juarez seems alright. The Glendale native handled USD with ease giving up three hits and struck out nine in her first complete game of the season.
“I felt all my pitches we’re working,” Juarez said. The sophomore said San Diego got “lucky” on the three hits that she surrendered.
Head coach Trisha Ford talked to Juarez about her start last night before the game.
“I told her last night that she was getting back on the hump,” Ford said. “We’re gonna need her. She’s good.”
Since Juarez gave up six earned runs in five innings on opening night, she has only surrendered three earned runs in 21 innings.
Maddi Hackbarth continues to dominate early in her Sun Devil tenure. In the first inning, she squeezes in a two-run single to score freshman Jade Gortarez and former Bulldog teammate Morgan Howe. Hackbarth currently leads Arizona State with 17 RBIs.
In the second, ASU was really able to pull away thanks to a bomb that Nichole Chilson hit off a changeup for her first home run of the season. The senior talk about how she has been working on spotting those off speed pitches.
“Driving that felt really good because I was working on that a lot during practice,” Chilson said.
B2 | See ya later, ball 👋#Devils lead 7-0. pic.twitter.com/E3JPOjvv3W
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 18, 2018
Senior Marisa Stankiewicz made a fantastic diving catch on the field to save a run in the third inning.
“I say all the time that I’m an infielder and I field balls on the ground,” the second baseman joked. “It actually feels really rewarding when i catch a ball that’s in the air.”
After scoring all of their seven in the first two innings. Coach Ford felt it was a great opportunity to put in some of the bench players that haven’t had an opportunity to contribute yet such as Alli Tatnall, Missy Eisen, and Brynley Steele.
“These are some kids who aren’t getting as much playing time and working hard at practice,” Ford said. “It’s always good to see where they’re at.”
Next: ASU Basketball: Sun Devils complete sweep of Arizona in Tucson
Arizona State’s next matchup will be against Mississippi State Thursday in the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs, California. ASU will also be playing Oklahoma (ranked No. 1 in the country), LIU Brooklyn, Liberty and Cal State Fullerton.