ASU Softball: Macha and Juarez combine for 10-inning win over Cal

Pitchers Breanna Macha and G Juarez combined to allow one run as ASU softball secured a series win with their second straight 10-inning win over California.

“I have your back.”

That is what G Juarez said to Breanna Macha after Juarez recorded the final out Saturday as the Sun Devils defeated California 3-1 in 10 innings.

Macha was superb in the circle for Arizona State throwing seven innings allowing one unearned run on six hits to go with one walk and nine strikeouts.

The senior starter held the Golden Bears in check in a pitcher’s duel against Cal starter Zoe Conley as the game was scoreless entering the sixth inning.

Macha took the circle in the sixth inning looking to maintain a one-run lead after Nichole Chilson hit a pinch-hit RBI double in the top half of the inning to score Friday’s hero Marisa Stankiewicz.

California responded in the home-half of the inning with a run on two hits and an error. Second baseman Lindsay Rood scored on a comebacker back to the circle with first baseman Danielle Gibson dropping the throw from Macha allowing the tying run to score.

Macha got out of the jam with no further damage getting back-to-back strikeouts with Golden Bears on second and third base.

With the game tied at one heading to extra innings, head coach Trisha Ford brought on G Juarez for her 17th appearance of the season after throwing 10 innings and 144 pitches Friday.

After the no runs crossed the plate in the eighth and ninth innings, the Sun Devils for the second straight day broke through in the 10th inning.

Arizona State opened the inning with three hits against Conley with shortstop Jade Gortarez leading off the frame with a double and scoring the game-winning run on a double from center fielder Morgan Howe.

Gibson would add an insurance run with an RBI single to score Howe for her team-leading 28th RBI of the season.

Juarez finished the game off in the 10th by striking out the side to complete a dominant relief outing striking out eight of the nine batters faced allowing no hits.

It’s the 13th win of the season for Juarez while also upping her strikeout total to 155 on the season putting herself among the leaders in the Pac-12 and nationally.

Next: ASU Softball: Marisa Stankiewicz homers twice in 4-2 win over Cal

Arizona State improves to 26-4 (4-1 Pac-12) with Ford reaching a milestone earning her 200th career victory. The Sun Devils will look to sweep the Golden Bears Sunday at 3 p.m. PT.