ASU Softball: Sun Devils return to Pac-12 play against Oregon State

ASU softball returns to Pac-12 play this weekend with a three-game series at Oregon State as the Sun Devils look to stay atop the conference standings.

No. 7 Arizona State travel to Corvallis for a three-game series against No. 25 Oregon State.

The Sun Devils are coming off a 4-0 weekend defeating North Dakota State and BYU in two doubleheaders.

Last Friday, ASU run-ruled North Dakota State 10-2 in five innings with designated player Nichole Chilson driving in three runs with Breanna Macha striking out six batters in a complete game effort.

In the second game against BYU, G Juarez threw her first career no-hitter allowing just one walk and striking out 11 batters as the Sun Devils defeated the Cougars 7-0.

On Saturday, Arizona State defeated North Dakota State 9-1 and BYU 10-3 with infielder Marisa Stankiewicz hitting three home runs in the two games earning Pac-12 Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.

Juarez secured her fourth consecutive Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honors after throwing the no-hitter and a one-run complete game in both games against BYU finishing the weekend with 20 strikeouts.

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The Sun Devils re-enter Pac-12 play Friday to begin a three-game series against Oregon State, who sit in sixth place in the Pac-12 standings with a 3-6 conference record.

The Beavers (20-15) are coming off losing two of three games against in-state rival Oregon.

Oregon took the series opener 4-1 on three home runs with the Beavers’ lineup held in check with just a run on three hits against Ducks pitcher Megan Kleist.

Oregon State bounced back to take the second game 4-3 thanks to a walk-off single by designated player Hope Brandner. The Beavers got out to a 3-0 lead in this game with Oregon tying the game on a solo home run in the seventh inning.

The Ducks took the series finale 5-1 in eight innings behind another pitching gem by Megan Kleist, who allowed one run on six hits to go with five strikeouts.

Oregon broke the game open in the extra inning on a grand slam from shortstop D.J. Sanders off Beavers pitcher Mariah Mazon.

Arizona State took two of three against Oregon State last season outscoring the Beavers 23-5 in the three-game set with the first two games resulting in run-rule wins for the Sun Devils.

ASU has not faced Mazon as she’s the team leader in innings pitched (110), complete games (three) and saves (four). Mazon sports an 8-9 record with an ERA of 2.61.

Oregon State’s ERA leader is Meehra Nelson at 2.10 to go with an 11-6 record. The Sun Devils faced Nelson twice in last year’s series with Nelson have a combined scoreline of 5.1 innings pitched, six earned runs on six hits, three walks and four strikeouts.

Due to the weather forecast this weekend in Corvallis, Arizona State and Oregon State will play a doubleheader Friday and play the series finale Sunday.

G Juarez and Breanna Macha will most likely get the ball in the doubleheader Friday as both are coming off solid starts last weekend. Juarez is making a case to be National Pitcher of the Year sporting a 15-1 record, 0.70 ERA, 13 complete games, nine shutouts, three saves and 179 strikeouts.

While Macha hasn’t put up eye-popping numbers, she’s been really effective this season with a 10-2 record and a 2.02 ERA playing to her strengths of being a ground ball pitcher.

Arizona State’s pitching staff should have success this weekend with Oregon State last in the Pac-12 in runs scored (147) as the Sun Devils have allowed the fourth-fewest runs this season (60).

The Sun Devils’ offense will look to score more runs in conference play having scored just 15 runs in the six conference games this season against Washington and California.

If the Arizona State leaves Corvallis with at least one win, the Sun Devils will surpass last year’s win total of 31 wins with five weeks remaining in the season.

Next: ASU Softball: Devils win both in Saturday doubleheader

The series gets underway Friday at 12:05 p.m. PT with the second game to start 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Sunday’s first pitch is set for noon PT.

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