ASU Softball: Sun Devils walk off against Arizona
By Carson Field
Following a series loss to Oregon last weekend, ASU softball came out on top Friday in the opening game of the Territorial Cup series.
It was a pitcher’s duel to the end, but the Sun Devils found a way to sneak past the Wildcats.
Despite having only two hits in the entire game, the ASU softball team won its 35th game of the season Friday by a score of 2-1. The win was clinched in the seventh inning when Danielle Gibson hit a walk-off double to left center field, driving in Morgan Howe.
“(I’m) grateful that I had the opportunity,” Gibson said. “(Howe) did her part, so I had to do mine. It was a good team win on our part.”
Giselle “G” Juarez entered the game with a 0.73 ERA and she threw another gem in the win.
Aside from giving up a leadoff home run to Ashleigh Hughes, Juarez was brilliant, striking out 13 batters. She also allowed just three hits in the entire game and retired the last 14 batters she faced.
“I kind of just let it go and focused on us,” Juarez said. “I just calmed down and let me do my thing.”
With their backs against the wall, the Sun Devils tied the game in the fourth when Kindra Hackbarth hit a solo home run, her second of the season.
“I got a change-up inside, it was up, and I just went for it,” Hackbarth said. “That was our first hit; it felt good. I saw it go over, so I was jumping up and down like pointing at G.”
Additionally, the Sun Devils were also exceptional in the field committing zero errors. In particular, Marie Stankiewicz made an outstanding diving stop to prevent a run from scoring in the first inning.
“That was huge,” ASU head coach Trisha Ford said. “That was SportsCenter-esque. I mean she dove and I think tossed the ball at the same time.”
Last year’s Territorial Cup series was played in Tucson, and the Wildcats took two games out of three.
In contrast, the Sun Devils will look to clinch the series victory and a Territorial Cup point Saturday in Tempe. Gibson said today’s win will give the team confidence as the series progresses.
Next: ASU Softball: Sun Devils host Arizona in battle for Territorial Cup
“We got to come out tomorrow and play our game,” Gibson said. “This just gives us confidence; it’s going to feed in tomorrow.”
All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.