ASU Softball: Arizona’s big fourth lifts Cats to 4-1 win

No. 6 ASU softball struggled to get their offense going as No. 14 Arizona took the second game 4-1 behind a three-run fourth inning.

Arizona State’s offense was quiet Saturday afternoon against Arizona hurler Alyssa Denham as the Wildcats took the second game of a three-game series 4-1.

The Wildcats had traffic on the bases all afternoon as Breanna Macha made her 21st apperance and 13th start.

After the first three innings resulted in no runs, the Wildcats broke through in the fourth inning.

Arizona broke the deadlock on a grounder to second baseman Marisa Stankiewicz. Stankiewicz dove to her left with the ball going off her glove and into foul territory scoring right fielder Aleah Craighton.

The biggest hit of the game came from Wildcats second baseman Reyna Carranco, who laced a two-run double down the right field line to give Arizona a 3-0 lead.

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The three-run margin would stay the same when the final out was recorded.

The only run of the game for Arizona State came in the fourth inning as center fielder Morgan Howe hit a solo home run to straightaway center for her sixth of the season.

Arizona State had a couple of opportunities in the fifth and sixth innings with the tying run at the plate, but the Sun Devils were unable to capitalize.

“Offensively, in the box, we didn’t cut it at all,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “We took some things for granted, I don’t know, but our plate discipline today was not good.”

Ford was frustrated in the team’s inability to support Macha as ASU finished the game with just two hits and four walks drawn.

“She [Macha] threw well. She threw well enough for us to win. That’s the frustrating thing is that we got to hit behind her,” Ford said. “She threw a heck of a game. She did what she was supposed to do. We’ve just got to be better.”

Macha really worked Saturday as she threw a complete game allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts. Macha finished with 131 pitches.

“I think that’s the mentality we got to have is that if they come through, we got to keep grinding each inning out and that’s a model we have, just win each inning,” Macha said. “It’s part of the game. Hits are going to come and hits are going to go. Our biggest thing is just staying consistent and getting up there every inning and just battling.”

Next: ASU Softball: Sun Devils walk off against Arizona

Arizona State will look to win the series Sunday as it’ll likely be a rematch of Friday’s duel between G Juarez and Taylor McQuillin. First pitch is at 5 p.m. PT and it can be seen on Pac-12 Network.

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