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ASU Softball: Sun Devils crush Utah in series opener

By Carson Field

TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 14: The Arizona State Sun Devils mascot 'Sparky' performs during the college football game against the Washington Huskies at Sun Devil Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Huskies 27-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 14: The Arizona State Sun Devils mascot 'Sparky' performs during the college football game against the Washington Huskies at Sun Devil Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Huskies 27-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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After dropping two games of three in the Territorial Cup series, ASU softball bounced back Friday on the road in Salt Lake City.

Coming into Friday, ASU had lost four of their last six games after a 33-5 start to the season.

Nevertheless, the Sun Devils are still the ninth-ranked team in the nation, and they played like it Friday. Arizona State defeated Utah 12-0 in run-rule fashion improving the team’s record to 36-9 on the season.

A crucial key to the Sun Devil win was a gem by Giselle “G” Juarez. In five innings, Juarez allowed only three hits while striking out eight.

With the win, Juarez is now 20-3 this season, leading the team in wins. She also moved up to 10th in the ASU single-season strikeout list with 240. She now trails Melannie Kyler, who sits in ninth with 246.

In addition to a great performance on the mound, the Sun Devils were excellent at the plate posting 12 hits and 12 runs.

After a scoreless first inning on both sides, the Sun Devils broke the scoreboard in the second. DeNae Chatman drove in a run with an RBI single, and Kindra Hackbarth’s triple scored three.

ASU also scored two runs in the fourth off a Morgan Howe single and when Marisa Stankiewicz was hit by a pitch.

The dagger was handed to the Utes in the fifth inning. Arizona State scored six runs off five hits to clinch a run-rule victory and the opening game of the series.

The winning effort was aided by a stellar effort in the field in which the Sun Devils did not commit an error.

Utah, on the other hand, recorded one error in the fourth by Ryley Ball, allowing Taylor Becerra to reach first. The error proved a costly one as Becerra scored as a result.

Friday’s win brings ASU one game closer to clinching its first series victory since early April when the Sun Devils took two games of three against Oregon State.

Next: ASU Softball: Sun Devils hit the road to face struggling Utah

ASU will look to clinch the series Saturday at 1 p.m. PT in game two. The game can be seen on the Utah Live Stream.

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