ASU Softball: Sun Devils walk-off Stanford in series opener

ASU softball overcame six defensive errors to defeat Stanford 4-3 in the series opener on a walk-off double from shortstop Jade Gortarez.

On a Star Wars Day at Farrington Stadium, the force seemed to be on Arizona State’s side.

With the game tied, Texas transfer Jade Gortarez came up clutch in the big moment with the RBI double to secure ASU’s 40th victory of the season.

For a team that is tied for last in the PAC-12 at 2-17, this was expected to be a cakewalk for the Sun Devils. But Stanford thought otherwise.

The Cardinals took the momentum right away thanks to a RBI single from shortstop Kristina Inouye. An overthrow by catcher Maddi Hackbarth would give Stanford a 2-0 lead in the first.

ASU center fielder Morgan Howe would cut the lead to one thanks to a solo shot in the fourth. Arizona State would then take the lead thanks to a two-run homer by DeNae Chatman, her second in three games.

But errors would come back to haunt the Sun Devils once again. Bella Loomis, who came in for Marisa Stankiewicz at second, committed an error and allowed Stanford to tie the game. Fielding was a huge problem for the Sun Devils Friday as they committed a total of six errors.

Luckily, all those mistakes would be washed away thanks to Gortarez coming up when it counted.

Even though she didn’t receive the win, G. Juarez still looked like her normal self on the mound. In six innings, she gave up only one earned run and added eight strikeouts to her Pac-12 leading total.

Senior Breanna Macha replaced Juarez in the seventh where she struck out the side, allowing one run and leaving the bases loaded.

Next: ASU Baseball: Sun Devils defeat Washington in walk-off fashion

ASU will continue to play Stanford Saturday at 6 p.m. PT in Tempe and the game can be seen on the ASU Live Stream.