Devils in Detail
Fansided

OKC Bound: ASU Softball punches ticket to 2018 Women’s College World Series

By Sam Ficarro

TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 14: Arizona State Sun Devils masct, '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: Arizona State Sun Devils masct, '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) /
facebooktwitterreddit

ASU softball defeated South Carolina 5-2 to win the Tempe Super Regional and punch their ticket to the Women’s College World Series.

Destination: OKC

That’s what the hats read given to the Arizona State softball team after defeating South Carolina 5-2 to advance to their first Women’s College World Series since 2013.

Arizona State surpassed all outside expectations after being picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 Preseason Poll. At the end of the season, ASU finished third in arguably the best conference in the nation.

Even after being named the eighth overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Sun Devils flew under the radar nationally defeating two SEC teams in their road to Oklahoma City.

This trip to the Women’s College World Series is extra meaningful for this senior class who went through three coaching changes in three years.

“It means everything. Getting recruiting to come here, you know their tradition of going to the Women’s College World Series. Not being able to go for the first three years for me was tough. I knew we had such great talent,” senior second baseman Marisa Stankiewicz said. “This means everything for this entire team that’s here right now because we haven’t been there yet. It’s exciting. I’m at a loss for words. It really means a lot to finally do it our senior year.”

“Marisa and I at the end of the game went to second base and were just reflecting. This is the last time we will play on this field,” senior pitcher Breanna Macha said. “We both grew up watching this program. We’re finally living our dream out in a week in OKC. I don’t have any words.”

In Trisha Ford’s second season as head coach, she’s restored Arizona State as one of the best softball programs in the country as they are heading to their 12th WCWS.

“What a great game. I thought South Carolina came out. Hats off to them. That’s a heck of a ball team,” Ford said. “I’m so proud of this group. Nobody thought at the beginning of the year that we would be here except for us. We put in the work. We molded at the right time.

“This is why I came to ASU: To get ASU back to the World Series. I’m so thankful that we have the athletes to get us there because they did the work,” Ford said. “I always tell them that we give them to tools and it’s up to you how to use them. I’m at a loss for words. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. We’re going to the Series.”

More from Devils in Detail

Arizona State jumped on South Carolina in Game 2 of the Tempe Super Regional scoring a run on five hits in the first two innings.

Skylar McCarty broke open the scoring in the second inning on an RBI single.

After the Gamecocks tied the game in the fourth inning, Arizona State recorded five straight hits to open the fifth inning versus Gamecock starter Cayla Drotar with DeNae Chatman breaking the game open with a bases clearing double to give ASU a 5-1 lead.

Macha finished the job throwing a complete game in her final start at Farrington Stadium. Macha finished allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits to go with six strikeouts.

A familiar foe awaits them in Oklahoma City as they’ll face the top-seeded Oregon Ducks Thursday. Oregon took two of three against Arizona State in Tempe back in mid-April.

In fact, ASU has faced every opponent on their side of the bracket as the other matchup will see No. 5 Washington against the two-time defending national champions No. 4 Oklahoma.

Arizona State took two of three against the Huskies in March while the Sun Devils lost their only meeting against the Sooners 7-2 in Palm Springs, California on Feb. 22.

But Ford believes this team is battle tested playing in the Pac-12, who will have four teams in Oklahoma City in Oregon, UCLA, Washington and Arizona State.

“It’s a great conference. All year, we’ve been beating each other up and battling. There’s not another conference out there that preps you like the Pac-12,” Ford said. “We’ve faced it all. We have confidence going in there that we’ve been there. We’ve faced three of the eight teams.

“The Pac is back. It’s been on it all year long. You’ve got UCLA, Washington, Oregon, us. Arizona had a great year,” Ford said.” Every day, you have to go out and give it your all one through nine. You cannot take a break. There’s no other conference that prepares you more for this right here.”

While Arizona State will savor this moment Saturday night, Ford said they’ll get to work Sunday to prepare for Oregon and potentially a deep run in Oklahoma City.

Next: ASU Softball: Juarez throws complete game, offense records 11 hits in Game 1 win

“Both games this year were very close. There were just a couple things that didn’t go our way. We just have to go out and play our game. Both G [Juarez] and Bre [Macha] will be ready to go,” Ford said. “We know them and they know us. We’ll go to work.”

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.

Home/ASU Softball