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ASU Softball: Sun Devils open Women’s College World Series vs. Oregon

By Sam Ficarro

TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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ASU softball makes its return to the Women’s College World Series Thursday with a Pac-12 matchup against the top-seeded Oregon Ducks.

The day is finally here.

After landing in Oklahoma City Monday, the eighth-seeded Arizona State Sun Devils returns to the Women’s College World Series after a five-year absence against the top-seeded Oregon Ducks Thursday.

Arizona State enters the WCWS with an undefeated NCAA Tournament record defeating New Mexico State, OIe Miss twice and South Carolina twice to reach OKC.

The Sun Devils have flown under-the-radar this season and they will look to further surprise people in Oklahoma City.

Coming into the WCWS, the Sun Devils have outscored their opponents 28-5 in the NCAA Tournament. Center fielder Morgan Howe has been ASU’s most productive hitting 9-for-17 with six RBIs.

Designated DeNae Chatman was moved into the cleanup spot in the Tempe Regional Final and she’s held that spot in the lineup ever since after two big hits in the clinching wins of the Regionals and Super Regionals.

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Chatman hit a three-run home run against Ole Miss in the regional final that broke the game open in a 9-0 run-rule win. She followed that up in game two of the Super Regionals hitting a bases-clearing double as the Sun Devils eliminated the Gamecocks 5-2.

While ASU has had balanced hitting up-and-down the lineup, the Sun Devils have also pitched well and defended well.

Arizona State has only committed three errors in the NCAA Tournament as G Juarez and Breanna Macha have been stellar in the circle.

The two have combined for a 1.03 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 35 innings of work during the NCAA Tournament.

Arizona State faces Oregon in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series after the Ducks won the season series two games to one back on April 13-15.

Oregon won the first two games by the score of 4-0 and 9-0 before G Juarez shut out the Ducks 4-0 in the series finale.

As the No. 1 overall seed, Oregon coasted through their regional defeating Albany and Drake twice. The Ducks hit a speed bump in the Super Regionals losing the opener versus Kentucky 9-6 as Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year Megan Kleist allowed seven runs (six earned).

Miranda Elish would go on to pitch Games 2 and 3 allowing just just two runs (one earned) as the Ducks won both contests 6-1 and 11-1 to reach the Women’s College World Series.

The burning question heading into Thursday’s game is who will take the circle for the Ducks.

There’s no question who’s taking the circle for the Sun Devils as G Juarez will likely get the start in what will be her third start against Oregon this season.

No matter who’s in the circle for Oregon, it’s essential for Arizona State to score early. ASU has jumped on their opponents in the NCAA Tournament having scored in either the first or second innings in every game. When the Sun Devils score first, they are 41-1 this season.

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

First pitch of Arizona State-Oregon is set for 9 a.m. PT and it can be seen on ESPN and depending on the result, they’ll face either No. 5 Washington or No. 4 Oklahoma on either Friday or Saturday.

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