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ASU Softball: Sun Devils split Classic doubleheader

By Adam Noel

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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No. 15 ASU softball dominated Princeton 20-5 in game one, but fell to No. 9 Texas 11-4 in game two on day one of the Sun Devil Classic.

It certainly was the tale of two halves for Arizona State softball Friday afternoon.

On the first day of the Sun Devil Classic, the 15th-ranked Sun Devils (13-5) split its first two games of the weekend. In game one ASU defeated Princeton (1-5) 20-5, while in the second of the doubleheader the Sun Devils lost 11-4 to No. 9 Texas (15-1).

The first half was highlighted by dominance of the Sun Devil offense going against an inexperienced Princeton team. ASU mashed four home runs off the Tigers’ pitchers, including a pair from sophomore DeNae Chatman.

Chatman, ASU’s starting first baseman, punctuated the Sun Devils victory with a grand slam in an eight-run fourth inning.

“She’s been wonderful,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “She’s someone that did big things in the box for us last year and is continuing to get better.”

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A noteworthy part of game one also included Ford’s decision to pull starter Cielo Meza in the first inning of the game.

Redshirt junior Meza hit a batter and threw three balls, including one that scored a run for the Tigers, before getting her number called into the dugout.

Meza did however return in game two, closing out the final three innings of the Sun Devils’ game against Texas.

“She’s working through some things,” Ford said. “She had a better feel for things in the second game. It’s just continuing to get better.”

And while game one showed the Sun Devils at their best, game two displayed that even with an excellent offense, a great pitcher can throw a wretch into the hard hitting machine.

Texas pitcher Miranda Elish frustrated the Sun Devils, working her way through seven innings, allowing only five hits and four earned runs.

But the eyeopener was the 14 strikeouts Elish recorded over her complete game.

But despite the dominant start on the mound from the Longhorns, there were times where ASU seemed to get the better of Elish. One being a two-run home run in the bottom of third by senior Morgan Howe.

“Yes it gets tough when you’re down more runs and facing a good pitcher, but pressure is pressure,” Howe said. “Pressure is opportunity.”

And while the Sun Devils dropped one to the Longhorns, it won’t be the only time they meet up this weekend. The team’s are slated to face off Sunday at 12:30 p.m. MT.

“It’s getting us ready for conference,” Ford said. “Playing teams multiple times and it presents a great opportunity and we’ll learn from it.”

Next. ASU Softball: Sun Devils return home for Sun Devil Classic. dark

ASU continues the Sun Devil Classic tomorrow with another double-header, taking on Princeton at 3 p.m. MST and Wisconsin at 5:30 p.m. MST.

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

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