ASU Softball: Sun Devils beat Oregon State, Coach Ford picks up win No. 100

ASU softball’s coach, Trisha Ford, came into today’s game at 99 wins with the program. After falling short in the first game against the Oregon State Beavers, the Sun Devils bounced back with an 18-2 victory.

The Sun Devils came into their second matchup  against the Beavers with tenacity from the first pitch. ASU brought the hitting performance early after a lead-off home run from Kindra Hackbarth in the bottom of the first.

After the solo home run, the Sun Devils’ bats fell asleep for the rest of that inning as well as the second inning.

The Beavers bounced back from the quick strike with a few hits piled up in the second. Maia Rader tied the game up with a double to score Jessica Garcia. After another hit and another runner left in scoring position, Samantha Mejia stepped up and end the inning.

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Mejia finished the game with a complete game of five innings, two earned runs and six strikeouts. The pitch count was quite high for Mejia as well as many batters faced 3-2 counts throughout the game. The tensions did not arise for Mejia as she enjoyed every moment of the game.

“I thought it was just so exciting and a great feeling overall,” she said.

After the first two innings, the bats became electrifying as the third inning began with Bella Loomis. Loomis got a quick and early out, but later responded with the rest of the team. ASU ended up putting 13 runs in the third inning, and everyone in the lineup batted three times in that inning.

Hackbarth finished 3-of-4 with a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. The rest of the big three – Skylar McCarty and Morgan Howe – finished a combined 5-of-8 with five RBIs.

According to the team, that success comes from within.

“We pass down information saying, ‘Hey I got this [pitch]. I got this, she’s throwing this fast and pass the information,'” Hackbarth said. “We do this well as a team because the more information you know, it helps the other girls.”

After the 13-run inning, the Beavers tried to respond, but Mejia shut down the side by herself with two strikeouts and a putout as well.

The Sun Devils did not take their foot off the gas pedal, as the team added four more runs to boost the score.

Allison Tatnall jumped into the lineup as a pinch hitter and hit a 3-run home run off the first pitch she saw.

“I got goosebumps,” said ASU coach Trisha Ford. “I was just so happy for her and that was probably my favorite [moment].”

Coming into the fifth inning, the Sun Devils played strong defense by not giving up any errors. and Mejia put away the side after a solo home run from Shelby Weeks.

The game ended right there as the Sun Devils won by the run rule limit, 18-2.

By the end, the team took photos and had a Gatorade shower as well as cake back in the locker room for Coach Ford’s big win.

“It’s incredible – it’s been Coach Ford’s legacy,” Howe said. “It’s been an honor to be a part of it. I wanted to play for Coach Ford ever since I’ve been recruited, so be able to be a part of that is just an honor.”

Coach Ford and ASU softball will celebrate tonight before facing off against the Beavers for the third and final game in the series in Tempe at noon on Sunday.

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