ASU Softball: Sun Devils’ hot offense sparks blowout win over Utah

No. 18 ASU Softball got a blowout win over Utah, 14-4, through its hot offense and solid pitching from freshman Abby Andersen.

In their 14-4 win, the Sun Devils got things going quickly, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. Senior left fielder Skylar McCarty hit a double to deep-left center, scoring junior right fielder Kindra Hackbarth. Senior center fielder Morgan Howe singled to center field, bringing in McCarty.

With the bases loaded, sophomore first baseman Denae Chatman hit a sacrifice fly to deep center. Sophomore second baseman Bella Loomis hit a double to deep left, bringing two more in to finish off the hot start for the ASU offense.

The Sun Devils kept things going in the second with a Hackbarth bomb over the center field wall in the first pitch of the inning. Howe copied Hackbarth with her own shot over the center field wall for a two-run homer, extending an 8-0 lead for ASU.

Chatman decided to join in the party with a home run of her own over the left-center wall. In the first two innings, ASU totaled nine runs and nine hits with three of them being home runs.

McCarty added onto the lead with a two-run home run over the left field wall, giving the Sun Devils a 11-0 lead in the bottom of the third.

ASU would add three more through a junior designated player — Allison Tatnall — with a two-run shot and one run added off of a wild pitch.

Utah would respond with four runs of their own, trying to avoid the mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth, but were short by three runs. The Sun Devils got the 14-4 victory over Utah, getting the series win.

ASU’s offense kept its hot streak and has now scored 57 runs in the last four games.

The top of lineup of Hackbarth, McCarty and Howe went 9-of-11, had seven RBIs and a home run each. Hackbarth and McCarty were each shy of the cycle by a triple.

“We all make each other better,” Howe said about the top of the order. “We see each other everyday so its the little things that help make each other better.”

Abby Andersen went 4.1 IP, giving up only three hits. All three of her earned runs were in the fifth inning. This marks her ninth win of the season in what was a solid day at the mound.

“It helps me a lot comfort-wise,” Andersen said about pitching behind the strong offense. “It’s fun to watch them do what they do.”

The Sun Devils will go for the sweep tomorrow against Utah at 12 p.m. from Alberta B. Farrington Stadium.

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