March 14, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. – Another commanding performance from Hillary Bach and a home run from Katelyn Boyd gave the eighth-ranked Sun Devil softball squad all the fire they needed Sunday as they closed out the Diamond Devil Invitational with a 7-1 win over Nebraska. Hillary Bach now holds an 11-0 record on the year as ASU moves to 24-2 overall.
The sophomore ace took to the circle for the Sun Devils after her lights-out performance against the Huskers in the previous evening’s 1-0 win looking to blank the Huskers again. After keeping Nebraska quiet in the first, the Sun Devil offense was anything but in the bottom of the inning as they plastered four runs on the board, led with a two-run bomb to right center by Katelyn Boyd for her 11th home run on the season.
While the Sun Devil and Husker offense were stifled through the next few innings, Nebraska came out to show just a bit of life in the fifth inning as the first pitch Hillary Bach threw was hit a long ways past the right center wall by Thomason of the Huskers to cut the lead to 4-1.
Even as the Sun Devil bats continued to hammer away, peppering the field with 11 hits, Nebraska kept finding a way out of the jams, with timely double plays and pitching. The Huskers couldn’t keep ASU off the scoreboard for the duration though as ASU finally stormed the castle in the sixth inning taking advantage of three walks and a single to bring home three runs for a 7-1 lead.
Hillary Bach took care of the rest as Nebraska was unable to figure out the righty’s mix as she closed out the win to take her 11th on the season for a perfect 11-0 record.
With the win, the Sun Devils wrap their home tournament hosting slate as they find themselves taking to the road for the first time this season next weekend heading to Fullerton, Calif. to compete in the Judi Garmen Classic.