Tempe, Ariz.- The Arizona State Sun Devils came out with two victories on day two of the Kajikawa Classic topping Purdue 9-1, before holding off Nebraska in the late game for a 6-4 victory.
"We have got to keep working on keeping the ball in the park," head coach Trisha Ford said. "I think for us it is important to keep putting up runs. I thought Dale (Ryndak) threw well today and we were able to break it open, and that is what good teams do. Tonight, I think Macha would be the first to tell you that she let some things get to her that weren't things that she could control. I thought she pitched well and I thought that she had great velocity and for the most part she was hitting her spots. It is still early in the season, but I was proud of our fight and our response."
GAME ONE: ASU 9, Purdue 1
In the first game of the day, the Arizona State (2-1) offense was unstoppable as they hit a total of four home runs. Freshman, Danielle Gibson opened the flood gates when she homered to right field in the second inning, giving ASU an early 1-0 lead.
Purdue answered back in the top of the fourth when they hit a home run of their own, making it a 1-1 contest. But pitching from senior, Dale Ryndak and sophomore, Alyssa Loza would keep the Purdue offense at bay for the remainder of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, the ASU bats came roaring back to scored four runs on five hits. Junior Morgan Howe got the party started with a homer to left, that was promtly followed by an RBI double by Maddi Hackbarth. Gibson, again, would contribute to the score as she singled to right field plating another Sun Devil run, pushing the lead to 5-1. M. Hackbarth would then finish the game in the bottom of the sixth with a walk-off grand slam that would give Arizona State a 9-1, run-rule victory over Purdue.
"These are kids that I have long term relationships with," said head coach Trisha Ford when asked about her transfer players, "We recruited them for a reason. Their phenomenal players. They just fit well and you're starting to see that. These kids are thriving here. Jade is doing a great job, Kindra is silently getting on base too. It's just a good fit."
Defensively, Ryndak started the game in the circle for the Sun Devils, pitching 5.2 innings that saw the Boilermakers pick up two hits, before handing the game to Loza who came in to record the final out. In the 18 batters ASU's pitchers faced, the two only allowed two hits with three strike outs, and gave up just one run throughout the six innings of play.
GAME 2: ASU 6, Nebraska 4
In the day two finale at Farrington Stadium, the Sun Devils continued to build momentum offensively as the team defeated Nebraska, 6-4, to move to 3-2 on the season.
Offensively, the Sun Devil were led by, Morgan Howe who lit the fire to the Sun Devil bats. Howe was two-for-three on the night that included a home run in the bottom of the first inning.
"Today felt great," said junior transfer, Morgan Howe. "Today felt comfortable. It didn't really hit me until yesterday that I was here [at Arizona State] and it just felt really good to be out on the field with a great group of girls."
In the third, Arizona State continued to put pressure on the Cornhuskers, scoring four in the frame. The rally started with a triple to left-center by junior Taylor Becerra who was brought in on a hit by sophomore, Jade Gortarez. With some heads up base running by Gortarez, the Sun Devils took advantage of a Cornhusker error to plate another run, making it a 5-0 Sun Devil lead heading to the fourth.
"That coaching staff, I have a lot of respect for," said Ford. "Rhonda (Revelle) and I have a great relationship. They're great coaches and that shows. They just do a good job at preparing. I thought they were prepared, and that's what good coaching looks like."
The Sun Devils added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior, Nichole Chilson hit a ball down the right field line that would score Kindra Hackbarth giving ASU a 6-4 lead that would hold for the remainder of the game.
"Our focus is always going to be get a good pitch and drive it hard," Ford added. "We'll play short game to put people in motion, but overall we're looking to drive the ball and I think this morning's game we just didn't come up with that big hit until later in the game. It's just continuing with our philosophy, us continuing with our process and then getting use to it. I was very proud with how the bats came alive and we responded, that's what good teams do."
Defensively, Arizona State had yet another strong showing in the circle. Senior, Breanna Macha made her first start of the season, and sophomore G Juarez was light's out in relief. The pitching duo held the Cornhuskers to a total of four runs on three hits while notching six strike outs on the night.
"We have got to keep working on keeping the ball in the park," head coach Trisha Ford said. "I think for us it is important to keep putting up runs. I thought Dale (Ryndak) threw well today and we were able to break it open, and that is what good teams do. Tonight, I think Macha would be the first to tell you that she let some things get to her that weren't things that she could control. I thought she pitched well and I thought that she had great velocity and for the most part she was hitting her spots. It is still early in the season, but I was proud of our fight and our response."
GAME ONE: ASU 9, Purdue 1
In the first game of the day, the Arizona State (2-1) offense was unstoppable as they hit a total of four home runs. Freshman, Danielle Gibson opened the flood gates when she homered to right field in the second inning, giving ASU an early 1-0 lead.
Purdue answered back in the top of the fourth when they hit a home run of their own, making it a 1-1 contest. But pitching from senior, Dale Ryndak and sophomore, Alyssa Loza would keep the Purdue offense at bay for the remainder of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, the ASU bats came roaring back to scored four runs on five hits. Junior Morgan Howe got the party started with a homer to left, that was promtly followed by an RBI double by Maddi Hackbarth. Gibson, again, would contribute to the score as she singled to right field plating another Sun Devil run, pushing the lead to 5-1. M. Hackbarth would then finish the game in the bottom of the sixth with a walk-off grand slam that would give Arizona State a 9-1, run-rule victory over Purdue.
"These are kids that I have long term relationships with," said head coach Trisha Ford when asked about her transfer players, "We recruited them for a reason. Their phenomenal players. They just fit well and you're starting to see that. These kids are thriving here. Jade is doing a great job, Kindra is silently getting on base too. It's just a good fit."
Defensively, Ryndak started the game in the circle for the Sun Devils, pitching 5.2 innings that saw the Boilermakers pick up two hits, before handing the game to Loza who came in to record the final out. In the 18 batters ASU's pitchers faced, the two only allowed two hits with three strike outs, and gave up just one run throughout the six innings of play.
GAME 2: ASU 6, Nebraska 4
In the day two finale at Farrington Stadium, the Sun Devils continued to build momentum offensively as the team defeated Nebraska, 6-4, to move to 3-2 on the season.
Offensively, the Sun Devil were led by, Morgan Howe who lit the fire to the Sun Devil bats. Howe was two-for-three on the night that included a home run in the bottom of the first inning.
E1 | DEVILS STRIKE FIRST@morgannnriley with her 2nd homer of the day!
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 10, 2018
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"Today felt great," said junior transfer, Morgan Howe. "Today felt comfortable. It didn't really hit me until yesterday that I was here [at Arizona State] and it just felt really good to be out on the field with a great group of girls."
In the third, Arizona State continued to put pressure on the Cornhuskers, scoring four in the frame. The rally started with a triple to left-center by junior Taylor Becerra who was brought in on a hit by sophomore, Jade Gortarez. With some heads up base running by Gortarez, the Sun Devils took advantage of a Cornhusker error to plate another run, making it a 5-0 Sun Devil lead heading to the fourth.
Nebraska rallied back in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs on a base-loaded, sacrifice fly followed by a three-run home run that closed the gap to 5-4, but good defense by the Sun Devils held off the visitors, bringin ASU back to the plate holding a one-run lead.#Pac12AfterDark!@jade_g_15 scores on a wild play at home plate. pic.twitter.com/LTVQQBeWRj
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 10, 2018
"That coaching staff, I have a lot of respect for," said Ford. "Rhonda (Revelle) and I have a great relationship. They're great coaches and that shows. They just do a good job at preparing. I thought they were prepared, and that's what good coaching looks like."
The Sun Devils added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior, Nichole Chilson hit a ball down the right field line that would score Kindra Hackbarth giving ASU a 6-4 lead that would hold for the remainder of the game.
"Our focus is always going to be get a good pitch and drive it hard," Ford added. "We'll play short game to put people in motion, but overall we're looking to drive the ball and I think this morning's game we just didn't come up with that big hit until later in the game. It's just continuing with our philosophy, us continuing with our process and then getting use to it. I was very proud with how the bats came alive and we responded, that's what good teams do."
Defensively, Arizona State had yet another strong showing in the circle. Senior, Breanna Macha made her first start of the season, and sophomore G Juarez was light's out in relief. The pitching duo held the Cornhuskers to a total of four runs on three hits while notching six strike outs on the night.
SUN DEVILS WIN! pic.twitter.com/n4nUNOOl3p
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 10, 2018
The Arizona State Sun Devils will be back in action Saturday, February, 10th at 7:30 p.m. to take on Notre Dame at Farrington Stadium. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 season by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.