TEMPE, Ariz. -- The No. 18 Arizona State softball team went 2-0 in its doubleheader Saturday, first taking down Illinois State 9-1, then edging out Texas State 4-3, at Farrington Stadium to move to 3-0 at the 2018 Littlewood Classic, and 8-1 overall on the young season.
The Sun Devils won both games in dramatic, walk-off fashion, with the first game coming as a run-rule over the Redbirds and the second coming as an instant classic, extra-inning showdown against the Bobcats.
"I thought in the first game we started off a little slow, but then we were able to pick it up," head coach Trisha Ford said. "One of the great things about our lineup is that at any point in time we can score a lot of runs, and I think you saw that today. I think that is what is going to make us productive this year and something that is really dynamic. That second game, that kid can pitch. Randi (Rupp) is who she is for a reason. She came out and tried out for Team USA this summer, and that kid can compete. I thought she got better as the game went on and I was actually really proud of our energy. We came out and put pressure on them, and for the most part did a good job of puting people on base. We just kept working."
GAME 1: ASU 9, Illinois State 1
Arizona State carried its momentum into its second game of the 2018 Littlewood Classic, run-ruling Illinois State 9-1 on Saturday evening at Farrington Stadium.
The Sun Devil offense was alive and well during the whole game against the Redbirds, and ultimately ended the game with shortstop Jade Gortarez crushing a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to seal the victory for ASU (7-1). The fifth inning was ASU's strongest, as the Sun Devils drove in four runs in the inning.
Designated player DeNae Chatman got the scoring going in the fifth inning with her first career home run, a two-run shot to right-centerfield. Chatman was ASU's most productive player on offense, drilling a two-RBI double in the bottom of the second as well for a total of four RBI.
As if her offensive outing wasn't impressive enough, it was also Chatman's first career start as a Sun Devil.
Not only were ASU's bats thriving all evening against Illinois State, but Sun Devil righty Breanna Macha tossed an absolute gem. Macha posted a two-hit, one-run, complete-game effort to lead Arizona State to its second victory of the tournament and its seventh win on the season.
Macha also recorded two strikeouts, while only walking one batter in her five innings pitched.
Other Sun Devil standouts included centerfielder Morgan Howe, who went 2 for 3 on the day with an RBI. Catcher Maddi Hackbarth also drove in a run, while going 1 for 2 at the plate.
GAME 2: ASU 4, Texas State 3
The No. 18 Sun Devil softball squad took down the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday night, notching a 4-3 walk-off win in extra innings, in the second game of ASU's doubleheader at Farrington Stadium. The victory gave ASU (8-1) a 3-0 record so far in the 2018 Littlewood Classic.
The hero of Game 2 of the doubleheader was first baseman Danielle Gibson, whose walk-off double sealed ASU's win in the bottom of the eighth inning. Gibson went 1 for 3 at the plate on the night, and also drew a walk.
The rally in the bottom of the eighth began when right fielder Kindra Hackbarth laid down a beauty of a bunt that allowed Taylor Becerra to score from second base. Gibson stepped into the box three batters later, and the rest was history.
Right-handed pitcher Breanna Macha was a close runner-up for Player of the Game, as she came into the game in the top of the fifth inning in relief of starting pitcher G Juarez. Macha entered the game with two runners on and no outs, and ultimately pitched her way out of the jam. She only gave up one run in relief, coming in the top of the eighth inning.
It was actually Macha's second appearance of the day, though, as she threw a complete game earlier in the day. She finished Game 2 with just three hits allowed and two strikeouts.
Juarez started the game and threw four total innings. She gave up six hits and two runs, and also struck out four batters.
The Sun Devils came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning, starting with a leadoff bunt for a single by Hackbarth. Shortstop Jade Gortarez then followed with a double to left-centerfield.
Centerfielder Morgan Howe then drove both Hackbarth and Gortarez in with a two-run single to give the Sun Devils a 2-1 lead.
In addition to Gibson, Howe was ASU's other offensive standout, going 2 for 3 at the plate with two RBI.
The Littlewood Classic concludes Sunday, as Arizona State faces San Diego at 2 p.m. MST. Fans can keep up with all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil Softball season by following on @ASUSoftball Twitter.
The Sun Devils won both games in dramatic, walk-off fashion, with the first game coming as a run-rule over the Redbirds and the second coming as an instant classic, extra-inning showdown against the Bobcats.
"I thought in the first game we started off a little slow, but then we were able to pick it up," head coach Trisha Ford said. "One of the great things about our lineup is that at any point in time we can score a lot of runs, and I think you saw that today. I think that is what is going to make us productive this year and something that is really dynamic. That second game, that kid can pitch. Randi (Rupp) is who she is for a reason. She came out and tried out for Team USA this summer, and that kid can compete. I thought she got better as the game went on and I was actually really proud of our energy. We came out and put pressure on them, and for the most part did a good job of puting people on base. We just kept working."
GAME 1: ASU 9, Illinois State 1
Arizona State carried its momentum into its second game of the 2018 Littlewood Classic, run-ruling Illinois State 9-1 on Saturday evening at Farrington Stadium.
The Sun Devil offense was alive and well during the whole game against the Redbirds, and ultimately ended the game with shortstop Jade Gortarez crushing a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to seal the victory for ASU (7-1). The fifth inning was ASU's strongest, as the Sun Devils drove in four runs in the inning.
Designated player DeNae Chatman got the scoring going in the fifth inning with her first career home run, a two-run shot to right-centerfield. Chatman was ASU's most productive player on offense, drilling a two-RBI double in the bottom of the second as well for a total of four RBI.
As if her offensive outing wasn't impressive enough, it was also Chatman's first career start as a Sun Devil.
Not only were ASU's bats thriving all evening against Illinois State, but Sun Devil righty Breanna Macha tossed an absolute gem. Macha posted a two-hit, one-run, complete-game effort to lead Arizona State to its second victory of the tournament and its seventh win on the season.
Macha also recorded two strikeouts, while only walking one batter in her five innings pitched.
Other Sun Devil standouts included centerfielder Morgan Howe, who went 2 for 3 on the day with an RBI. Catcher Maddi Hackbarth also drove in a run, while going 1 for 2 at the plate.
GAME 2: ASU 4, Texas State 3
The No. 18 Sun Devil softball squad took down the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday night, notching a 4-3 walk-off win in extra innings, in the second game of ASU's doubleheader at Farrington Stadium. The victory gave ASU (8-1) a 3-0 record so far in the 2018 Littlewood Classic.
The hero of Game 2 of the doubleheader was first baseman Danielle Gibson, whose walk-off double sealed ASU's win in the bottom of the eighth inning. Gibson went 1 for 3 at the plate on the night, and also drew a walk.
The rally in the bottom of the eighth began when right fielder Kindra Hackbarth laid down a beauty of a bunt that allowed Taylor Becerra to score from second base. Gibson stepped into the box three batters later, and the rest was history.
Right-handed pitcher Breanna Macha was a close runner-up for Player of the Game, as she came into the game in the top of the fifth inning in relief of starting pitcher G Juarez. Macha entered the game with two runners on and no outs, and ultimately pitched her way out of the jam. She only gave up one run in relief, coming in the top of the eighth inning.
It was actually Macha's second appearance of the day, though, as she threw a complete game earlier in the day. She finished Game 2 with just three hits allowed and two strikeouts.
Juarez started the game and threw four total innings. She gave up six hits and two runs, and also struck out four batters.
The Sun Devils came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning, starting with a leadoff bunt for a single by Hackbarth. Shortstop Jade Gortarez then followed with a double to left-centerfield.
Centerfielder Morgan Howe then drove both Hackbarth and Gortarez in with a two-run single to give the Sun Devils a 2-1 lead.
In addition to Gibson, Howe was ASU's other offensive standout, going 2 for 3 at the plate with two RBI.
The Littlewood Classic concludes Sunday, as Arizona State faces San Diego at 2 p.m. MST. Fans can keep up with all of the action from the 2018 Sun Devil Softball season by following on @ASUSoftball Twitter.