Berkeley, Calif. -- The 12th- ranked Arizona State softball team completed their series sweep of No. 20 California with a 4-0 shutout victory over the Golden Bears at Levine-Fricke Field Sunday afternoon.
The Sun Devils pitched by committee in the series finale at Berkley, with senior Dale Ryndak throwing two and two thirds scoreless innings in her seventh start of the season. The righty allowed just one hit in the outing, before handing the ball off to fellow senior Breanna Macha who threw two and a third innings giving up zero runs while striking out one of the nine Golden Bear batters she faced, earning her ninth win of the season. With the lead in hand, reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week G Juarez closed things out in the sixth and seventh, striking out four of the six batters she faced earning her third save of the season.
The Sun Devils out-hit the Golden Bears in game three, 5-3, with Jade Gortarez leading the way with her eighth multi-hit outing of the season, and second of the series.
After back-to-back extra inning games against the Golden Bears to open the series, game three looked to be heading the same direction with neither team able to plate a run through the first five-innings of play.
Things would change in the top of the sixth, however, as ASU would find their footing early. Gortarez led things off for the Sun Devils, roping a leadoff single into left field, bringing the dangerous hitting Morgan Howe to the plate with nobody out. The center fielder dribbled a ball through the middle of the infield, reaching safely on a fielding error by the Golden Bear defense to put tow-on with still nobody out in the frame.
Following a ground-out to third, senior Marisa Stankiewicz drew a walk to load the bases for junior outfielder Skylar McCarty. McCarty took full advantage of the at-bat, launching her second home run of the season over the wall in center for her first career-grand slam.
With a 4-0 lead in hand, Juarez took over in the circle, striking out two, and drawing a fly out to close things out in the sixth.
With neither team able to score in the seventh, the Sun Devils completed the series sweep of the Golden Bears, their first road sweep against Cal since the 2014 season.
With the series sweep, the Sun Devils sit alone atop the Pac-12 standings with a 5-1 record in conference play, and an impressive 26-4 overall record on the season.
The Sun Devils will be back in action next weekend when the team will host BYU and North Dakota State for a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Action will get underway with a pair of games Friday, starting with a 4:30 meeting with North Dakota State, before closing the day with 6:30 p.m. meeting with BYU.
?? Sun Devils WIN! ??@SkylarMcCarty launches a grand slam in the sixth to give ASU a 4-0 win over Cal in the series finale! #SunDevilMoxie pic.twitter.com/QeLFJeore9
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 26, 2018
The Sun Devils pitched by committee in the series finale at Berkley, with senior Dale Ryndak throwing two and two thirds scoreless innings in her seventh start of the season. The righty allowed just one hit in the outing, before handing the ball off to fellow senior Breanna Macha who threw two and a third innings giving up zero runs while striking out one of the nine Golden Bear batters she faced, earning her ninth win of the season. With the lead in hand, reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week G Juarez closed things out in the sixth and seventh, striking out four of the six batters she faced earning her third save of the season.
The Sun Devils out-hit the Golden Bears in game three, 5-3, with Jade Gortarez leading the way with her eighth multi-hit outing of the season, and second of the series.
After back-to-back extra inning games against the Golden Bears to open the series, game three looked to be heading the same direction with neither team able to plate a run through the first five-innings of play.
Things would change in the top of the sixth, however, as ASU would find their footing early. Gortarez led things off for the Sun Devils, roping a leadoff single into left field, bringing the dangerous hitting Morgan Howe to the plate with nobody out. The center fielder dribbled a ball through the middle of the infield, reaching safely on a fielding error by the Golden Bear defense to put tow-on with still nobody out in the frame.
Following a ground-out to third, senior Marisa Stankiewicz drew a walk to load the bases for junior outfielder Skylar McCarty. McCarty took full advantage of the at-bat, launching her second home run of the season over the wall in center for her first career-grand slam.
When @SkylarMcCarty nails a GRAND SLAM for @ASUSoftball, you want it from ~every angle~#Pac12SB pic.twitter.com/taCkHEOSwt
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 26, 2018
With a 4-0 lead in hand, Juarez took over in the circle, striking out two, and drawing a fly out to close things out in the sixth.
With neither team able to score in the seventh, the Sun Devils completed the series sweep of the Golden Bears, their first road sweep against Cal since the 2014 season.
With the series sweep, the Sun Devils sit alone atop the Pac-12 standings with a 5-1 record in conference play, and an impressive 26-4 overall record on the season.
The Sun Devils will be back in action next weekend when the team will host BYU and North Dakota State for a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Action will get underway with a pair of games Friday, starting with a 4:30 meeting with North Dakota State, before closing the day with 6:30 p.m. meeting with BYU.