TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 16 Arizona State softball team (14-2) won their fourth consecutive game Friday evening at Farrington Stadium with a 4-2 victory over Coastal Carolina to start the 2018 Devil Classic.
"We need to come out and play our game." head coach Trisha Ford said. "I think tonight we took some things for granted. That was a really good team that we played. They are a scrappy team and that pitcher has got good up-spin. We had a plan and I don't think we stuck to it. There is a reason we have a plan and the team that makes adjustments the quickest is usually the team that wins. I thought we struggled tonight making those adjustments."
Right hand pitcher Breanna Macha anchored the Sun Devil defense with a season-high 10 strikeouts. The senior threw 65 strikes on 97 pitches.
"I think Bree did a good job of finding the zone," Ford added. "I thought it was a little tough tonight, and I thought she did a good job of finding out where it was and working within it. That is exactly what you are looking for from a senior."
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a wild pitch brought sophomore Kindra Hackbarth home after she doubled for Arizona State's first hit of the game.
In the bottom of the second, a Chanticleers error in the outfield put sophomore shortstop Jade Gortarez on second and brought freshman third baseman Bella Loomis home. In the next at-bat, junior center fielder Morgan Howe doubled to left field to bring in Gortarez and advance the Sun Devil lead to 3-0.
The next three innings remained scoreless for both teams as Macha struck out back-to-back batters in a pivotal, bases loaded moment in the top of the fourth.
The Chanticleers would not go quietly, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth to make it a 3-2 game, midway through the sixth. The Sun Devil offense, however, came out in full force in the bottom of the sixth with two hits and an error by the Chanticleers third baseman, allowing Loomis to come home and create a 4-2 Arizona State lead.
Macha struck out her 10th batter in the top of the seventh en route to a Sun Devil victory.
ASU finished with four stolen bases in the game, the first time doing so since Feb. 9, 2014 against UC Riverside. Gortarez recorded two hits and an RBI for the Sun Devils to build on a season high six-game hitting streak.
The Sun Devils will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader to conclude their play in the Devil Classic. ASU will open the afternoon facing the Chanticleers again at 4:30 p.m. MST before taking on the New Mexico State Aggies at 7 p.m.
"We need to come out and play our game." head coach Trisha Ford said. "I think tonight we took some things for granted. That was a really good team that we played. They are a scrappy team and that pitcher has got good up-spin. We had a plan and I don't think we stuck to it. There is a reason we have a plan and the team that makes adjustments the quickest is usually the team that wins. I thought we struggled tonight making those adjustments."
Right hand pitcher Breanna Macha anchored the Sun Devil defense with a season-high 10 strikeouts. The senior threw 65 strikes on 97 pitches.
"I think Bree did a good job of finding the zone," Ford added. "I thought it was a little tough tonight, and I thought she did a good job of finding out where it was and working within it. That is exactly what you are looking for from a senior."
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a wild pitch brought sophomore Kindra Hackbarth home after she doubled for Arizona State's first hit of the game.
In the bottom of the second, a Chanticleers error in the outfield put sophomore shortstop Jade Gortarez on second and brought freshman third baseman Bella Loomis home. In the next at-bat, junior center fielder Morgan Howe doubled to left field to bring in Gortarez and advance the Sun Devil lead to 3-0.
3??-0??Good Guys ?? pic.twitter.com/QjF3aPwaKO
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 3, 2018
The next three innings remained scoreless for both teams as Macha struck out back-to-back batters in a pivotal, bases loaded moment in the top of the fourth.
M5 | ??????????????@BreannaMacha gets through her fifth frame of work with seven strikeouts on the evening!
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 3, 2018
Gibson, Chilson and Chatman are set to start things off in the bottom of the fifth! pic.twitter.com/pnvWllfQEG
The Chanticleers would not go quietly, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth to make it a 3-2 game, midway through the sixth. The Sun Devil offense, however, came out in full force in the bottom of the sixth with two hits and an error by the Chanticleers third baseman, allowing Loomis to come home and create a 4-2 Arizona State lead.
Macha struck out her 10th batter in the top of the seventh en route to a Sun Devil victory.
SUN DEVILS WIN! @BreannaMacha fans 10 in a 4-2 ASU victory! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/vaLNSOZYcU
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 3, 2018
ASU finished with four stolen bases in the game, the first time doing so since Feb. 9, 2014 against UC Riverside. Gortarez recorded two hits and an RBI for the Sun Devils to build on a season high six-game hitting streak.
The Sun Devils will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader to conclude their play in the Devil Classic. ASU will open the afternoon facing the Chanticleers again at 4:30 p.m. MST before taking on the New Mexico State Aggies at 7 p.m.