Sunday, March 4
Tempe, Ariz.
4:00 PM
Creighton University
1
at
3
Arizona State
Softball Falls to No. 5 Arizona State, 3-1, in Extra Innings
3/4/2012 3:31:00 PM | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. - Defending NCAA champion Arizona State needed eight innings to get by the Creighton softball team Sunday afternoon. All-American Katelyn Boyd's two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning broke the deadlock and helped the fifth-ranked Sun Devils to a 3-1 win over the Bluejays in the final game of the Wilson/DeMarini Invitational at Farrington Stadium.
The win was Arizona State's 16th straight, improving the reigning champ's record to 20-2 on the season. With the loss the Bluejays fell to 8-6 on the year, after winning 19-4 over Howard earlier on Sunday.
The game was scoreless through four innings, as it turned into a pitcher's duel between sophomore aces Becca Changstrom of Creighton and All-American Dallas Escobedo of Arizona State.
It was the Bluejays who would cross the plate first in the match up. Sophomore pinch-hitter Blair Lowe started the fourth inning by reaching on a single and advancing to second on a throwing error on the same play. She moved to third on a wild pitch by Escobedo and then scored on another wild pitch by the All-American right-hander.
Creighton and Changstrom held that 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Amber Freeman connected for a two-out solo home run to tie the game.
Sammy Snygg walked to start the seventh inning for the Bluejays, but was stranded at second base when the inning ended. ASU went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
Using the international tie-break rule, Allie Mathewson was placed at second base to start the eighth inning, but she would not move from her spot as the Jays were retired in order.
Boyd led off the eight for ASU with a runner on second base and worked ahead in the count, but Changstrom battled back before Boyd took a 2-2 offering from the right-hander and hit the game-winning home run for the Sun Devils. ASU's three runs were its fewest scored in a win this season.
Creighton stranded seven runners in the loss, while ASU left five on base.
Escobedo (8-1) struck out 11 but walked six and allowed just two hits in the complete game victory for ASU.
Changstrom (3-3) allowed only four hits and two earned runs in seven-plus innings of work against the high-powered ASU offense. The Lincoln, Neb., native walked three and struck out one in the tough luck loss.
The Bluejays and Sun Devils - who have yet to play a road game this spring - will meet again on Tuesday in Tempe, before the Bluejays play four more games at next weekend's Diamond Devil Invitational hosted by ASU.
The win was Arizona State's 16th straight, improving the reigning champ's record to 20-2 on the season. With the loss the Bluejays fell to 8-6 on the year, after winning 19-4 over Howard earlier on Sunday.
The game was scoreless through four innings, as it turned into a pitcher's duel between sophomore aces Becca Changstrom of Creighton and All-American Dallas Escobedo of Arizona State.
It was the Bluejays who would cross the plate first in the match up. Sophomore pinch-hitter Blair Lowe started the fourth inning by reaching on a single and advancing to second on a throwing error on the same play. She moved to third on a wild pitch by Escobedo and then scored on another wild pitch by the All-American right-hander.
Creighton and Changstrom held that 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Amber Freeman connected for a two-out solo home run to tie the game.
Sammy Snygg walked to start the seventh inning for the Bluejays, but was stranded at second base when the inning ended. ASU went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
Using the international tie-break rule, Allie Mathewson was placed at second base to start the eighth inning, but she would not move from her spot as the Jays were retired in order.
Boyd led off the eight for ASU with a runner on second base and worked ahead in the count, but Changstrom battled back before Boyd took a 2-2 offering from the right-hander and hit the game-winning home run for the Sun Devils. ASU's three runs were its fewest scored in a win this season.
Creighton stranded seven runners in the loss, while ASU left five on base.
Escobedo (8-1) struck out 11 but walked six and allowed just two hits in the complete game victory for ASU.
Changstrom (3-3) allowed only four hits and two earned runs in seven-plus innings of work against the high-powered ASU offense. The Lincoln, Neb., native walked three and struck out one in the tough luck loss.
The Bluejays and Sun Devils - who have yet to play a road game this spring - will meet again on Tuesday in Tempe, before the Bluejays play four more games at next weekend's Diamond Devil Invitational hosted by ASU.
Players Mentioned
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