By Scott Mammoser
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 16-ranked Arizona State softball team
concluded its hosting of the six-team ASU Invitational this weekend with a 12-0
domination of South Dakota on Sunday.
Sophomore second baseman Bella Loomis amassed six RBIs, with
a grand slam in the bottom of the first and another two-run home run in the third
– both coming with two outs – in the win.
“I’m more comfortable in the box and changed my stance,”
Loomis said. “I am just more comfortable and getting more confident.”
Skylar McCarty opened the scoring for ASU with a home run
off the scoreboard, her fourth of the season. The Sun Devils added three more
runs in the fourth, with Jade Gortarez doubling and scoring both Morgan Howe
and McCarty. Gortarez scored on a Maddi
Hackbarth single. The Sun Devils won the opening game of the event, 6-4 over
No. 21 James Madison on Thursday, before losing to No. 23 Michigan, 7-6. Prior
to Sunday, they won 17-1 over New Mexico State and 4-1 over Lehigh, combining
for a 33-2 total in three games. Freshman Abby Anderson improved to 6-3,
allowing three hits.
“I thought Abby threw her best game of the year,” ASU coach
Trisha Ford said. “She had good command, her drop ball was dropping and had
enough speed. You could see some distinct separation of her pitches. She had a
tremendous tempo.”
Lehigh will stay in town for one more non-conference game
with ASU at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, before the Pacific-12 Conference season gets
into gear with Oregon State visiting Farrington Stadium for three games,
beginning March 15 at 7 p.m.
“For conference, it’s going to be the same kind of deal,” the
ASU centerfielder Howe said. “Pitchers are making changes and throwing pitches
that aren’t necessary strikes. They are going to hone in on our pitches. It’s
nice when every single person in the lineup gets things done.”
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