No. 21 ASU softball's five-game losing streak was put on the line against No. 9 James Madison (21-2) on Sunday.
The low-scoring extra-inning battle came down to putting the ball in play. The Sun Devils couldn't touch senior pitcher Jailyn Ford until late in the game. They had only five hits and left six runners on base, and went scoreless for five innings before scoring their lone run in the sixth.
Meanwhile, ASU's pitcher was performing just as flawlessly. Redshirt junior Kelsey Kessler (8-3 coming into the day) had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning, she didn't allow a run until the sixth and pitched for the entire eight frames. She threw 108 pitches and struck out 10, giving up only two runs.
The James Madison pitcher broke up Kessler's no-no bid by laying down a perfect bunt. The Dukes rallied, loading the bases with no outs, but Ford was picked off at third and Kessler struck out two more to get out of the jam unharmed.
The first run got on the board from a James Madison solo home run in the sixth. The Sun Devils responded in the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot from senior second baseman Nikki Girard, forcing the ball game to go into extra innings.
"We always say to look for a good pitch and stay simple," Girard said. "As a team, we just need to work on making little adjustments at the plate."
JMU pushed in another run in the eighth to take a one-run lead, but the Sun Devils fought back in the bottom of the eighth. They loaded the bases with one out.
However, they were unable to tie the game up and took the loss in the first game of the double-header.
ASU looked to bounce back in the second game against Ohio State (10-6).
ASU took the lead in the first with an RBI ground out from senior second baseman Nikki Girard, which scored freshman third baseman Taylor Becerra. The Buckeyes answered quickly with a double, taking a 2-1 lead.
The Sun Devils had the chance to rally back in the fifth.
Senior center fielder Jennifer Soria doubled to left center field to knock in a run and tie the game at two. Soria went 2-for-2 with two doubles and a walk.
"I just like to carry the same mentality that I have during practice into the game," Soria said. "Keeping calm and having rhythm and bringing that to the plate."
Sophomore right fielder Nichole Chilson kept the momentum going with a single to the outfield, knocking in a run and giving ASU the lead 3-2.
That was all sophomore Dale Ryndak needed in her time in the circle. In four innings, she gave up six hits and two runs. Sophomore Breanna Macha came in to pitch in the fifth.
Co-interim head coach Letty Olivarez said she planned from the beginning to split up pitching duties between the two pitchers.
"I think overall, Dale didn't have her best weekend, but she did her job in this game," Olivarez said.
Macha was unable to hold the lead, giving up a two-run homer late in the sixth. The Buckeyes leapt to a 4-3 lead and Kessler came in to pitch for the second time on Sunday.
Fatigue showed. She gave up six runs and six hits in 1.1 innings, and ASU lost 11-5. Despite acknowledging that Kessler was tired, Olivarez said it was no excuse for the loss.
"We need to really focus on how to fix that and figure out how to get things done," Olivarez said.
Reach the reporter at lmbrunet@asu.edu or follow @Leah_brunette on Twitter.
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