In the second of its three-game series against No. 12 Washington, No. 20 ASU softball fell by a score of 6-1.
Sophomore Breanna Macha took the circle for the Sun Devils (27-12, 3-5 Pac-12) after pitching in relief of redshirt junior Kelsey Kessler on Friday.
Macha only allowed one hit in her relief appearance, but it was a different story in Saturday's start as she only remained in the circle for only one and 2/3 of an inning. Macha allowed five runs on four hits before being relieved by Kessler in the second.
ASU co-interim head coach Letty Olivarez said Macha deviated from the plan that the Sun Devils had in terms of pitching strategy.
"We said one thing and (Macha) went with another thing," Olivarez said. "I think we just need to make sure we stick with our plan."
The first two of Macha's earned runs came with two outs in the top of the first as senior first baseman Kimberlee Souza crushed a two-run home run for the Huskies (25-8, 6-5 Pac-12) to give them an early advantage.
After a scoreless bottom of the first inning, that advantage ballooned for Washington in the top of the second as three more runs crossed the plate — the first of which came on a solo shot by freshman catcher Morganne Flores.
Later in the inning, the Huskies scored by stealing home while ASU junior catcher Sashel Palacios tried catching a Washington runner stealing second. Following that bizarre play, the Huskies notched their fifth run of the game on an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Julia DePonte. Macha was subsequently pulled in favor of Kessler.
ASU co-interim head coach Robert Wagner said his team had to play a game of catch-up as a result of Macha's performance.
"When you're down 5-0 it's kind of hard to play small ball," Wagner said.
This time around, it was Kessler who pitched well in relief. In 5.1 innings of work, Kessler dominated for most of the outing, allowing two hits and one run.
A lack of run support from ASU's batters was the deciding factor in a game that proved more contentious than the final scoreline. The Sun Devils did make up one run in the bottom of the fourth, however, thanks to a solo home run by sophomore right fielder Nicole Chilson.
But Washington's own sophomore right fielder negated that run as Krystal Aubert smacked one over the center field wall in the seventh, extending her teams lead to its final margin of 6-1.
"I was seeing the ball really well myself," Chilson said. "We just weren't seeing the ball as well tonight as we usually do (as a team)."
ASU left runners on base throughout its matchup with Washington, and just wasn't able to piece together the offensive production necessary to get itself back in this game. The loss marks three in the last four games for the Sun Devils.
ASU's next game against the Huskies is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, weather permitting, at Farrington Stadium in Tempe.
Reach the reporter at rclarke6@asu.edu or follow @RClarkeASU on Twitter.
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