There’s a reason why the ASU softball team is No. 1.
It’s because they’re pretty darn good.
Few, if any teams in the nation possess the depth and talent that the Sun Devils own.
The pitching staff has been at the forefront of the team’s success.
Led by talented freshman Dallas Escobedo, the staff owns a 1.77 ERA while holding opponents to a measly .208 batting average.
In just her first season in maroon and gold, Escobedo has solidified herself as one of the nation’s strongest hurlers.
In 28 appearances, Escobedo has amassed an 18-2 record with a red-hot 1.44 ERA. The right-hander has struck out 172 batters through 117 innings.
Not buying the freshman hype?
Sure, some of those wins came against less-than-stellar non-conference opponents. But how about her one-hit shutout over No. 15 Oregon Friday night? Escobedo went toe to toe with one of the Pac-10’s best pitchers, Jessica Moore, and came away victorious.
The talented Sun Devil pitching doesn’t stop there. Junior Hillary Bach didn’t climb into fifth on the all-time ASU wins list by sheer luck, but rather because she knows how to pitch.
Bach is sporting a 9-0 record with a 2.62 ERA this season. Although she has seen limited time this year, her postseason experience could prove to be invaluable down the stretch.
Then there’s freshman Mackenzie Popescue. While she warms up to the song “Wild Thing,” she is anything but wild in the circle.
In her first season, Popescue has delivered with a 10-2 mark and an impressive 1.70 ERA.
Behind these pitchers is a dream team infield. The left side features a pair of All-Americans in senior third baseman Krista Donnenwirth and junior shortstop Katelyn Boyd.
Both consistently flash the leather by making difficult plays look routine. The duo can hit as well. Donnenwirth sports a .394 batting average, while Boyd owns an amazing .465 average with 12 home runs.
Think Boyd’s average is inflated by non-conference statistics?
Tell that to Moore, who left a pitch over the plate and watched Boyd launch a seventh inning, two-run homer last Friday night to hand the Ducks a loss.
On the right side of the diamond is sophomore Sam Parlich at second base and senior Mandy Urfer at first.
Parlich has exploded at the plate in her second season with nine home runs after hitting just a single long ball last year. Parlich has also driven in 34 runs.
Over at first, Urfer hauls in nearly every ball that comes her way. She also is more than capable of spraying the ball around the field with her seven home runs and a .366 batting average.
Behind the plate, the Sun Devils have a pair of backstops that produce in seniors Kaylyn Castillo and Lacy Goodman.
Castillo, a transfer from Louisville, has pushed her average to .360 this season. Goodman hasn’t been afraid to provide the big hit this season. She has launched a pair of grand slams, and is hitting .417.
Patrolling the outfield is a trio of Sun Devils that range from junior Talor Haro in left, senior Lesley Rogers in center and junior Annie Lockwood in right.
Haro and Rogers, who are both slap hitters, have been on-base machines throughout the 2011 season.
Haro and Rogers possess on-base percentages of .418 and .455, respectively.
Lockwood provides yet another power threat in the ASU lineup as she has launched eight home runs with 41 RBI.
So there you have it. The talented Sun Devils have depth at every position, a loaded lineup and superb defenders.
ASU clearly deserves to be on top.
