For the ASU softball team, competing against in-state rival UA is far from easy, but playing the Wildcats on their home turf presents an even bigger challenge.
The No. 2 Sun Devils (39-5, 6-3 Pac-10) have won just one game at Hillenbrand Stadium in the last 20 seasons.
That lone victory came in 2008, ASU’s national championship season.
Now three years after that first win, competing against the No. 7 Wildcats (36-8, 7-2) in Tucson hasn’t gotten any easier. UA boasts a 16-3 home record this season, and has won two straight Pac-10 games in front of its home crowd.
This three-game series against the Wildcats in Tucson kicks off Thursday night, and the Sun Devils are confident that the environment won’t be a factor.
“I don’t think that the venue is really going to matter,” ASU coach Clint Myers said. “It’s a rival game. You go out there and do the best you can with what you got. If we take care of business, I think it’s going to be a good weekend.”
The Sun Devils made history in last season’s series against UA by run ruling their archrival for the first time in team history.
However, the Wildcats quickly returned the run rule favor in the following game to claim the series win.
ASU brings a different team to the table this season.
“This year we are going to come back with a vengeance and a new pitching staff dominating,” senior center fielder Lesley Rogers said. “Our hitting, same thing. I think we’re on our way up right now. We’re not playing as well as we want to be, but I think this weekend is a perfect time to change that.”
Elite pitching will be on center stage throughout this week’s series.
ASU freshman Dallas Escobedo will get her first taste of the intense Territorial Cup competition on Thursday. She enters with a 19-3 record and a 1.50 ERA.
UA will counter with one of the nation’s best pitchers in sophomore Kenzie Fowler.
Fowler was struck on the head by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout in last Sunday’s game against Washington, but ASU expects to see her in the circle this weekend.
“I know that I’m expecting her to pitch,” Rogers said. “I don’t know how bad it is, but we’re all expecting Kenzie (Fowler), and I know she throws pretty hard.”
It’s a matchup of aces with Fowler facing off against Escobedo, two of the Pac-10’s most talented young pitchers.
Fowler has continued her pitching success after bursting onto the Pac-10 scene last season. The right-hander owns a 21-6 record in 34 appearances and a 1.69 ERA in 153.1 innings pitched.
Escobedo is hoping for a fast start against the Fowler and the Wildcats.
“Hopefully, our offense will really come around and show them what we’re all about and jump ahead really quick,” Escobedo said. “It would be the ultimate thing if we jump on them right away.”
Another ASU freshman pitcher, Mackenzie Popescue, figures to receive innings this weekend. Popescue is enjoying a strong debut season with an 11-2 mark and 1.55 ERA.
If Fowler is unable to pitch, UA will turn to freshman Shelby Babcock, whom opponents are hitting .271 against.
Both lineups will have their work cut out for them against the other team’s pitchers.
ASU junior shortstop Katelyn Boyd is hitting .455 with a team-leading 12 homers and 44 RBIs. Senior third baseman Krista Donnenwirth and senior catcher Kaylyn Castillo are hitting .381 and .370, respectively.
As a team, ASU leads the Pac-10 in batting average, runs, hits, RBIs and walks.
And while the Sun Devils have several big bats in the lineup, so does UA.
Senior outfielder Brittany Lastrapes carries a red-hot bat into this series. She is currently hitting .467 with 63 hits and 15 doubles.
UA senior catcher Stacie Chambers leads the Pac-10 conference with 16 home runs this season, and sophomore third baseman Brigette Del Ponte is also a power threat in the lineup with 15 long balls.
Nonetheless, ASU hopes to stay focused and consistent throughout the rivalry matchup.
“It’s one of those things that you have to take what you practice and put in a game,” Myers said. “You can’t let emotion get involved. You can’t let the umpire get involved. You just go up there and you get involved with your performance and your consistency.”
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu
