For the first time in three years, the Sun Devils are back on top.
After reeling in two more conference wins last weekend, the ASU softball team finished its rise up the national top-25 polls.
This weeks’ NFCA and ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 polls were released on Tuesday. In both polls, the Sun Devils now hold the top spot of No. 1 in the nation.
“We are ecstatic,” senior first baseman Mandy Urfer said. “This is amazing. We are at the top. It’s great because we deserve to be there, and we’ve worked hard and want to stay there.”
ASU most recently was placed at No. 3, but surged over Alabama and Georgia after another series victory over the weekend.
Despite the national recognition, the Sun Devils realize the hard work doesn’t stop now.
“No way,” Urfer said. “Even with the series that we’ve been doing recently, we haven’t even swept anyone yet. So we want to sweep UCLA this weekend. That’s going to be the best thing that could happen right now.”
Still looking for the sweep
After the first two weekends of Pac-10 play, the ASU softball team has two series wins to its credit.
However, the No. 1 Sun Devils (37-4, 4-2 Pac-10) have yet to earn one thing: a sweep.
In both the opening weekend against California and last week against Oregon, ASU claimed the first two games of each series.
In each of the Sunday finales, the Sun Devils have been unable to seal the three-game sweep.
After looking dominant at times during the first two games, it’s been a different story for ASU in Sunday matchups.
“I think our mindset right now is we are a little complacent,” Urfer said. “Our mindset needs to be that in the first game more aggressive, and we need to be aggressive in that third game as well.”
Urfer is confident that playing at home for the first time during Pac-10 play will be beneficial.
“We did talk about it a lot as a team,” Urfer said. “We’re going to try and change that this weekend. The home field advantage will be very good for us.”
ASU will look to stay aggressive in all three games in its Pac-10 opener this weekend. The Sun Devils will face off against 2010 National Champions UCLA.
Farrington Stadium has been kind to the Sun Devils this season, as they are 25-0 at home. ASU averages 931 fans a game, and expects large crowds for the UCLA series.
“It’s going to be awesome, playing in front of a crowd,” ASU coach Clint Myers said. “There going to be really good ballgames. Playing in front of our crowd, we always play better at home. We’re more relaxed.”
Popescue succeeding in the circle
It’s no secret that the Sun Devils possess one of the strongest pitching staffs not only in the Pac-10, but in the nation as well.
One of those hurlers is freshman pitcher Mackenzie Popescue, who is quietly piecing together a strong season on the staff.
In 18 appearances, she owns a 10-2 record with a 1.70 ERA. Popescue has served as both a starter and reliever, pitching in 74.1 innings. In that time, she has held opponents to a .188 batting average.
For Popescue, it’s proving her doubters wrong that drives her to play well.
“Ultimately it comes down to I had a lot of people tell me I could never do it,” Popescue said. “That’s always in the back of my mind, whether I’m pitching in practice or out on the field. It’s everyone that told me I couldn’t do it.”
Popescue redshirted last season after tearing her labrum. The injury required surgery and she missed 10 months.
While missing time on the field was disappointing, Popescue believes her experiences last season have helped her in 2011.
“It’s almost like getting a head start,” Popescue said. “Because you get to go through it already. I got to go through hell week. I got to go through being a freshman, and I got a year on everybody else.”
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu
