For just the second time in the last 20 seasons, the ASU softball team won a game in Tucson.
Behind a dominant pitching performance from freshman Dallas Escobedo and clutch hitting in the seventh inning, the No. 2 Sun Devils (40-5, 7-3 Pac-10) claimed a 4-0 win in game one of the Territorial Cup Series against UA.
Escobedo hurled five perfect innings to start the game and would allow just one hit while striking out 11 batters to earn her 20th win of the year.
Junior shortstop Katelyn Boyd smacked a two-out grand slam in the top of the seventh to finally break the 0-0 tie.
It was statement win for the Sun Devils in front of a rowdy crowd of more than 2,700.
“Dallas (Escobedo) threw phenomenal,” ASU coach Clint Myers said. “She had great poise, had great control and great command. She limited their offense to one hit.”
The No. 7 Wildcats (36-9, 7-3 Pac-10) sent freshman pitcher Shelby Babcock to the circle in place of injured sophomore pitcher Kenzie Fowler.
Babcock and Escobedo went head to head in a classic pitcher’s duel.
“My changeup was really on,” Escobedo said. “They were fooled by it, and I was so excited about that. My rise, they were swinging at. I feel like everything was really on.”
Babcock was just as good through the game’s first six innings, preventing several Sun Devil rallies.
She would allow four earned runs on five hits and four walks through seven frames.
After a leadoff double by junior outfielder Annie Lockwood in the fifth, the Sun Devils were unable to plate any runs. Then ASU would strand a runner in scoring position again in the sixth.
Escobedo ran into some trouble with the score still knotted at 0-0 in the bottom of the sixth.
UA senior outfielder Brittany Lastrapes stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, but that was as far as she would get, as Escobedo got out of the jam by striking out Lastrapes to end the inning.
Lockwood once again provided a spark with a leadoff single in the top of the seventh.
Sophomore second baseman Sam Parlich laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt but was called out when UA senior catcher Stacie Chambers’ throw hit her inside the baseline.
Junior Christina Zambrana then walked before senior first baseman Mandy Urfer laced a single down the left field line to load the bases.
Junior outfielder Talor Haro grounded into a fielder’s choice as Chambers grabbed the ground ball and stepped on home plate.
One batter later, Boyd stepped up to the plate and launched a grand slam to centerfield to give ASU a 4-0 lead.
“I was seeing the ball really well tonight,” Boyd said. “I was in the zone, and I was so happy when I got up in that situation. I was set on the outside half of the plate, and the ball was up. I put my best swing and good things happened.”
The four runs were more than enough for Escobedo, who locked down the Sun Devil win in the bottom of the seventh.
UA sophomore third baseman Brigette Del Ponte flew out to Haro in left field for the first out of the inning.
Escobedo then fanned Chambers for out No. 2, and after junior second baseman Kristen Arriola reached on an error, Escobedo sealed the win by striking out junior infielder Lini Koria.
The Sun Devils return to Hillenbrand Stadium on Friday night for game two of the series. Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Popescue is slated to start in the circle.
Despite a win in game one, ASU knows the rest of the series won’t be any easier.
“We’ve got to come out and take care of business,” Myers said. “There should not be a letdown. We’ve got to go and take tomorrow’s game and really get after it.”
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu
