From the outset of the 2011 season, the ASU softball team’s ultimate goal has been to compete for a national championship.
By defeating Baylor 4-0 on Semifinal Sunday in the Women’s College World Series, the Sun Devils (58-6) are now gearing up to do just that.
Behind freshman pitcher Dallas Escobedo’s seven shutout innings and a seven hit, four-run performance from the offense, ASU won its eighth straight postseason contest.
The Sun Devils now advance to the championship series, where they will take on either Alabama or Florida.
Given ASU’s previous WCWS experience, the players know it won’t be a cakewalk in the finals.
“In the finals it’s obviously a battle no matter who you play,” senior third baseman Krista Donnenwirth said. “I think that 6-5 victory over Florida showed how much heart we have, and how much we’re willing to do just about anything to win a ballgame. I think we’re going to continue with that approach.”
On a hot, humid Sunday afternoon, Escobedo took to the circle in her third WCWS start. The Bears (47-15) countered with sophomore left-hander Whitney Canion, who was fresh off a marathon, extra-inning outing the night before.
Both hurlers jumped out to hot starts in the circle. Escobedo surrendered just a single to sophomore centerfielder Kathy Shelton. She didn’t last long on the base paths, as ASU senior catcher Kaylyn Castillo gunned Shelton out at second base.
Meanwhile, Canion allowed a single in the first, but fanned both Castillo and junior right fielder Annie Lockwood to end the inning.
It was the Sun Devils who broke the tie in the second inning. Senior first baseman Mandy Urfer crushed a Canion offering into the right field bleachers for her 12th home run of the season.
“I think so far I’ve been really zoned in this tournament,” Urfer said. “I just saw the first pitch and went with it. We were focusing more on hitting the ball to right field, so waiting for it and taking it the other way.”
Escobedo continued to retire the Bears with ease. From the third inning and into the seventh, she gave up just two hits, a walk, and a hit batter.
Lockwood crushed an RBI double to right field in the top of the fifth to extend the ASU lead to 3-0.
The Sun Devils tacked on an insurance run in the top o the seventh. After senior pinch hitter Sarah Rice walked, junior shortstop Katelyn Boyd singled into right field.
Senior centerfielder Lesley Rogers knocked in her 33rd RBI of the season on an infield single.
Rogers’ hit knocked Canion out of the game. Freshman Liz Paul took over in the circle, and retired all three batters she faced.
Escobedo toed the rubber in the bottom of the seventh in need of three outs to advance her team.
The right-hander struck out the leadoff batter Paul for the first out of the inning. The following batter, senior pinch hitter KJ Freeland then laced a single into left field.
Freshman catcher Clare Hosack was then retired on a pop out to Urfer in foul territory. The Bears then sent junior Sydney Wilson to the plate as a pinch hitter.
