The No. 5 ASU softball team swept UCLA for the second time in school history by complementing strong defense and exceptional pitching with an efficient offensive performance.
After two mercy-rule victories against the Bruins on Thursday and Friday night, the Sun Devils (35-4, 7-1 Pac-12) had trouble getting the offense going against UCLA freshman pitcher Ally Carda on Saturday.
“We had a plan and for the most part, we were aggressive to our plan, but just weren’t having success right away,” ASU senior shortstop Katelyn Boyd said.
In the first two games, ASU combined to score nine runs before the fourth inning. Saturday, the team was held scoreless until a three-run fourth inning put the Sun Devils on top 3–2.
From there, sophomore pitcher Dallas Escobedo (14-3, 2.34 ERA) shut down the Bruins’ lineup, recording nine strikeouts on 26 batters faced.
“I was worried because they are a good offensive team and they had good pitching,” Escobedo said. “After we got three runs and we got the lead, I was more comfortable, but I still had to do better than I did the first, second or third inning.”
Right after Escobedo struck out senior Samantha Camuso, UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez stormed toward umpire John Baca.
After a loud discussion with heated words, Baca ejected Inouye-Perez and the Bruins’ bench lost control. Players and coaches had to restrain players that were on the field screaming at the umpire.
Escobedo paid little attention and retired the next five batters to end the game.
“Of course I see them, but I’ve been in many different situations where teams get riled up over different things,” Escobedo said. “So that didn’t really faze me.”
The defense, which played solid all weekend, had Dallas’ back.
Sophomore Bailey Wigness played the last four games at second base and is yet to record an error at the position.
“(Wigness) is just very coachable,” ASU senior Annie Lockwood said. “She is just very adaptive to any position she is going to be put in, and I think she has done a great job.”
Wigness took over after junior Sam Parlich, who has been a staple in the Sun Devils’ lineup, struggled with errors to start off the season. ASU coach Clint Myers still expects Parlich to compete for the spot.
“Don’t you dare write Sam Parlich off,” Myers said. “She’s going to be battling for that position. Bailey is a competitor, too, so it’s a nice problem for a coach to have.”
The defense was exceptional in Friday’s game, and one of the plays stood out specifically.
In the second inning, sophomore outfielder Alix Johnson made a shoestring catch in right field with Camuso on second. The catch preserved the 0–0 tie, and the Sun Devils scored their first run in the bottom of that inning with a home run by freshman outfielder Elizabeth Caporuscio.
This ultimately led to senior pitcher Hillary Bach (16-0, 1.14 ERA) picking up her 82nd career win, putting her in second place all-time at ASU in that category.
“I trust this team so much, and it’s allowed me to do my job so much better,” Bach said. “I am so relaxed out there. I am not constantly putting pressure on myself to do it all because I don’t need to.
“As soon as the ball goes on the ground, I take a deep breath because I know that they have got it under control.”
The Sun Devils are now in second place in the Pac-12 behind California and will take on third place Oregon State in a three-game series Tuesday and Wednesday.
Reach the reporter at jjmckelv@asu.edu
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