The No. 2 ASU softball team expected a relatively easy series against Utah.
However, the Sun Devils (38-6, 9-4 Pac-12) awoke to a real wake-up call when Utah (20-23-1, 5-11 Pac-12) pulled off a stunning upset in Salt Lake City on Friday over ASU 5-4 in eight innings.
ASU needed one out in the seventh inning to wrap up a victory, but it allowed two runs in the inning to extend the game into extras.
Riding the momentum of tying the game, Utah produced the clutch hit in extra innings to walk off victorious, and the Utes captured one of their biggest wins in program history.
ASU junior pitcher Dallas Escobedo was tagged for eight hits and four earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched.
After only allowing two earned runs in consecutive complete games against No. 14 Washington last weekend, Escobedo started her third consecutive game.
Her game start didn’t begin pretty, with Utah scoring runs in each of the first two innings. In the third through sixth innings, Escobedo settled down with only one batter reaching base.
The tide turned in the seventh when she allowed back-to-back singles to begin the frame. ASU caught a break when Utah freshman catcher Shelby Pacheco grounded into a double play.
ASU needed one out to finish off the victory, leading by two runs, but Escobedo couldn’t close the game.
After the double play, Escobedo walked the next hitter and gave up a run-scoring single, ending her night one out from victory.
Junior pitcher Mackenzie Popescue came in to attempt a high-pressure save with runners on the corners, two outs and the team leading by a run.
Utah senior second baseman Jackie Sweet singled to right field off Popescue to tie the game.
Popescue eventually escaped the inning and ASU and Utah went into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, ASU senior second baseman Sam Parlich lined into a double play, ending ASU’s threat.
In the bottom of the frame, Pacheco made up for nearly halting Utah’s rally in the seventh with a walk-off double to right-center field.
Notes
Junior outfielders Alix Johnson and Mary Spiel returned from their suspensions, which lasted six games.
Johnson entered the game in the sixth inning as a pinch-hitter and hit into a double play. She stayed in the game and played both right and center field.
Spiel pinch-ran for sophomore outfielder Elizabeth Caporuscio in eighth inning, and remained in the game.
With the loss, ASU has lost three of their past five games after starting the year 36-3.
Reach the reporter at justin.janssen@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @JJanssen11
