ASU sophomore Chelsea Gonzales runs the bases after hitting a home run against Michigan, Sunday March 1, 2015, at Farrington Stadium in Tempe. The Sun Devils lost to the Wolverines 6-2. (Krista Tillman/The State Press)No. 3 Michigan (18-1) only had five total hits against No. 21 ASU's (15-7) freshman starter Breanna Macha (7-4), but five was enough.
Three of five hits allowed by Macha were Michigan home runs, propelling the Wolverines to a 6-2 victory over the Sun Devils.
Macha said there's always room for improvement, but noted that the gusty winds played a factor in her mindset.
"Going into the game, I wanted to get the ball and keep the ball down," she said. "I wouldn't say I did too great, but you can always grow from it."
Michigan right fielder Kelsey Susalla led off the scoring with a solo home run to right field off Macha in the top of the second.
The Wolverines struck again in the next inning when leadoff hitter Sierra Lawrence (3-of-4, two home runs) hit another solo shot.
Through four innings, two of three hits given up by Macha were the solo home runs, which led to a game where the Wolverines scored all six runs via the home run ball.
More specifically, four of seven Michigan hits in the game were home runs.
Head coach Craig Nicholson was fairly pleased with his team's performance, but noted that ASU needs to tighten up the pitching.
"We didn't make very many mistakes, but when we did, they certainly made us pay for it," he said. "We just have to live a bit more on the edges of the strike zone against good hitters."
ASU came to life in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore shortstop Chelsea Gonzales smacked a solo shot off Michigan left-hander Haylie Wagner, who gave up two earned run on two hits in three innings.
In the same inning, junior outfielder Jennifer Soria's sacrifice bunt scored senior first baseman Bethany Kemp, who reached on one of Wagner's three walks allowed.
However, it was all Michigan from there.
After Macha walked Romero for the second time in the game, Michigan catcher Lauren Sweet hit a two-run home run to put the Wolverines ahead 4-2.
The bases loaded with only one out in the sixth inning, but it was of no avail as the Sun Devils failed to convert. ASU stranded nine batters in the game, which was monumental compared to four for the Wolverines.
Most notably, senior catcher Amber Freeman was 0-for-4.
"They did a good job of keeping me off balance and both pitchers had good changeups," Freeman said. "I didn't feel comfortably up there today."
In the seventh inning, Lawrence hit her second home run of the game, which was a two-run shot to make it 6-2 and seal a Michigan victory.
Lawrence now has 14 home runs in the past two years, eight of which have come at Farrington Stadium.
The loss dropped ASU to 3-2 in the Louisville Slugger Invitational and 0-4 in its last four games against the Wolverines.
"Their hitters are ultra-aggressive, yet do a pretty good job of commanding the strike zone, making them tough to pitch too," Nicholson said. "Their pitching is solid, not phenomenal, but that lineup 1-9 is a challenge and there's no spot where you get a batter off—they're tough to pitch to."
Michigan's Megan Betsa (8-0) relieved Wagner after three innings before a hand injury forced Wagner to re-enter and close out the game.
ASU will have another chance against Michigan in its first game of the Judi Garman Classic on March 5 at 11 a.m.
Reach the reporter at Justin.Toscano@asu.edu or follow @justintoscano3 on Twitter.
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