Comebacks are in this team's nature.
In game one of three against Utah, No. 23 ASU softball rallied from down 4-1 in the fourth inning to pull out a 6-4 victory on Friday.
Starting in the circle for the Sun Devils (30-16, 8-7 Pac-12) was freshman Breanna Macha, who pitched a complete game allowing four hits, three of them home runs.
"In the beginning I was a little shaky," Macha said. "I just had to settle in with my team behind me after the fourth inning, which was definitely a confidence booster."
The Utes (31-16, 9-10 Pac-12) got out to an early lead thanks to their top batter as senior Kate Dickman crushed a solo shot to center. Despite the home run from Dickman in the two-spot, Macha struck out the other three Utah batters in the first frame.
With runners on the corners in the bottom of the first, senior third baseman Haley Steele rocketed an RBI single toward second base, tying things up 1-1.
The Utes found the long ball once again in the top of the third inning thanks to sophomore Hannah Flippen, who sent a two-run shot over the left field wall to put Utah on top 3-1.
After back-to-back singles by Steele and senior first baseman Bethany Kemp in the bottom of the third, ASU couldn't cash in and left its fifth and six runners of the game on base.
In the top of the fourth, Utah added to its lead with its third home run of the day, this one a solo homer from sophomore Bridget Castro that put the Utes on top 4-1.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, ASU finally capitalized on its runners in scoring position, bringing home one on the fielder's choice to get itself within two runs.
To end the inning, however, Steele popped out to left and somehow broke her aluminum bat in the process, leaving three additional runners stranded.
The elusive broken metal bat courtesy of @ASUSoftball! #UTAHvsASU pic.twitter.com/gZuu1PGlAP
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) April 25, 2015
Macha then retired three Utah batters on four pitches in the top of the fifth, providing an opportunity for her team to make up even more ground.
After ASU once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, senior right fielder Sierra Rodriguez sent a sac-fly to left that brought home a run. Senior left fielder Elizabeth Caporuscio followed her teammate's lead and smacked an RBI single to center that brought home another.
Later in the inning, ASU would break the tie on a two-RBI double by sophomore shortstop Chelsea Gonzales that put the Sun Devils on top 6-4.
Following a scoreless sixth inning for both teams, Macha stepped into the circle in the seventh and retired the side, finishing off her complete game performance.
ASU head coach Craig Nicholson thought that Macha showed resilience on Friday.
"I thought (Macha) did a great job," Nicholson said. "Obviously she gave up some runs early, but I thought she did a great job of settling down and giving us a chance to come back."
Nicholson said that his team wasn't worried after being down 4-1.
"For us, being down 4-1 in the fourth inning, we're not gonna panic," Nicholson said. "We're just gonna keep doing what we do."
Game two against the Utes is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Farrington Stadium.
Reach the reporter at rclarke6@asu.edu or follow @RClarkeASU on Twitter.
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