BATON ROUGE, La. – ASU softball was able to get away with its cold bats in the postseason behind stellar pitching, but not for a third consecutive game.
The Sun Devils (36-21) lost to LSU (47-12) 5-0 on Sunday afternoon, and the team has hit .151 in the postseason thus far.
ASU has been able to get people on (notably through free passes), but hasn't been able to get many big hits. After three games, the Sun Devils are 2 for 12 with the bases loaded, including a missed opportunity in the third.
With runners at first and second, sophomore catcher Sashel Palacios was able to hold back from swinging on a full-count ball. Junior center fielder Jennifer Soria and senior right fielder Sierra Rodriguez both hit into air outs to tend the inning.
Breanna Macha (18-12) was the tough-luck loser for ASU, allowing three runs (two earned) in 5.1 innings, giving up eight hits, one walk and four strikeouts. She had pitched every inning of the postseason for ASU until the sixth, when she was pulled for freshman Dale Ryndak. Ryndak allowed an RBI single immediately after entering, but ended up stranding the bases loaded.
In the first inning, LSU's first two batters reached base like they did Saturday, in addition to a groundout advancing the runners and a strikeout following suit. But this time, LSU third baseman Sahvanna Jaquish delivered in the clutch situation, singling on a ball to ASU shortstop Chelsea Gonzales, who fell down on the play.
Two innings later, LSU extended its lead with the top of the order leading off the inning. LSU shortstop Bianka Bell hit a hard chopper to ASU third baseman Haley Steele, who couldn't handle it, and the ball sailed into the outfield. LSU scored a run on the play, but outfielder Bailey Landry was gunned out at the plate, attempting to score while a pickle was going on between first and second base.
Freshman Carley Hoover started in the circle for LSU, allowing four hits and three walks to go along with eight strikeouts. Hoover and Macha faced each other on Saturday, with the Sun Devils prevailing 1-0. Both pitchers threw complete games.
The winner-take-all Baton Rouge regional finale will get underway shortly. LSU has the luxury of having a deep pitching staff, so the Tigers might be better set up for the extended regional. LSU freshman Allie Walljapser (14-5, 1.73 ERA) pitched into the 10th inning on Saturday in an elimination game against Nebraska.
Reach the reporter at jmjanss1@asu.edu or follow @jjanssen11 on Twitter
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