The Sun Devils were tasked with a doubleheader on Friday, having to face No. 21 Minnesota and Houston.
In the first game of the day, ASU softball struggled both on offense and defense in their 10-1 loss to the Minnesota Gophers.
Minnesota managed to score early, putting two on the board, and they weren’t stopping there. Later in the fourth inning, the Gophers put up a pair of home runs, pushing in four more runners and helping them advance their lead 6-0.
ASU redshirt junior pitcher Kelsey Kessler (3-0) struggled in the circle, giving up six runs and five hits. Sophomore pitcher Breanna Macha came on in relief, but also couldn’t stop Minnesota's powerful offense, allowing five more hits and another four runs.
Although pitching wasn’t able to produce, offense never found a spark to their bats.
The Sun Devil offense averages 6.6 runs a game, but against Minnesota, 10 batters struck out and five runners were left on base. Only one run was scored in of seven innings, a solo home run from junior catcher Sashel Palacios.
The only run that was put on the board for the Sun Devils was a solo home run from junior catcher Sashel Palacios.
Senior center fielder Jennifer Soria also contributed offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double. Although she managed to get on base, the rest of the offense was unable to push her in.
"We knew coming into practice on Monday that we were facing Minnesota," Soria said. "We really focused on the pitcher and what she throws, but I think everyone came out a little too tense and adjusted too late."
The Sun Devils looked to redeem themselves from the loss against Minnesota in their second game of the night, which was against Houston.
Offense managed to put more runs up this game, and came up with a 6-5 win against the Cougars.
A big contributor to offense was freshman first baseman Ulufa Leilua. Leilua went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third.
Ulufa Leilua's two-run home run from The State Press on Vimeo.
Leilua's big fly was her first career home run. It also helped give ASU a 3-1 lead.
"I just tried to stay relaxed in the box," she said. "But I am still improving and have a lot of time to learn more."
ASU kept the runs coming at the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring another three and bumping the score up 6-2.
A top hitter for the game was senior second baseman Nikki Girard, who went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Sophomore pitcher Dale Ryndak pitched all seven innings in the circle, giving up eight hits and two runs in a total of six innings.
At the top of the 7th, Ryndak gave up a three-run home run, pushing it to a close score of 6-5.
This is the third time this season that a pitcher has given up a home run in the last inning. Co-interim coach Letty Olivarez notes that the pitchers need to learn to adjust their pitches and call time-out when needed.
"The girls need to understand when they're getting tired," said Olivarez. "And learn to make those adjustments a little bit sooner so things like this don't happen again."
The Sun Devils will continue in the Diamond Devil Invitational tomorrow, as they face off St. Francis and Mount St. Mary's.
Reach the reporter at lmbrunet@asu.edu or follow @Leah_brunette on Twitter.
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