ASU will have both its middle infielders coming back this season as returning starters.
With senior second baseman Nikki Girard and junior shortstop Chelsea Gonzales displaying impressive performances last season, the stakes are high on what this season will reveal from the defensive standpoint.
Girard came into ASU looking for a spot at shortstop but spent her freshman season as a first baseman. As a sophomore, she transitioned back to the middle, taking second base.
As a junior, she had a .963 fielding percentage, helping her win a Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention. She also won a Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention.
With two years at second base under her belt, Girard is expected to be a leader on the field. She and Gonzales are both becoming leaders.
They say communication in the middle of the field plays an important role in the success from defense.
“We like to keep the mood light with each other,” Girard said. “When things get serious we know when to get on each other and when to push one another.”
At shortstop, Gonzales posted a .957 fielding percentage, which put her on the top of the list among all Pac-12 shortstops with over 200 chances.
“Me and Nikki have good chemistry,” she said. “If one of us is getting down, we know to be there to pick each other up.”
Gonzales was a Pac-12 second-team All-Conference Selection, and was voted ASU Defensive Player of the Year for the 2015 season.
They’re not all defense. Girard is also emerging on offense. In 160 at-bats last year, she only struck out seven times. She had a batting average of .250 and knocked in 23 RBIs.
Girard also homered against UCLA on May 9, helping spark a nine-run comeback.
Gonzales hit .288 last season, but her power display stands out, particularly with catcher Amber Freeman graduating and missing from ASU’s roster this year. With her 11 home runs, she was fourth-best on the team, and she had 42 RBIs.
The two will seek to be productive offensively while continuing to save runs on defense. The Sun Devils will begin their season against Utah State on Feb. 11 at Alberta B. Farrington Stadium in Tempe.
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Reach the reporter at lmbrunet@asu.edu or follow @Leah_brunette on Twitter.
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