ASU softball dropped both games of its doubleheader on Sunday against No. 6 Washington in what ended the team's first Pac-12 series of the season.
The Sun Devils (19-8, 0-3 Pac-12) failed to score a single run in their two games against the Huskies on Sunday in Seattle as the red-hot offense that cruised past Nebraska was absent for ASU.
Heading into the weekend, ASU head coach Trisha Ford knew the competition would be stiff in the "Conference of Champions."
"If you compete at that level, to compete for a national championship, there's no other conference than the PAC to prepare you for that," Ford said. "It's going to be a grind, but you can either embrace the grind or dread the grind. I choose to embrace it."
ASU falls despite complete game from Juarez
Washington averages seven runs per game this season, and while freshman pitcher Giselle Juarez was able to hold the Huskies under that mark, it wasn't enough for ASU to pull out the win.
Juarez pitched a complete game, allowing four runs off of eight hits while striking out seven, but the Sun Devil bats stayed quiet in a 4-0 loss.
E4: Juarez ends the third with her fourth K of the day! We head to the fourth with UW leading 3-0. #IgniteTheFight pic.twitter.com/57wtfMx2Aq
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 19, 2017
The Huskies jumped on the board early with a three-run first inning that gave them the lead for good. Washington tacked on one more run in the fourth to extend the lead to 4-0, enough to defeat the Sun Devils.
ASU managed just three hits in defeat.
Solo homer paves the way for another Washington win
Game two of Sunday's doubleheader featured a pitcher's duel as both teams were held scoreless through the first five innings.
But the Huskies broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning with a lead-off home run from junior third baseman Taylor Van Zee, scoring the game's lone run off junior pitcher Dale Ryndak as the Sun Devils fell 1-0.
Ryndak finished the game with six innings of one-run ball on four hits and two walks.
Washington freshman pitcher Samantha Manti went three innings allowing three hits and one walk before handing the ball over to sophomore Taran Alvelo.
Alvelo gave up just one hit and one walk while striking out four. She gave ASU its first real shot at getting on the board.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Sun Devils had a lead-off single off the bat of the Pac-12 player of the week, senior Chelsea Gonzales, followed by a walk to senior Sashel Palacios. ASU then loaded the bases, but the next two batters would strike out.
The Sun Devils again put a runner in scoring position in the seventh inning, but failed to capitalize with two outs.
ASU hopes to bounce back as it gears up for another doubleheader on Wednesday against New Mexico State (9-14). The team will then resume conference play with a three-game weekend series against Oregon State.
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