ASU softball stayed within striking distance after back-to-back run-rule losses in five innings in Tucson Friday and Saturday but couldn’t capitalize against UA, losing 2-0 AT Rita Hillenbrand Stadium Sunday in the series finale.
No. 17 ASU (25-11, 5-4 Pac-12) failed to score any runs as No. 11 UA (27-7, 9-0 Pac-12) dominated the in-state rivalry, sweeping the series and outscoring the Sun Devils with a powerful lineup 18-0 on the weekend.
UA also had dominant pitching performances from senior Taylor McQuillin (12-5) and junior Alyssa Denham (8-2). McQuillin, who had a shutout on Friday and Sunday, and Denham allowed only six hits on the weekend, and no batter for ASU had multiple hits in the series.
In the first two matchups, UA used its powerful lineup at the plate to put ASU in an early hole. Junior pitcher Samantha Mejia (12-5) held ASU firm through the first three innings of the third game, not allowing for a run.
However, the fourth inning started with a walk, a wild pitch and a single, and then redshirt junior Cielo Meza replaced Mejia. UA senior infielder Rylee Pierce was the first batter Meza faced. She hit an RBI-single to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Pierce also hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to put ASU down 2-0, a deficit the Sun Devils couldn’t rally from. With that home run, UA had six on the weekend.
Things won’t get any easier for ASU as it has a series against No. 1 UCLA next weekend in Tempe and a series against No. 7 Washington the next weekend on the road.
Reach the reporter at nahiatt@asu.edu or follow @NATE_HIATT on Twitter.
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